Amoxapine Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Amoxapine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Amoxapine - for the Consumer

Amoxapine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Amoxapine:

Anxiety; changes in appetite; changes in blood pressure; clumsiness; confusion; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; excitement; headache; increased sweating; nausea; nervousness; nightmares; pounding in the chest; restlessness; sleeplessness; swelling; tiredness; tremors; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); fever with increased sweating; impotence; lip smacking or puckering; seizures; severe muscle stiffness; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of hands, arms, or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Side Effects by Body System

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included drowsiness (14%), anxiety, dizziness, headache, fatigue, weakness, insomnia, sleep abnormalities, restlessness, nervousness, tremors, confusion, excitement, nightmares, and alterations in the EEG patterns.

Nearly all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mixed serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants cause sleep abnormalities to some extent. These antidepressants have marked dose-dependent effects on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, causing reductions in the overall amount of REM sleep over the night and delays the first entry into REM sleep (increased REM sleep onset latency (ROL)), both in healthy subjects and depressed patients. The antidepressants that increase serotonin function appear to have the greatest effect on REM sleep. The reduction in REM sleep is greatest early in treatment, but gradually returns towards baseline during long-term therapy; however, ROL remains long. Following discontinuation of therapy the amount of REM sleep tends to rebound. Some of these drugs (i.e., bupropion, mirtazapine, nefazodone, trazodone, trimipramine) appear to have a modest or minimal effect on REM sleep.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included dry mouth (14%), constipation (12%), nausea, and excessive appetite.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included blurred vision (7%).

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included palpitations.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included ataxia.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included edema.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included excessive perspiration and skin rash.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included elevation of prolactin levels and hyponatremia (in association with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone).

A retrospective register study of the World Health Organization (WHO) database for spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (n=668) suggests that the risk of hyponatremia during treatment with antidepressants seems to be highest in women, in the elderly, during the summer season, and during the first weeks of therapy.

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