Adepress - a remedy for combating alcohol addiction

Adepress is a drug that has an antidepressant effect. This medicine is often prescribed to people with depression of various etiologies, panic disorders and frequent bouts of panic attacks, as well as patients with anxiety conditions.

According to the instructions for use, Adepress is widely used in neurology, therapy and psychiatry. The drug is popular due to its good tolerability and the absence of side effects during treatment. Patients prefer this medication due to its low cost and lack of side effects upon withdrawal.

Analogues of Adepress

Medicines containing paroxetine include:

• Actaparoxetine;
• Paxil;
• Plizil;
• Rexetine;
• Apo-paroxetine;
• Sirestill.

Sertraline has a similar, but less pronounced effect, which, like Adepress, is used for constant anxiety or recurring panic attacks. To relieve one-time anxiety disorders, some tranquilizers without obvious side effects, for example, Grandaxin, may be suitable.

If depression occurs without severe anxiety, then Adepress, according to doctors, can be replaced with antidepressants that simultaneously affect norepinephrine and serotonin, for example, Cymbalta or Ixel.

Analogues of the drug

Paxil, Plizil N and Rexetine are analogues of the active substance.

Paxil is often used in cardiac hospitals for recovery from acute coronary syndrome. The anti-anxiety effect is observed 5-7 days after the start of administration, and is also suitable for the treatment of neurotic conditions. The drug increases appetite, which leads to rapid weight gain.

Plizil N is an inexpensive and high-quality generic paroxetine, which is also used to treat psychosomatic disorders and neuroses.

Rexetine has an effective effect on panic and anxiety disorders, and social phobias. The result of the action is noticeable after a few days.

Pharmacological action of Adepress

Adepress has an antidepressant effect and relieves anxiety.

Paroxetine selectively inhibits serotonin (5-HT) reuptake in the central nervous system and enhances serotonergic transmission. The effect becomes noticeable after 1-2 weeks.

When taken orally 30 mg per day, equilibrium plasma concentration is achieved within 7-14 days. The maximum concentration of the drug in blood plasma is 61.7 ng/ml in 5.2 hours. Absorption is high. Paroxetine is 95% protein bound. Inactive metabolites are formed in the liver. 64% of the drug is excreted by the kidneys, 36% through the gastrointestinal tract.

General information about Adepress

According to studies conducted at the Moscow Psychiatric Clinical Hospital, Adepress (paroxetine) is used to treat depressive conditions in 11.5% of cases. This frequency of use is noted due to the wide spectrum of psychotropic activity of the drug. No less important are its anti-anxiety actions.

Drug group, INN, scope of application

Adepress is an antidepressant that is widely used in cases of alcohol dependence, depressive disorders, dysthymia, bipolar disorders, and episodes of panic attacks. The INN of the drug is paroxetine.

Widely used by specialists from the field of neurology, addiction, psychiatry, psychotherapy, therapy.

Dosage form and cost, average in Russia

In pharmacies, the drug can be purchased in the form of round white film-coated tablets. The tablets are packaged in strips of 10 pcs. Each cardboard pack contains 3 strips, that is, 30 tablets. Manufacturer: Russia.

The price of the drug must be checked at the pharmacy.

Compound

The main substance of Adepress is paroxetine hydrochloride hemihydrate, 22.2 mg in each tablet. Paroxetine in its pure form in each tablet - 20 mg.

Additional substances include:

• calcium hydrogen phosphate (207.8 mg);
• corn starch (134.8 mg);
• sodium carboxymethyl starch (11.4 mg);
• E572 (3.8 mg).

Properties of paroxetine

The shell of each tablet contains:

• E464;
• lactose monohydrate;
• polyethylene glycol 3350 and 4000;
• E171.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Adepress is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, due to which it has an antidepressant effect and is effective in the treatment of panic conditions and obsessive-compulsive syndrome. When Adepress breaks down in the body into metabolic products, its pharmacological properties are not impaired.

The active substance has weak properties of binding to m-cholinergic receptors. The drug is characterized by low compatibility with alpha1-, alpha2- and beta-adrenergic receptors, and does not have the ability to bind to dopamine and histamine receptors, which confirms its selectivity with respect to the receptors. This is what makes Adepress different from other antidepressants.

Mechanism of action of the serotonin reuptake process

According to the instructions, this substance does not affect psychomotor functions, and also does not enhance the effect of alcohol on them. According to medical data, when taking doses higher than necessary, the medicine has a slight activating effect. In people with normal vital signs, heart rate, blood pressure and electroencephalography did not change.

The medicine is taken orally, after which it is quickly absorbed in the digestive system and undergoes metabolism in the liver. Breaks down into oxidation and methylation products. Metabolic products are quickly eliminated from the body by the kidneys, liver and intestines completely in 1 day. The drug is excreted to a greater extent in the form of metabolic products.

