Amoxapine

Amoxapine, a prescription medicine that is licensed to treat depression, is especially useful for treating psychotic depression. Researchers believe the antidepressant works by blocking dopamine receptors and allowing serotonin and norepinephrine to stay in the brain longer. The medication comes in tablet form and is generally taken one to three times a day. Potential side effects of amoxapine may include drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.

 

What Is Amoxapine?

Amoxapine (Asendin®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression). It is especially useful for treating people with depression who also have anxiety or agitation and people with psychotic depression (depression with hallucinations, delusions, or other psychotic features).
 
(Click What Is Amoxapine Used For? for more information on amoxapine uses, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Amoxapine?

Amoxapine was originally made by Lederle Laboratories, but it is no longer being manufactured. Generic amoxapine is still available and is made by Watson Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does Amoxapine Work?

Amoxapine belongs to a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants, although it is sometimes classified as a "tetracyclic" antidepressant, due to its chemical structure. It is not entirely clear how amoxapine works. It does affect several chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. It is thought that maybe amoxapine allows these chemical to stay in the brain longer, which can help with depression symptoms. Amoxapine also blocks dopamine receptors, which is why it is especially useful for psychotic depression.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;