Antidepressant Medications Anti-depressant Drugs Antidepressant: nefazodone, Serzone, Dutonin, Nefadar
Antidepressant: nefazodone, Serzone, Dutonin, Nefadar
Generic Name: nefazodone
Brand Name(s): Serzone, Dutonin, Nefadar
Common Use: Antidepressant
Antidepressant
For the symptomatic relief of depressive illness. The effectiveness
of nefazodone in long-term use (i.e., for more than 6 to 8 weeks) has not
been systemically evaluated in controlled trials. Therefore, the physician
who elects to use nefazodone for extended periods should periodically reevaluate
the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.
Patients with known hypersensitivity to nefazodone, any component
of the formulation or other phenylpiperazine antidepressants should not
take it.
Nefazodone should not be used in combination with MAO inhibitors
or within 2 weeks of terminating treatment with MAO inhibitors. MAO inhibitors
should not be introduced until at least 2 weeks after the cessation of nefazodone
therapy.
Adverse Side Effects
Commonly Observed
In clinical trials, the most commonly observed adverse experiences associated
with the use of nefazodone HCl which occurred at a higher rate than among
placebo-treated patients were dry mouth, nausea, somnolence, dizziness,
constipation, asthenia, lightheadedness and amblyopia. Adverse events are
more frequent at the beginning of treatment and tend to subside with continued
use.
Adverse Events Associated with Discontinuation of Treatment:
Approximately 11% of the 2256 patients who received nefazodone in short-term
worldwide premarketing clinical trials discontinued treatment due to adverse
experiences. The most common events causing discontinuation included: nausea
(2.4%), headache (2%), dizziness (1.2%), asthenia (1%) and insomnia (1.2%).
Other possible side effects:
Frequent:
neck pain; Infrequent: neck rigidity, allergic reaction, photosensitivity
reaction, hangover effect, malaise, enlarged abdomen and face edema; hypotension;
Infrequent: presyncope, migraine, hypertension, anorexia and gastroenteritis;
cough;
Rare:
hernia, overdoes, halitosis and cellulitis, glossitis, bloody
diarrhea, dysphasia, esophagitis, hepatitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage,
oral moniliasis, ulcerative colitis and salivary gland enlargement, gout,
hypercholesteremia, hypervolemia, hyponatremia and hypoglycemia, increased
sweating
Infrequent: nausea and vomiting, liver function tests abnormality,
gastritis, abnormal stools, eructation, periodontal abscess, colitis, mouth
ulceration, stomatitis, gingivitis, peptic ulcer and rectal hemorrhage;
thirst and weight loss; decreased or increased libido, vertigo, emotional
lability, dysphoria, hypertonia, depersonalization, euphoria, amnesia. twitching,
hallucinations, hypomanic reaction, derealization, manic reaction, neuralgia,
suicidal thoughts. hostility, suicide attempt, decreased attention, paranoid
reaction, abnormal gait, apathy and myoclonus; Rare: affect abnormal, abnormal
behavior, convulsion, delirium, delusions, drug dependency (other drug),
hyperesthesia, increased salivation, neuropathy, neurosis, torticollis,
disarthria, hypotonia, ptosis, akathisia, hyperalgesia and personality disorder,
dry skin, acne,
Overdose
The reactions reported most frequently from overdose of nefazodone
have been drowsiness and vomiting. Overdosage may cause an increase in incidence
or severity of any of the reported adverse reactions.
There is no specific antidote for nefazodone. Treatment should
be symptomatic and supportive in the case of hypotension or excessive sedation.
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