What is Amoxapine?

Amoxapine is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Amoxapine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.

Amoxapine is used to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, or agitation.

Amoxapine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Amoxapine?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to amoxapine, or if you have recently had a heart attack.

Do not use amoxapine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take amoxapine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking amoxapine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• heart disease
• a history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures
• kidney disease
• schizophrenia or other mental illness
• diabetes (amoxapine may raise or lower blood sugar)
• glaucoma; or
• problems with urination

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use amoxapine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

FDA Pregnancy Category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Amoxapine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Amoxapine Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Amoxapine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heart rate
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• feeling light-headed, fainting
• restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck
• tremors or uncontrollable shaking; or
• fever with confusion, muscle stiffness, sweating, and fast or uneven heartbeats

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea
• dry mouth, unpleasant taste
• increased appetite, weight changes
• weakness, lack of coordination
• numbness or tingly feeling
• feeling dizzy, drowsy, or tired
• nightmares
• blurred vision, headache
• low fever
• mild skin rash
• breast swelling (in men or women); or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Amoxapine Interactions

What other drugs affect Amoxapine?

Before taking amoxapine, tell your doctor if you have used an “SSRI” antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft).

Before taking amoxapine, tell your doctor if you are currently using any of the following drugs:

• cimetidine (Tagamet); or
• heart rhythm medications such as flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rhythmol), or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute)

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use amoxapine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There are many other medicines that can interact with amoxapine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Amoxapine?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can cause dangerous side effects when taken together with amoxapine.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures, or other antidepressants). They can add to sleepiness caused by amoxapine.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with amoxapine. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor before increasing or decreasing the amount of grapefruit products in your diet.

Amoxapine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Amoxapine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Amoxapine Dosage

How should I take Amoxapine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

It may take up to 3 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks of treatment.

Store amoxapine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Amoxapine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of amoxapine can be fatal.

Symptoms of an amoxapine overdose may include uneven heartbeats, increase or decrease in urination, drowsiness, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Amoxapine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com