What Is Maprotiline Used For?

Many people wonder, "What is maprotiline used for?" Maprotiline is used for treating depression and anxiety related to depression. It should not be used in people under the age of 18 because it has not been studied extensively in children or teenagers. Occasionally, maprotiline may also be used "off-label" for the treatment of chronic pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and fibromyalgia, among other things.

 

Maprotiline Uses: An Overview

Maprotiline hydrochloride (Ludiomil®) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression). It is also approved to treat anxiety associated with 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.
     
Maprotiline has been proven in large clinical trials to help adults with depression. Often, people with depression also experience anxiety, and maprotiline can help with both problems. However, keep in mind that many antidepressants (including maprotiline) take several weeks to begin working. Sometimes, other people will notice an improvement in your depression symptoms before you do. Often, the physical symptoms of depression (such as pain or changes in sleep) will improve first, sometimes very quickly. It usually takes a few weeks before significant changes in mood occur. It is important to give maprotiline a chance to work before becoming discouraged.
 
Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medication to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if counseling or therapy would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).
 
(What Is Maprotiline Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;