Amoxapine is used to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, or agitation.
Amoxapine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Never take amoxapine in larger amounts, or for longer than recommended by your doctor. High doses or long-term use of amoxapine can cause a serious movement disorder that may not be reversible. Symptoms of this disorder include tremors or other uncontrollable muscle movements.
You should not use amoxapine if you are allergic to it, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
Do not use amoxapine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can cause dangerous side effects when taken together with amoxapine.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, 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.
You should not use amoxapine if you are allergic to it, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
Do not use amoxapine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
To make sure amoxapine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions:
- 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);
- bipolar disorder (manic depression);
- glaucoma; or
- problems with urination.
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. It is not known whether amoxapine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
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
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, 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.
Stop taking amoxapine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
- 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; or
- sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance.
- drowsiness, dizziness, headache, tired feeling;
- feeling restless or nervous;
- dry mouth, blurred vision;
- mild nausea, constipation;
- increased appetite, weight changes;
- increased sweating; or
- sleep problems (insomnia), night mares.
Amoxapine Interactions
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with amoxapine and lead to unwanted side effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.
This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and seizure medication can add to sleepiness caused by amoxapine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other antidepressants.
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).
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
- bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban);
- cimetidine (Tagamet);
- duloxetine (Cymbalta);
- St. John's wort;
- terbinafine (Lamisil); or
- heart rhythm medications such as flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), or quinidine (Quin-G).
Amoxapine Dosage
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in
larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the
directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
It may take up to 3 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks of treatment.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amoxapine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include seizure (convulsions) or coma.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
It may take up to 3 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks of treatment.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amoxapine can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include seizure (convulsions) or coma.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Amoxapine Pictures
