Desyrel Side Effects
Severe Side Effects of Desyrel
- Priapism, or an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours without sexual stimulation (See Warnings)
- Seizures (See Warnings)
- Panic attacks, which can cause symptoms such as pounding heart, feeling faint, weak, or dizzy, chest pain, a sensation of being smothered, or feelings of impending doom or loss of control
- Allergic reactions which might include hives, rashes, and difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Heart Palpitations and other cardiac problems (see Warnings)
Common Side Effects of Desyrel
- Headache
- Diarrhea or Constipation
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Decrease in sexual desire
- Vertigo, or a feeling of spinning while standing still
Warnings & Recalls for Desyrel
Warnings
- Children, teenagers, and adults 24 years of age or younger who take antidepressants may be at greater risk for becoming suicidal. Patients should be monitored for suicidal symptoms and clinical worsening of their depression while taking Desyrel, particularly in the initial phases of treatment. Symptoms of suicidal thoughts include, but are not limited to, worsening depression, thinking about hurting or killing yourself, excessive feelings of worry or anxiety, insomnia, and irritability. If you experience any of these symptoms contact your doctor immediately.
- Desyrel might cause priapism in some patients. Priapism is caused by the inability of blood to drain from the penile shaft and results in a painful erection. An erection from priapism does not go away after sexual activity like a normal erection. If this condition is not resolved swiftly, then permanent scarring and erectile dysfunction may develop.
- Desyrel may increase the effects of alcohol as they both act on similar chemicals in the brain. It is best to avoid alcohol while taking Desyrel.
- Seizures may occur while using Desyrel with other anti-seizure medications.
- Desyrel has a pregnancy category C warning which means it might cause harm to an unborn baby. Your physician might recommend that you discontinue use of Desyrel if you become pregnant.
- Do not use Desyrel if you have taken any MAOI inhibitor drugs within the past 14 days.
- Tell your physician if you have cardiac disease since Desyrel might cause cardiac arrhythmia.
There are a number of drug interactions associated with Desyrel
- Desyrel may intensify the side effects of barbiturates, such as Phenobarbital.
- Do not take Desyrel if you are taking GHB (sodium oxybate).
- Do not take Desyrel if you are taking tryptophan.
- Anticoagulants decrease the effectiveness of Desyrel and might increase the risk of bleeding.
- Avoid Desyrel if you are taking Furosemide or another diuretic medication as these medications combined might cause low sodium levels in blood.
- Avoid Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen when taking Desyrel. This combination might increase the risk of bleeding.
- Avoid carbamazepine while taking Desyrel. This combination might cause seizures. Also, carbamazepine might make Desyrel less effective in treating depression.
Recalls
- The most recent Desyrel recall was in June 11, 2002 for lack of content uniformity, meaning that the active ingredients found in individual tablets of Desyrel were found to be lacking in quality.
- Desyrel's prescribing information was also revised in 2004 to include potential drug interactions, such as interactions with medications that are known to speed up metabolism.
Desyrel Treatment and Use
Desyrel |Trazodone is a serotonin modulator from a class of medications known as serotonin agonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), and is used to treat major depressive disorder. It is currently manufactured by Apothecon Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
What does Desyrel do?
Although it is not entirely clear how Desyrel works in human patients, it is thought to prevent the imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that can affect mood. In animal trials, it was shown to inhibit serotonin absorption in the brain and cause behavioral changes by activating 5-HTP, a serotonin precursor that is used in the production of chemicals that affect mood.
Dosage
The initial dosage for adult patients is 150 mg a day and can be increased 50 mg every three to four days. The daily dose should be taken in divided doses. With every increase, it is important to observe for the clinical response as well as any potential drug intolerance. The maximum dose is 400 mg a day although inpatients with severe depression may receive up to 600 mg per day in divided doses.
Note: When discontinuing use of Desyrel, patients should not abruptly stop taking the medication due to a risk of withdrawal side effects. Patients should be weaned off of Desyrel by an incremental dosage reduction.
Other Names for Desyrel
Brand Names
- Beneficat
- Deprax
- Mesyrel
- Molipaxin
- Oleptro
- Thombran
- Trazorel
- Trialodine
- Trittico
Generic
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Desyrel
Author:
Dru Watkins
Posted on Jul 7, 2012