Edronax (reboxetine)

How does it work?

Edronax tablets contain the active ingredient reboxetine, which is a type of antidepressant known as a selective noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor. This type of medicine acts on nerve cells in the brain.

In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Noradrenaline is one such neurotransmitter and has various functions that we know of.

When noradrenaline is released from nerve cells in the brain it acts to lighten mood. When it is reabsorbed into the nerve cells, it no longer has an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of noradrenaline released from nerve cells in the brain.

Reboxetine works by preventing noradrenaline from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released noradrenaline. In this way, reboxetine helps relieve depression.

It may take between two to four weeks for the benefits of this medicine to appear, so it is very important that you keep taking it, even if it doesn't seem to make much difference at first. If you feel your depression has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts or feelings in these first few weeks, then you should talk to your doctor.

What is it used for?

Depressive illness.

Warning!

Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and suicide. You should be aware that this medicine may not start to make you feel better for at least two to four weeks. However, it is important that you keep taking it in order for it to work properly and for you to feel better. If you feel your depression or anxiety has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts, or feelings about suicide or harming yourself in these first few weeks, or indeed at any point during treatment or after stopping treatment, then it is very important to talk to your doctor.

This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

This medicine can occasionally cause your blood pressure to drop when you move from a lying down or sitting position to sitting or standing, especially when you first start taking the medicine. This may make you feel dizzy or unsteady. To avoid this try getting up slowly. If you do feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the symptoms pass.

Antidepressants may cause the amount of sodium in the blood to drop - a condition called hyponatraemia. This can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching or convulsions. Elderly people may be particularly susceptible to this effect. You should consult your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms while taking this medicine, so that your blood sodium level can be checked if necessary.

If you experience seizures (convulsions or fits) while taking this medicine, consult your doctor immediately, as you will need to stop treatment with this medicine. This also applies if you suffer from epilepsy and experience more seizures than normal after starting this medicine.

This medicine is not recommended for treating children under 18 years of age, because it may increase the risk of anger, aggression or suicidal thoughts in this age group. However, specialists may sometimes still prescribe this medicine for some children and young people if they feel it is necessary. If your child has been prescribed this medicine you should encourage them to tell you if they have any distressing thoughts or feelings after starting it. It is very important that you let their doctor know immediately if you notice any worsening in your child's mood or behaviour.

Use with caution in

History of seizures (fits), eg epilepsy

History of bipolar affective disorder

History of difficulty passing urine (urinary retention)

Enlarged prostate gland

Glaucoma

History of heart disease.

Not to be used in

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding

People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.

This medicine is not recommended for elderly people or children under 18 years of age, as its safety and efficacy have not been established in these age groups.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. The manufacturer states that it should not be used by pregnant women. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. For this reason, the manufacturer states that it should not be used by women who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)

Constipation

Dry mouth

Sweating

Blurred vision

Loss of appetite

Headache

Balance problems involving the inner ear (vertigo)

A drop in blood pressure that occurs when going from lying down to sitting or standing, which results in dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)

Chills

Difficulty passing urine, or a sensation that the bladder has not fully emptied

Impotence

Pain on ejaculation or delayed ejaculation

Pins and needles (paraesthesia)

Cold hands and feet

Aggressive behaviour

Nausea and vomiting

Rash

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Go To Next Page>>
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved