Antidepressants, Tricyclic : Before Using

Antidepressants, Tricyclic - Systemic

Antidepressants, Tricyclic *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For tricyclic antidepressants, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to any tricyclic antidepressant or to carbamazepine, maprotiline, or trazodone. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, there have been reports of newborns suffering from muscle spasms and heart, breathing and urinary problems when their mothers had taken tricyclic antidepressants immediately before delivery. Always studies in pets have shown that some tricyclic antidepressants may cause unwanted effects in the fetus.

Breast-feeding problem

Tricyclic antidepressants pass into the breast milk. Doxepin has been reported to cause drowsiness in the nursing baby.

Use for Children

Children are especially sensitive to the effects of this drug. This may increase the risk of side effects during treat. However, side effects in child taking this drug for bedwetting usually disappear upon continued use. The most common of these are nervousness, sleeping problems, tiredness and mild stomach upset. If these side effects continue or are bothersome, check with your family doctor.

Elderly care

Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, vision problems, dryness of mouth, constipation and problems in urinating are more likely to occur in elderly diseaseds, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of tricyclic antidepressants.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases 2 various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking a tricyclic antidepressant, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphetamines
Appetite suppressants - diet pills
Ephedrine
Epinephrine - Adrenalin
Isoproterenol - Isuprel
Medicine for asthma or other breathing problems
Medicine for colds, sinus problems, or hay fever or other allergies
Phenylephrine - Neo-Synephrine Using these medication with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the risk of serious effects on the heart

Antipsychotics - drug for mental illness
Clonidine - Catapres Using these medication with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the CNS depressant effects and increase the risk of serious side effects

Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Cimetidine - Tagamet Using these medication with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the risk of serious side effects

Central nervous system - CNS depressants - drug that causes drowsiness Using these medication with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the CNS depressant effects

Guanadrel - Hylorel
Guanethidine - Ismelin Tricyclic antidepressants may keep these medication from working as well

Methyldopa - Aldomet
Metoclopramide - Reglan
Metyrosine - Demser
Pemoline - Cylert
Pimozide - Orap
Promethazine - Phenergan
Rauwolfia alkaloids - alseroxylon " Rauwiloid ", deserpidine " Harmonyl ", rauwolfia serpentina " Raudixin ", reserpine " Serpasil "
Trimeprazine - Temaril Tricyclic antidepressants may cause certain side effects to be more severe and occur more often

Metrizamide The risk of seizures may be increased

Monoamine oxidase - MAO inhibitor activity - isocarboxazid " Marplan ", isocarboxazid " Marplan ", phenelzine " Nardil ", procarbazine " Matulane ", selegiline " Eldepryl ", tranylcypromine " Parnate " Taking tricyclic antidepressants while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may cause sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions and death; however, sometimes certain of these medication may be using together under close supervision by your doct

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of tricyclic antidepressants. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Alcohol abuse - or history of Drinking alcohol may cause increased CNS depressant effects

Asthma
Bipolar disorder - manic-depressive illness
Blood disorders
Convulsions - seizures
Difficult urination
Enlarged prostate
Glaucoma or increased eye pressure
Heart disease
High blood pressure - hypertension
Schizophrenia Tricyclic antidepressants may make the condition worse

Kidney disease
Liver disease Higher blood levels of tricyclic antidepressants may result, increasing the risk of side effects

Overactive thyroid
Stomach or intestinal problems Tricyclic antidepressants may cause an increased risk of serious side effects