General Information
Deptran
contains the active ingredient doxepin (hydrochloride)
Consumer Medicine Information
This leaflet answers some common questions about Deptran.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Deptran against the benefits expected for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Deptran is used for
Deptran is used to treat depression.
Deptran 10 mg and Deptran 25 mg capsules can be used at any stage in the treatment of depression. However, the higher strength, Deptran 50 mg tablets, is approved only for the maintenance treatment of depression (after your symptoms have improved).
Deptran belongs to a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). TCA medicines work by correcting the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called amines, are involved in controlling mood. By correcting this imbalance, TCAs can help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Deptran has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed Deptran for another reason.
Deptran is not approved for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age for the treatment of depression or other mental disorders.
The safe use and effectiveness of Deptran in treating these disorders, for this age group, has not been established.
Deptran is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Deptran
When you must not take it
Do not take Deptran if you are allergic to:
medicines containing doxepin hydrochloride (eg. Sinequan)
other tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Tryptanol, Endep), dothiepin (Prothiaden, Dothep) and imipramine (eg. Tofranil)
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Deptran may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face and increased sensitivity of the skin to sun.
Do not take Deptran if you:
suffer from glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
have difficulty passing urine.
Do not take Deptran if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or have taken a MAOI within the last 14 days.
Stop taking MAOIs at least 14 days before starting Deptran. Taking Deptran with a MAOI may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if you are taking, or have been taking a MAOI. MAOIs are medicines used to treat depression and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Examples of MAOIs are phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), moclobemide (eg. Aurorix, Arima) and selegiline (Eldepryl, Selgene).
Do not take Deptran if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Like many other medicines, Deptran can pass into breast milk and may harm your baby.
Do not take Deptran if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date, it may not work as well.
Do not take Deptran if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the capsules or tablets do not look quite right.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Talk to your doctor if you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There have been reports of some babies experiencing complications immediately after delivery. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking Deptran during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, especially the following:
heart problems
liver problems
kidney problems
diabetes
any other mental illness.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Deptran.
Taking other medicines
Do not take Deptran if you are taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) such as:
phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), moclobemide (eg. Aurorix, Arima), used to treat depression
selegiline (Eldepryl, Selgene), used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Wait at least 14 days after stopping your MAOI before starting Deptran.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Medicines that may be affected by Deptran or may affect how it works include:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a group of medicines used to treat depression and other mental illnesses, such as fluoxetine (eg. Prozac, Lovan), sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (eg. Aropax, Paxtine)
medicines used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia
sleeping tablets/sedatives, anti-anxiety medicines (eg. Diazepam, Valium, Ducene, Serepax, Tranxene)
medicines containing atropine, (eg. Atropt, Atropine eye drops, Atropine Sulphate injection) or medicines for irritable bowel syndrome (eg. Probanthine, Buscopan)
tranquillisers such as Risperdal, Melleril, Modecate or Largactil
anticholinergics, found in some medicines used to relieve stomach cramps; travel sickness; hayfever and allergies; cough and colds
cimetidine (eg. Tagamet, Magicul), a medicine used to treat reflux and stomach ulcers
quinidine (Kinidin) and flecainide (Tambocor, Flecatab), medicines used to control an irregular heart beat
phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (eg. Tegretol, Teril), medicines used to treat epilepsy
medicines containing adrenaline and noradrenaline (e.g. nasal drops, decongestants, some cough mixtures, some local anaesthetics), used for severe allergic conditions and emergencies
stimulant medicines, such as amphetamine and dexamphetamine
medicines for diabetes (eg. Rastinon, Daonil, Diabinese, Minidab)
guanethidine (eg. Ismelin).
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Deptran.
How to take Deptran
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take
The dose varies from person to person.
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. This depends on your condition, age, whether or not you are taking any other medicines, and how you respond to Deptran.
Deptran is usually started at a low dose, then if necessary, increased until the right dose is reached.
Elderly people and those with liver problems may need smaller doses.
How to take it
Swallow Deptran capsules or tablets whole with a glass of water or other liquid.
When to take it
Deptran can be taken with or without food.
Deptran can be taken as a single dose (eg. at bedtime) or as divided doses (eg. three times a day). Your doctor will advise you.
Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
How long to take it for
Keep taking Deptran for as long as your doctor recommends. The length of treatment will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve.
Most medicines for depression take time to work, so do not be discouraged if you do not feel better right away. It can take up to 2 or 3 weeks to feel the full benefit of Deptran.
Even when you feel well, you will usually have to take Deptran for several months or longer, to make sure that the benefits last.
If you forget to take it
IF YOU TAKE ONE DOSE A DAY (AT BEDTIME)
If you forget to take Deptran before going to bed and wake up late in the night or early in the morning, do not take any Deptran until you have checked with your doctor. You may have difficulty waking up or experience drowsiness in the morning or during the day, if you take Deptran at these times.
