Dosulepin Viatris (formerly Dosulepin Mylan) (Dosulepin Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Dosulepin Viatris (formerly Dosulepin Mylan) Used For?
Dosulepin Viatris contains the active ingredient dosulepin hydrochloride and belongs to a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
Primary Uses
Dosulepin Viatris is used to treat depression. The 25 mg capsules can be used at any stage in depression treatment, while the higher strength 75 mg tablets are approved only for maintenance treatment after symptoms have improved.
How It Works
TCA medicines work by correcting the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain called amines, which are involved in controlling mood. By correcting this imbalance, TCAs can help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Age Restriction: Dosulepin Viatris is not approved for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age for the treatment of depression.
How to Take Dosulepin Viatris (formerly Dosulepin Mylan)
Follow all directions given by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. The dose varies from person to person based on how well you respond to treatment.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is 25 mg three times daily for one to two weeks. Your doctor may then increase your dose, up to a maximum of 200 mg per day. Once symptoms improve, your doctor will slowly reduce your dose to the lowest effective dose. Elderly people over 65 years and those with liver or kidney problems may need smaller doses. Swallow tablets or capsules with water. The 75 mg tablets can be divided in half along the breakline if advised. Take at the same time each day, either as a single dose (at bedtime) or divided doses (three times daily).
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you take one dose daily at bedtime and forget, do not take the missed dose until checking with your doctor as you may have difficulty waking up. If you take multiple doses daily and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and continue normally.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Most antidepressants take time to work – it may take 4-6 weeks to feel the full benefit.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dry mouth
- Increased sweating
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Tremor
- Increased or decreased sex drive
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Fast or irregular heart beat
- Ongoing difficulty with passing urine
- Signs of frequent infections (fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers)
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Tingling or numbness of hands or feet
- Severe stomach pain with bloating and cramps
- Symptoms of liver disease (yellowing of eyes/skin, dark urine)
- Feeling anxious, restless, or confused
- Abnormal ideas, hallucinations
- Sudden mood swings
- Uncontrollable movements
- Chest pain
- Fainting or collapse
- Allergic symptoms (skin blisters, rash, swelling)
- Seizures or fits
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Dosulepin Viatris should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Dosulepin Viatris (formerly Dosulepin Mylan)
Do not use if you are allergic to dosulepin or any ingredients; have epilepsy; recently had a heart attack (within past two months); have liver failure; are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days including phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, or selegiline.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart or blood vessel problems, liver problems or hepatitis, kidney problems or difficulty passing urine, glaucoma, prostate problems, thyroid problems, any other mental illness such as schizophrenia or manic depression, family history of suicide or manic depression, or if you plan to have surgery or electroshock therapy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. There have been reports of complications in babies after delivery, and withdrawal symptoms in newborns whose mothers took this medicine during the third trimester. Dosulepin Viatris passes into breast milk, so discuss risks and benefits with your doctor if breastfeeding.
Suicide Risk: Tell your doctor immediately if you have suicidal thoughts or mental/mood changes. Symptoms may worsen during the first 1-2 months, especially in young adults under 25 years.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Dosulepin Viatris and affect how it works. Never take with MAOIs and wait at least 14 days after stopping MAOIs before starting this medication.
MAOI Interaction: Taking Dosulepin Viatris with a MAOI may cause a serious reaction with sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) – phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, selegiline
- Sleeping tablets/sedatives and anti-anxiety medicines
- Medicines used to treat epilepsy
- Some medicines for high blood pressure or heart conditions
- Some medicines for stomach cramps
- Medicines for Parkinson’s disease
- Medicines for travel sickness
- Some cough and cold preparations
- Some medicines for hayfever and allergies
- Certain medicines for weight loss
- Thyroid hormone medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Dosulepin Viatris can affect your ability to drive and may interact dangerously with alcohol.
Alcohol
Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Dosulepin Viatris. Combining this medication with alcohol can make you more drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded than usual. Taking Dosulepin Viatris and alcohol can be dangerous and may cause death. Your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while being treated for depression.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Dosulepin Viatris affects you. This medication may cause drowsiness, dizziness or light-headedness in some people. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Storage
Keep Dosulepin Viatris in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C for tablets and below 25°C for capsules. Store away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, or in the car. Keep in original packaging and out of reach of children. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is recommended.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Dosulepin Viatris, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort. Taking too much can be dangerous with toxicity developing rapidly within 4-6 hours. Symptoms may include trembling, agitation, difficulty walking, dry mouth, blurred vision, dilated pupils, constipation, difficulty passing urine, fitting, unusual muscle movements, difficulty breathing, very high temperature, irregular heartbeat, shock and serious heart problems which can be life-threatening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most medicines for depression take time to work, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel better right away. Some symptoms may improve in 1-2 weeks, but it can take up to 4-6 weeks to feel the full benefit of Dosulepin Viatris.
The medication should be swallowed with a glass of water. The source doesn’t specify whether it needs to be taken with or without food, so follow your doctor’s instructions.
Do not stop taking Dosulepin Viatris suddenly without checking with your doctor. If you stop suddenly, you may feel sick, irritable, have headaches, difficulty sleeping or excessive sweating. More serious complications such as fits or blood clots may occur. Your doctor will tell you how to gradually reduce the dose.
Be very careful when drinking alcohol while taking Dosulepin Viatris. Combining this medication with alcohol can make you more drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded than usual, and can be dangerous and may cause death. Your doctor may suggest avoiding alcohol while being treated for depression.
Elderly people over 65 years may need smaller doses and special care may be needed as they may become confused when taking Dosulepin Viatris. Families and carers should be aware of this possibility.
If you take one dose daily at bedtime and forget, don’t take the missed dose until checking with your doctor. If you take multiple doses daily and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Even when you feel well, you will usually need to take Dosulepin Viatris for several months or longer to make sure the benefits last. The length of treatment depends on how quickly your symptoms improve. Keep taking it for as long as your doctor recommends.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.