What Is Amoxapine Used For?

Many people wonder, "What is amoxapine used for?" Amoxapine is used for treating depression -- especially depression that is accompanied by anxiety, hallucinations, or delusions. The medication works by affecting serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and by blocking dopamine receptors. It is not recommended for use in people under the age of 18, and there are currently no universally accepted off-label amoxapine uses.

Amoxapine Drug Information

Amoxapine Uses: An Overview

Amoxapine (Asendin^®) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).

Depression is more than just "feeling sad." Common symptoms of depression include:

Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or not enough)
Eating too much or too little (and weight gain or weight loss)
Having little interest in things that you used to enjoy
Physical pain
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Suicidal thoughts.

Amoxapine has been proven in large clinical trials to help adults with depression. However, keep in mind that many antidepressants (including amoxapine) may take awhile to begin working, although there is some evidence that amoxapine may work more quickly than other similar antidepressants. It is important to give amoxapine a chance to work before becoming discouraged.

Amoxapine can also be used for people who experience anxiety and agitation along with depression. Amoxapine is especially useful for people with "psychotic depression." People with psychotic depression experience hallucinations or delusions (persistent false beliefs) along with their depression symptoms.

Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medications to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if counseling or therapy would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).

(What Is Amoxapine Used For? Continued: Page 2)