- that what I am providing is NOT meant in any way to replace the conversation between you, your doctor, or your pharmacist
- please do not self-diagnose or make medical decisions about this drug without talking with qualified professionals
- the information provided here is the reference sheet you would find at WebMD. During my journey I found this site to be helpful in providing support. All credit for this information belongs to them. I copied it right from their website and I have removed the hyper-links. Please visit their site if you would like to read further.
For this installment, I have chosen Surmontil GENERIC NAME(S): TRIMIPRAMINE MALEATE
Uses: This medication is used to treat depression. It may help improve your mood and sense of well-being and allow you to enjoy everyday life more. Trimipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
**Please read this information carefully**
If you have any questions about what is provided here....talk with your doctor or pharmacist please.
Uses
This medication is used to treat depression. It may help improve your mood and sense of well-being and allow you to enjoy everyday life more. Trimipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
How to use Surmontil
Read the Medication Guide available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually one to three times daily or as directed by your doctor. If taking this medication once daily, take it at bedtime to decrease the risk of drowsiness. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
This medication does not work right away. It may take 2 to 4 weeks before you experience the full benefits.
Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Nausea, headache and a feeling of being ill may also occur. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
Side Effects See also the Warning section.
Dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty urinating, headache, weakness, changes in appetite/weight, dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water or use a saliva substitute.
To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you become constipated while using this drug, consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (e.g., stimulant-type with stool softener).
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, nervousness), numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, ringing in the ears, sexual problems, shakiness (tremors), severe vomiting/constipation.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, severe headache, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: seizures, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, eye pain/swelling/redness, vision changes (such as seeing rainbows around lights at night), chest pain, jaw/left arm pain.
This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.
This medication may rarely cause serious blood problems (e.g., agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia) or liver problems. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: easy bleeding/bruising, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes/skin.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
SURMONTIL Side Effects List
Surmontil side effects by likelihood and severity. The following side effects are associated with Surmontil:
Common side effects of Surmontil:
Dizzy Less Severe
· Drowsiness Less Severe
· Dry Mouth Less Severe
· Head Pain Less Severe
· Increased Hunger Less Severe
· Taste Problems Less Severe
· Weight Gain Less Severe
Infrequent side effects of Surmontil:
· Abnormal Heart Rhythm Severe
· Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Severe
· Blurred Vision Severe
· Confused Severe
· Difficult or Painful Urination Severe
· Hallucination Severe
· Inability to have an Erection Severe
· Involuntary Quivering Severe
· Nervous Severe
· Parkinson Symptoms Severe
· Sexual Problems Severe
· Slow Heartbeat Severe
· Altered Interest in Having Sexual Intercourse Less Severe
· Chronic Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
· Diarrhea Less Severe
· Excessive Sweating Less Severe
· Heartburn Less Severe
· Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe
· Throwing Up Less Severe
Rare side effects of Surmontil:
· Abnormal Heart Electrical Signals Severe
· Abnormal Liver Function Tests Severe
· Angle-Closure Glaucoma caused by Another Disease Severe
· Anxious Severe
· Blood Disorder Severe
· Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
· Discharge of Milk in Men or Women when Not Breastfeeding Severe
· Enlarged Breasts Severe
· Giant Hives Severe
· Hair Loss Severe
· Having Thoughts of Suicide Severe
· Heart Attack Severe
· Heart Block Severe
· High Amount of Bilirubin in the Blood Severe
· Inflammation of Skin caused by an Allergy Severe
· Itching Severe
· Prolonged Q-T Interval on EKG Severe
· Rash Severe
· Reaction due to an Allergy Severe
· Ringing in the Ears Severe
· Seizures Severe
· Serotonin Syndrome - Adverse Drug Interaction Severe
· Stroke Severe
· Sun-Sensitive Skin Severe
· Swelling of the Testicles Severe
· Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Severe
· Delusions Less Severe
· Dilated Pupil Less Severe
· Fast Heartbeat Less Severe
· Feeling Restless Less Severe
· Heart Throbbing or Pounding Less Severe
· High Blood Pressure Less Severe
· High Blood Sugar Less Severe
· Loss of Appetite Less Severe
· Low Blood Sugar Less Severe
· Numbness and Tingling Less Severe
· Puffy Face from Water Retention Less Severe
Precautions See also the Warning section.
Before taking trimipramine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood problems (e.g., agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia), breathing problems (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder-COPD), diabetes, electroshock therapy, personal or family history of glaucoma (angle-closure type), heart problems (e.g., recent heart attack, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, heart failure), intestinal problems (e.g., chronic constipation, ileus), kidney problems, liver problems, other mental/mood conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, psychosis), family history of mental/mood conditions (e.g., suicide, bipolar disorder), seizures, conditions that may increase your risk of seizures (e.g., bulimia, organic brain disease, alcohol withdrawal), overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), problems urinating (urinary retention, enlarged prostate).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.
To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
This drug may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
This drug may infrequently make your blood sugar level rise, causing or worsening diabetes. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar level regularly as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as increased thirst or urination, unusual sweating, shakiness or hunger. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially dizziness (more likely when standing up), drowsiness, confusion, constipation, or trouble urinating. Drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion can increase the risk of falling.
Caution is advised when using this drug in children (see also the Warning section).
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers who have taken similar medications during pregnancy may develop trouble urinating, lethargy, shaking (tremors), and seizures. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Interactions
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: anticholinergics (e.g., atropine, belladonna alkaloids), clonidine, certain drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., guanadrel, guanethidine, reserpine), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove this medication from your body (e.g., cimetidine, haloperidol, protease inhibitors such as fosamprenavir/ritonavir, drugs that affect heart rhythm such as flecainide/quinidine/propafenone), drugs for motion sickness (e.g., meclizine, scopolamine), thyroid medication.
Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Do not take any MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Some MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before or after treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.
The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.
Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with this medication such as isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) or tramadol, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin), medicines for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, trazodone)
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, motion sickness) because they may contain drowsiness-causing ingredients, drying agents (anticholinergics) or stimulants/nasal decongestants that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Overdose of this medication may be fatal, and symptoms include seizures, delirium and loss of consciousness.
Notes
Do not share this medication with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood counts, kidney function, liver function) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Keep all medical appointments so your doctor can monitor your progress closely or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Information last revised December 2014. Copyright(c) 2014 First Databank, Inc