Amoxapine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Amoxapine Tablet, known generically as amoxapine, is a prescription tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used to treat depression, including depression that comes with anxiety or agitation. It appears to work by increasing certain natural brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, that help regulate mood. It is taken by mouth, usually one or more times a day, exactly as prescribed, and is available as tablets in several strengths.

What is Amoxapine Tablet

Amoxapine is a prescription tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used to treat depression, including depression that comes with anxiety or agitation.

Amoxapine Tablet uses

• Depression that comes along with anxiety or agitation
• Treating symptoms of major depressive disorder
• Treats depression
• Treats depression accompanied by anxiety
• Treats depression accompanied by agitation

Benefits of Amoxapine Tablet

• May start working faster than some similar antidepressants like amitriptyline or imipramine
• Can be taken once a day at higher doses
• Available as a lower-cost generic
• May improve depressed mood
• May reduce anxiety associated with depression

How Amoxapine Tablet works

Amoxapine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It's not exactly clear how it treats depression, but it appears to increase certain natural brain chemicals (serotonin and norepinephrine) that help regulate mood.

Amoxapine Tablet dosage

Amoxapine is taken by mouth, usually one or more times a day. If taken once a day, it should be taken at bedtime. Try to take it at around the same time each day. Follow your prescription label directions carefully and take it exactly as directed. Do not take more, less, or more often than prescribed.

It may take several weeks or longer to feel the full effect; keep taking it even if you feel well. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor, since the dose usually needs to be lowered gradually. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it's almost time for the next dose; do not double up. Continue your normal diet unless your doctor tells you otherwise. People who start treatment may initially take smaller amounts several times a day to let the body adjust.

Available forms and strengths

• 25 mg oral tablets
• 50 mg oral tablets
• 100 mg oral tablets
• 150 mg oral tablets

Side effects of Amoxapine Tablet

Common

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Weakness or tiredness
• Nightmares
• Skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Difficulty urinating
• Frequent urination
• Excessive sweating
• Confusion
• Inability to empty your bladder

Serious

• Suicidal thoughts or behavior
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (high fever, fast heart rate, full body stiffness, confusion)
• Tardive dyskinesia (uncontrollable facial or body movements)
• Severe allergic reactions (breathing problems, swelling of face/lips/tongue, hives)
• Manic episode symptoms (very increased energy, racing thoughts, reckless behavior)
• Glaucoma symptoms (loss of vision, eye pain, severe headache, vision halos)
• Heart rhythm changes (fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, fainting)
• Serotonin syndrome (sweating, fever, confusion, agitation, fast heartbeat, muscle twitching, seizures)
• Blood disorders (fever, easy bruising or bleeding, frequent infections, unusual weakness)
• Seizures
• Muscle stiffness
• Slow or difficult speech
• Shuffling walk
• Uncontrollable shaking or moving of a body part

Warnings and precautions

• Amoxapine can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially in people 24 or younger. Watch for new or worsening depression or unusual mood changes, especially early in treatment or after a dose change.
• Depression can sometimes be an early sign of bipolar disorder. Amoxapine does not treat bipolar disorder and can trigger a manic episode. Tell your doctor about your full medical history and any family history of bipolar disorder.
• Amoxapine can cause eye problems, especially in people with narrow-angle glaucoma. Tell your doctor about any history of eye problems or if you notice vision changes.
• Amoxapine can cause tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder causing uncontrollable movements like blinking or tongue movements. This happens more in older adults, especially women, but can occur in anyone.
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition linked to amoxapine, with symptoms including high fever, fast heart rate, full body stiffness, and confusion. Get medical help right away if this happens.
• Do not take amoxapine if you are currently or recently (within 14 days) taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or if you have recently had a heart attack and are still recovering.
• Older adults should generally not take amoxapine because it is not as safe or effective as other medications for the same condition.
• Amoxapine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, which can cause severe sunburns. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing if you need to be in the sun.
• Do not stop taking amoxapine suddenly without talking to your doctor, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms like headache, nausea, or feeling unwell.
• It is not known if or how amoxapine could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant, and they will advise whether you should take it.
• Amoxapine passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to, so they can advise you.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking amoxapine.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before taking amoxapine.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking amoxapine, since it can add to the drowsiness and dizziness this medicine causes.
• This medication may make you drowsy, so do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program.
• Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps.

When to see a doctor

• Call your doctor right away if you or a family member notices new or worsening depression, thoughts of harming yourself, extreme worry, agitation, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, aggressive behavior, irritability, or severe restlessness.
• Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, such as high fever, fast heart rate, full body stiffness, and confusion.
• Stop using amoxapine and get help right away if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as breathing problems, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, or hives.
• Get emergency help if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as sweating, fever, confusion, agitation, fast heartbeat, muscle twitching, or seizures.
• Stop using amoxapine and get help right away if you have symptoms of a blood disorder, such as fever, easy bruising or bleeding, frequent infections, or unusual weakness.
• Get medical help right away in case of an overdose, especially if someone has seizures, loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or can't be woken up.

Alternatives

• Amitriptyline
• Nortriptyline
• Imipramine
• Desipramine