Dothiepin
About
Dothiepin belongs to the class of tricyclic antidepressants used to treat depression. It is primarily used to treat depression that is unresponsive to other antidepressants or any other alternative treatment. It is also used to treat disorders related to anxiety. Depression is a mood disorder that affects day to day life of a person. A person may have symptoms such as feeling sad or feeling lost and might have mood swings. Anxiety is defined as an emotion that is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and symptoms like increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorder also includes panic disorder which is characterized by sudden feelings of terror.
Dothiepin contains ‘Dothiepin’ that works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers responsible for stabilizing and elevating the mood levels in the brain. It also stops your brain from releasing the chemicals which cause anxiety. It provides relief from symptoms such as feelings of restlessness, irritability, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, feeling and sleep disturbances. It helps to carry out daily activities easily.
Take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. In some cases, you may experience side effects such as increased heart rate, blurred vision, dizziness, dryness in the mouth and constipation. Most of these side effects of Dothiepin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
It is not recommended to take Dothiepin if you are allergic to any contents of it. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may lead to withdrawal symptoms. Do not take this medicine if you have any lung disease, muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), sleeping disorder or difficulty in sleeping (sleep apnea), severe liver disease or problem with alcohol or other prescription recreational drugs. Inform your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding. Dothiepin is not recommended for use in children. In elderly people, Dothiepin may require dose adjustments. Do not take alcohol while using Dothiepin as it increases the risk of side effects. Dothiepin may cause dizziness, so do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.
Uses of Dothiepin
Medicinal Benefits
Dothiepin works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers that are responsible for stabilizing and elevating mood levels in the brain. It also stops your brain from releasing the chemicals which cause anxiety. Dothiepin relieves symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, tiredness, difficulty concentrating and disturbances in sleep. It helps to carry out daily activities easily and improves the quality of life.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Dothiepin
- Increased heart rate
- Arrhythmias
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Dryness in the mouth
- Weight gain
- Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing)
- Weight gain
- Difficulty in urination
- Constipation
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Dothiepin should be given with extreme caution in patients having epilepsy (brain disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures), impaired liver or kidney function, diabetes, decreased level of sodium in the blood, tendency to develop bleedings or bruises easily, patients receiving electroconvulsive treatment, having coronary heart disease, suffering or have suffered from heart problems or have recently had a heart attack, having a low resting heart-rate, having prolonged severe diarrhoea and vomiting (being sick) or using diuretics (water tablets), experiencing a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, collapse or dizziness on standing up, which may indicate abnormal functioning of the heart rate and having or previously had eye problems, such as certain kinds of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: This medicine may interact with other anti-depressants (phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, imipramine, desipramine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide), medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease (selegiline). Taking the above medicines with Dothiepin can increase the risk of side effects. It can also have an interaction with an antibiotic (linezolid), a medicine used in the treatment of the manic-depressive disorder (lithium), a medicine used to treat migraines (sumatriptan), a medicine used for severe pain such (as tramadol), medicines used for stomach ulcers (cimetidine, lansoprazole and omeprazole), a medicine used to treat fungal infections (fluconazole), a medicine used to reduce the risk of stroke (ticlopidine), a herbal remedy used for depression (Hypericum perforatum), blood-thinning medicines (warfarin, dipyridamole and phenprocoumon), antimalarials (mefloquine), medicines used for heart diseases (flecainide and propafenone). Dothiepin may also interact with medicines that decrease blood levels of potassium or magnesium, as these increase the risk of life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People who are overweight or obese (with a BMI greater than 25) should consult a doctor before taking Dothiepin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeDo not consume alcohol while taking Dothiepin as it may cause serious side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeDothiepin is not recommended for use in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, please inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast Feeding
cautionDothiepin passes in very small amounts in breast milk. However, caution is advised while taking it. If you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
Driving
unsafeDo not drive vehicles or operate machines after taking Dothiepin as it can make you feel drowsy.
Liver
cautionLimited information is available on the use of Dothiepin in patients with liver disease. Hence, if you have liver problems, inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
Kidney
cautionLimited information is available on the use of Dothiepin in patients with kidney disease. Hence, if you have kidney problems, inform your doctor before taking this medicine.
Children
unsafeDothiepin is not recommended for use in children below 12 years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Opt for healthy food, which in turn will help you to elevate your moods.
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes a day. It will help you to reduce stress and improve your mood. It will also improve your quality of sleep.
- Take deep breaths to calm your mind.
- Follow a consistent sleep schedule (at least 8 hours a day).
- Manage your stress levels by doing activities that make you happy such as watching your favourite show, reading a book, listening to music and doing activities of your interest.
Special Advise
Do not stop taking Dothiepin without consulting your doctor. You may experience side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. Your doctor will most likely advise you to gradually reduce your dose over several weeks before completely discontinuing it.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: It is a mood disorder that has an impact on a person's daily life. Symptoms such as melancholy or loss, as well as mood changes, may occur.
Anxiety: It is characterised by tension, anxious thoughts, and symptoms such as elevated blood pressure. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder marked by unexpected feelings of terror.
FAQs
No, Dothiepin is not a muscle relaxant. It is a tricyclic antidepressant that is used for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
Dothiepin starts to show its full effect in 4 to 6 weeks. Please consult your doctor if you feel that you are not feeling better or there is no improvement in the symptoms. In case you feel that you are experiencing any kind of side-effect after taking Dothiepin, please contact your doctor immediately.
Dothiepin contains ‘Dothiepin’ that works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers responsible for stabilizing and elevating the mood levels in the brain. It also stops your brain from releasing the chemicals which cause anxiety. Dothiepin helps improve your symptoms, such as elevating your mood and energy levels and improving sleep.
Based on your condition and symptoms, your doctor will advise the dose and duration of Dothiepin. Discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Dothiepin is not recommended to treat pain. Rarely, it is advised to treat nerve pain like fibromyalgia or to prevent migraine.
No, Dothiepin is not a habit-forming substance. However, it can cause irritability and difficulty sleeping, especially if you stop taking it abruptly.
Dothiepin might cause weight gain as taking it makes you feel hungry. However, it varies from person to person, as some people might feel less hungry after taking it.