IF YOU TAKE MORE THAN ONE DOSE A DAY
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
Do not try to make up the dose you missed by taking a double dose.
If you are not sure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your Deptran, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Deptran.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Deptran, you may feel drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, have blurred vision or a very dry mouth.
You may also have fits, a fast or irregular heart beat, difficulty breathing or lose consciousness.
Keep Deptran out of the reach of children. Children are much more sensitive than adults to medicines such as Deptran. An accidental overdose is especially dangerous.
While you are taking Deptran
Things you must do
Contact your doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment if you or someone you know is showing any of the following warning signs of suicide:
worsening of your depression
thoughts or talk of death or suicide
thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
any recent attempts of self-harm
increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or any other unusual changes in behaviour or mood.
All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
Tell your doctor if you feel Deptran is not helping your condition.
Keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Deptran. Do not stop taking your tablets or capsules until you have spoken to your doctor.
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Deptran.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Deptran.
Things you must not do
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Deptran affects you. Deptran may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness or affect coordination in some people. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Do not suddenly stop taking Deptran or change the dose without checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out over weekends or during holidays. If you suddenly stop taking Deptran, you may feel unwell, sick in the stomach or have a headache.
Your doctor will tell you how to gradually reduce the amount of Deptran you are taking before stopping completely.
Do not use Deptran to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Deptran to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Deptran. Combining alcohol with Deptran can make you more drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while being treated for depression.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Deptran affects you. Deptran may cause drowsiness and affect co-ordination in some people.
If this occurs, do not drive, operate machinery or do things that may be dangerous if you are not alert.
Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position. Dizziness or lightheadedness may occur, especially when you get up quickly. Getting up slowly may help.
Tell your doctor or dentist if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks. Deptran may cause dry mouth. This can be relieved by frequent sips of water, sucking sugarless lollies or chewing sugarless gum. However, continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay and gum disease.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Deptran. Deptran helps most people with depression, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following mild side effects and they worry you:
drowsiness
blurred vision
constipation, diarrhoea
difficulty in passing urine
dry mouth, altered sense of taste
trouble sleeping, nightmares
dizziness, lightheadedness
change in appetite
feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, indigestion
changes in sex drive.
The side effects drowsiness, blurred vision, constipation, difficulty passing urine and dry mouth are usually short-lived. If they persist or worsen, tell your doctor.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
fast heart beat
signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
unusual bruising or bleeding
yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
ongoing difficulty in passing urine
symptoms of tiredness, headache, dizziness and being short of breath when exercising
hallucinations, agitation, confusion
sudden switch of mood to one of excitement, overactivity, talkativeness and uninhibited behaviour
aggressive behaviour, nervousness
tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
uncontrolled movements, including trembling and shaking of the hands and fingers, twisting movements of the body, shuffling walk and stiffness of the arms and legs.
The side effects listed above are serious and require medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
skin rash or itching, swelling of the face, severe sunburn, blistering or swelling of the skin
symptoms of high fever, fast heart beat and muscle stiffness
seizures or fits.
The side effects listed above are very serious and require urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
After taking Deptran
Storage
Keep Deptran where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Deptran in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 °C.
Do not store Deptran or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave Deptran in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your capsules in their blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the capsules our of their container they may not keep well.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Deptran, or your capsules or tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Deptran is available in four strengths:
Deptran 10 - white capsule. Each pack contains 50 capsules.
Deptran 25 - blue and white capsule. Each pack contains 50 capsules.
Deptran 50 - six-sided, violet coloured tablet, marked "DN" over "50" on one side and a Greek alpha symbol on the other. Each pack contains 50 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Deptran is doxepin (as doxepin hydrochloride).
Each Deptran capsule contains 10 mg or 25 mg of doxepin.
Each Deptran tablet contains 50 mg.
Deptran capsules also contain:
lactose
sodium starch glycollate
purified talc
magnesium stearate
sodium lauryl sulfate
colloidal anhydrous silica
gelatin
titanium dioxide CI 77891 (E171)
brilliant blue FCF CI 42090 (E133) [Deptran 25 only]
erythrosine CI 45430 (E127) [Deptran 25 only].
Deptran tablets also contain:
lactose
microcrystalline cellulose
povidone
purified talc
sodium starch glycollate
magnesium stearate
carnauba wax
hypromellose
diethyl phthalate
Opadry Violet OY-S-6722 (includes colours 127, 132 and 171)
Deptran capsules and tablets are gluten free.
Supplier
Deptran is supplied in Australia by:
Alphapharm Pty Limited
(ABN 93 002 359 739)
Chase Building 2
Wentworth Park Road
Glebe NSW 2037
Phone: (02) 9298 3999
www.alphapharm.com.au
Medical Information
Phone: 1800 028 365
Australian registration numbers:
Deptran 10 - AUST R 60447
Deptran 25 - AUST R 60448
Deptran 50 - AUST R 17637
This leaflet was prepared on
05 July 2007.