Amoxapine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 26, 2023.

Applies to amoxapine: oral tablet.

Warning

Oral route (Tablet)

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Short term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24, and there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. This risk must be balanced with the clinical need. Monitor all patients closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Not approved for use in pediatric patients.

Serious side effects of Amoxapine

Along with its needed effects, amoxapine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking amoxapine:

Less common

Excitement
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
fear or nervousness
mood or mental changes
nightmares
restlessness
shakiness and unsteady walk
shakiness in legs, arms, hands, or feet
sleeplessness
swelling
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

Rare

Abdominal or stomach pain
actions that are out of control
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
bloating
blood in urine or stools
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or discomfort
chills
clay-colored stools
confusion
confusion about identity, place, and time
constipation
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
decrease in frequency of urination
decrease in urine volume
difficulty in breathing
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
difficulty in speaking
disturbed concentration
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
double vision
drooling
extremely high fever or body temperature
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
fast, weak heartbeat
fever with or without chills
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
headache
hearing loss
high fever
high or low blood pressure
hives or welts
inability to move arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
increased need to urinate
increased sweating
indigestion
irritability
itching
lack of coordination
light-colored stools
lip smacking or puckering
loss of appetite
loss of bladder control
lower back or side pain
muscle cramps
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
nausea and vomiting
nervousness
numbness
pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back, or neck
painful or difficult urination
pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
pale, clammy skin
passing urine more often
pinpoint red spots on skin
pounding in the ears
puffing of cheeks
rapid or worm-like movements of tongue
redness of skin
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
severe muscle stiffness
shortness of breath
shuffling walk
skin rash
slow speech
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
stiffness of limbs
sudden loss of consciousness
sweating
swollen glands
talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
testicular swelling
thirst
trouble in holding or releasing urine
twisting movements of body
uncontrolled chewing movements
uncontrolled movements, especially of face, neck, and back
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusually pale skin
upper right abdominal pain
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes and skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking amoxapine:

Symptoms of overdose

Change in consciousness
drowsiness
epileptic seizure that will not stop
fatigue
increased blood pressure
increased thirst
loss of consciousness
swelling of face, fingers, or lower legs
total body jerking
troubled breathing
weight gain

Other side effects of Amoxapine

Some side effects of amoxapine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Dry mouth

Less common

Increased appetite
increased flow of breast milk

Rare

Agitation
breast enlargement
change in taste bad unusual or unpleasant (after)taste
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
depression
excess air or gas in stomach or intestines
full feeling
hair loss, thinning of hair
heartburn
inability to have or keep an erection
increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased interest in sexual intercourse
increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
menstrual changes
nasal stuffiness
painful ejaculation
passing gas
rapid weight gain
redness or other discoloration of skin
seizures
severe sunburn
stupor
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands on side of face or neck
tearing of the eyes
unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to amoxapine: oral tablet.

General

The most commonly reported side effects were drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Drowsiness (up to 14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Alterations in EEG patterns, ataxia, dizziness, headache, tremors

Frequency not reported: Disturbed concentration, extrapyramidal symptoms, incoordination, mydriasis, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, numbness, paresthesia of the extremities, peculiar taste, seizures, stroke, syncope, tardive dyskinesia, tingling^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Dry mouth (up to 14%), constipation (up to 12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea

Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, black tongue, diarrhea, epigastric distress, flatulence, pancreatitis, paralytic ileus, parotid swelling, stomatitis, sublingual adenitis, vomiting^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, confusion, excitement, insomnia, nervousness, nightmares, restlessness

Frequency not reported: Delusions, disorientation, hallucinations, hypomania, increased or decreased libido, suicidality^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Edema, palpitations

Frequency not reported: Atrial arrhythmias, atrial fibrillations, heart block, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction, tachycardia, vasculitis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Increased perspiration, skin rash

Frequency not reported: Alopecia, petechia, photosensitization, pruritus, urticaria^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, weakness

Frequency not reported: Drug fever, hyperthermia, tinnitus^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Excessive appetite

Frequency not reported: Anorexia, change in blood glucose levels, weight gain or loss^[Ref]

Endocrine

Common (1% to 10%): Increased prolactin levels

Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision

Frequency not reported: Disturbances of accommodation, lacrimation^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Breast enlargement, delayed micturition, dilation of the urinary tract, galactorrhea, impotence, menstrual irregularity, painful ejaculation, testicular swelling, urinary frequency, urinary retention^[Ref]