What are tricyclic drugs?

Tricyclic antidepressants, including amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine, and clomipramine, are the first choice for the treatment of depression and have basically replaced electroconvulsive therapy for depression. This type of antidepressant is quickly absorbed after oral administration, metabolized in the liver, and excreted in the urine. It can treat various depressions, especially endogenous depression; it is also effective in reactive depression, depressive neurosis, and physical diseases. Or antipsychotic drugs can also be effective in treating concomitant depressive symptoms. In addition, clomipramine is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is prohibited for patients with severe heart, liver, kidney disease and glaucoma, and should be used with caution by the elderly and pregnant women. The antidepressant effects of various tricyclic drugs are similar. However, amitriptyline and doxepin have a sedative effect and are suitable for depression accompanied by anxiety symptoms; imipramine and clomipramine have an activating effect and are suitable for depression. Depression with symptoms of retardation. The dosage should be gradually increased during treatment, and the effect will appear in about 4 weeks. After the depressive symptoms disappear, you still need to take the therapeutic amount for about one month, then gradually reduce it, and maintain the treatment for about 6 months. The side effects of the drug are drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, rapid heartbeat, difficulty urinating and orthostatic hypotension. These side effects generally do not affect the treatment and can be gradually adapted during the treatment process; serious cardiovascular side effects, urinary retention and intestinal paralysis are rare. Overdose can cause acute poisoning or even death.

The most common side effects of traditional tricyclic antidepressants and how to deal with them.

1. Dry mouth - take vitamin C, chew sugarless gum, and rinse your mouth frequently.

2. Constipation - Eat more cereal products, prunes, fruits and vegetables; increase physical exercise.

3. Bladder problems-difficulty urinating. If you have any pain, see your doctor.

4. Sexual life problems - This is a common problem. Many patients will have delayed or disappeared orgasms. Discuss possible solutions with your doctor.

5. Blurred vision - it will disappear after a few days after getting used to the drug.

6. Dizziness - move slowly and get up slowly from bed and chairs.

7. Drowsiness - it will disappear after a few days after getting used to the drug. Do not drive or operate machinery when you are sleepy.

8. Nausea - it will disappear after a few days after getting used to the medicine.

9. Nervousness and insomnia - will appear in the first few weeks of taking the medicine. The symptoms will disappear when the medicine is reduced or as time goes by.

10. Weight gain - can be controlled by diet and appropriate exercise.

11. Heart discomfort - go to see a doctor, truthfully report your condition to the doctor, and conduct necessary cardiovascular system examinations, such as electrocardiogram. It is up to the doctor to determine whether it is a drug reaction or the disease itself.

12. Skin allergies - anti-allergic drugs can be used appropriately, or the drugs can be reduced or stopped, but most of them can get better on their own.