Amoxapine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 12, 2024.

Applies to amoxapine: oral tablet.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

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.

Common 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 side effects

• dry mouth

Less common side effects

• increased appetite
• increased flow of breast milk

Rare side effects

• 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

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 side effects

• 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 side effects

• 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

For healthcare professionals

Applies to amoxapine: oral tablet.

General adverse events

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]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, purpura, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Altered liver function, hepatitis, jaundice^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Nasal stuffiness^[Ref]

Further information

Amoxapine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer