AMOXAPINE

Amoxapine Information

Amoxapine is a drug included in the tricyclic antidepressant class of medication. This drug is a dibenzoxazepine, and it has a balancing effect on certain chemicals in the human brain. This medicine is quickly absorbed in the body, reaching its peak level in the blood within 90 minutes from the ingestion.

Typically, the clinical effects of Amoxapine occur within 2 weeks from the beginning of the therapy. In some cases, the timeframe may be shorter, and some patients may experience an improvement in the first 4 to 7 days of the treatment.

Amoxapine Indications

Typically, Amoxapine is prescribed to treat patients that present symptoms of anxiety, depression or agitation. This medication may be effective in cases where alternative therapies failed to improve the patients’ condition.

Also, Amoxapine may be prescribed for other medical conditions that are not listed here. If you would like to find out why you have been prescribed a treatment with this drug, it is advised that you consult your personal health care professional as he or she may provide you with additional information.

Amoxapine Warnings

Amoxapine should not be prescribed for the treatment of patients that are suffering from an allergy to this drug, or to any of its ingredients. Other medical conditions may prevent the patient from starting a treatment with this medication. If he or she is suffering from heart or kidney disease, stroke, seizures, diabetes, glaucoma, schizophrenia or related mental conditions or if he or she suffers from urinary problems, the patient may not begin a treatment with this drug or may require a smaller dose. This may also be the case for patients with a medical history of such affections.

In some patients, Amoxapine causes suicidal tendencies. This is more common in patients under 24 years of age. The examining health care professional will need to keep the patient under observation for at least three months from the beginning of the treatment.

Amoxapine Intake Guidelines

It is highly advised that you closely follow the Amoxapine intake guidelines that your prescribing doctor has provided. As the first signs of improvement may appear within 3 weeks from the moment you have started the therapy, it is imperative not to stop the treatment without first consulting your doctor. At times, the prescribing health care professional may change the dose, in order to achieve the best therapeutic results. If this is the case, make sure that you take the new Amoxapine dose as recommended.

Amoxapine Dosage

In most cases, the Amoxapine dosage will vary from one patient to another depending on a number of factors, such as age, medical history and general health conditions. You should always use the dose that you have been prescribed, and never use another individual’s prescribed dosage. Also, you should never attempt to alter the Amoxapine dosage, either by changing the intake schedule or by modifying the doses. Your personal health care professional will provide you with the exact dosage, as well as the number of intakes per day and the duration of the treatment.

Amoxapine Overdose

It is highly advised that you closely follow the Amoxapine dosage that you have been prescribed, in order to prevent an overdose with this drug. If you have reasons to suspect that you are suffering from an overdose with this medication, you should seek emergency medical attention by contacting your personal health care professional or moving to the nearest hospital.

In the case of Amoxapine overdose, the patient is likely to experience irregular heartbeat, a decrease or an increase in urination, agitation, drowsiness, hallucinations, confusion, seizure or coma.

Amoxapine Missed Dose

Generally, it is best to have a fixed and stable intake schedule, in order to prevent missing any Amoxapine doses. However, in case you have missed a dose of the medication, you should take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for another dose. If this is the situation, you should completely skip the missed dose and continue with your normal intake schedule, and let your doctor know about the missed Amoxapine dose. He or she will be able to assess he situation and decide what further actions (if any) need to be taken.

Amoxapine Side Effects

You should consult your personal health care provider at once if you experience any of the following symptoms: anxiety, panic, changes in the mood or behavior or sleeping disorders. Also, you should notify the doctor if you begin to feel irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, agitated, restless, physically or mentally hyperactive or if you become more depressed or suicidal.

Rare, but severe side effects that are associated with Amoxapine treatment may appear. It is advised that you contact your personal physician immediately if you begin experiencing heartbeat irregularities, chest pain that may radiate to the shoulder, sudden weakness or numbness in one side of your body, sudden headaches or problems with speech, vision or balance, lightheadedness and fainting sensations, involuntary contractions of eye, jaw, tongue or neck muscles, shaking or tremors, or if fever accompanied by sweating and muscle stiffness sets in.

Amoxapine Drug Reactions

Amoxapine may interact with other drugs. It is highly advised to let your doctor know of any other medication therapies you are currently following, as well as of those that you have just recently finished. Your doctor may advise you against taking this medicine if you have taken SSRI antidepressants (such as Citalopram, Escitalopram, Flouxetine, Fluvoxamine, Sertraline or Paroxetine) within the past 5 weeks, or if you are currently taking Cimetidine or heart medication such as Propafenone, Flecainide or Quinidine.

You should not start taking Amoxapine if you have taken any MAO inhibitors (Rasagiline, Phenelzine, Selegiline or Isocarboxazid) within the past two weeks.