The maximum concentration of substances in the patient’s blood is observed 7-15 hours after administration and remains throughout the entire course of treatment. The manifestations of the effectiveness of the substance do not depend on the concentration in the blood. Due to the first passage of substances through the liver, their amount in the blood is less than the initially adsorbed amount. In 95% of cases, paroxetine binds to proteins and is evenly distributed throughout the body.

Indications for use of Adepress

Adepress is indicated for anxious, reactive, recurrent, atypical and postpsychotic depression. In addition, the medicine is prescribed for depressive conditions of various etiologies:

• Episodes of bipolar disorder;
• Dysthymia;
• Alcoholism;
• Social phobias;
• Agoraphobia;
• Depression due to schizophrenia;
• Generalized anxiety;
• Post-traumatic stress;
• Organic diseases of the central nervous system;
• Obsessive-compulsive disorders;
• Panic attacks.

Method of administration and dosage of Adepress

Adepress is taken orally, 1 time per day in the morning. Swallow the tablet whole with water. The drug is taken in the form of drops at the rate of 0.5 mg of paroxetine per 1 drop. The course of treatment is long, and its effectiveness can only be assessed after 6-8 weeks.

The initial daily doses of Adepress, according to the instructions, depend on the type of depression and can be increased weekly by 10 mg, but without exceeding the maximum dose:

• Depression – 20-50 mg. In elderly and debilitated patients, as well as with renal or liver failure - 10-40 mg;
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder – 40-60 mg;
• Panic attack – 10-60 mg;
• Social phobia – 20-50 mg;
• Generalized anxiety – 20-50 mg;
• Post-traumatic stress – 20-50 mg.

ADEPRESS (tablets)

In our city now you can’t buy it without a prescription.
Well, I went to the doctor. The doctor said that Phenibut is a good drug, but it is still an acid, and with long-term use it can negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. I already knew about this (from the instructions, and it actually tastes quite sour), but I’ve been taking it for many years (in courses, periodically) and so far no problems. And she suggested finding an alternative. I prescribed Adepress, one tablet for a month. It's also on prescription. I bought it at the pharmacy. There are 30 tablets in a package, just for a month: The tablets themselves are small, easy to swallow even without water, although it is recommended to drink it with water and should be taken in the morning: Here are the instructions: Quite long... But I read it all very carefully. The effect should have appeared from 7 to 14 days of regular use. I am a disciplined patient and always try to complete the course to the end.

But in the very first days of taking it, the side effects indicated in the instructions were discovered, primarily drowsiness (I’ve never slept so much) and loss of appetite. I could barely eat a little once a day, and that was all. That is, I didn’t want to eat at all. In addition, apathy appeared. No mood. The instructions indicate that when starting to take Adepress you should beware of suicide attempts. And indeed, I remember in those days I was going about my business, and there were gloomy thoughts in my head: “And what is the meaning in life? We'll all die anyway. What’s the point of trying to achieve something, you won’t take anything to the next world.” Now that’s an antidepressant))) I’ve never noticed this before. In short, although I try to finish taking the medications, on the fifth day I called the doctor and stated my desire to give up Adepress. But she began to persuade me not to quit, but simply to reduce the dose to half a tablet or even a quarter, since one tablet may be too much for me, and the effect should be on the tenth day of taking it. Well, I reduced the dose and began to continue. By the way, the instructions say that if the dose is too high for the patient, there will be no effect.

And so, I drank this thing for a month. After reducing the dose, the drowsiness decreased, but still remained. My appetite returned after about two weeks. Thoughts about the meaning of life no longer arose) But my mood did not improve one bit, and most importantly, the apathy that increased after starting to take the drug did not disappear. In short, Adepress turned out to be completely useless for me.

Side effects of Adepress

Adepress can cause side effects from the nervous, genitourinary and digestive systems, musculoskeletal system and sensory organs in the form of:

• Insomnia;
• Drowsiness;
• Dizziness;
• Paresthesia;
• Tremors;
• Nervousness;
• Amnesia;
• Agitation;
• Asthenia;
• Anxiety;
• Decreased concentration;
• Myalgia;
• Muscle weakness;
• Myoclonus;
• Myopathic syndrome;
• Changes in taste;
• Deterioration of vision;
• Urinary retention;
• Increased urination;
• Decreased libido;
• Ejaculation disorders;
• Improvement or deterioration of appetite;
• Dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth;
• Constipation;
• Diarrhea;
• Rhinitis;
• Skin rash;
• Increased sweating.

Instructions for use

Adepress is recommended to be taken with food. The effect appears after a few weeks and develops gradually:

1. In cases of treatment of depression, you need to take 1 tablet, and the dose can be increased to 50 mg.
2. In cases of anxiety, panic, obsessions and social phobia, treatment begins with a dose of 20 mg and is increased by 10 mg every 2 weeks. The maximum permissible dose is 50 mg.
3. For post-traumatic manifestations, the patient is given 20 mg and the dose is increased weekly by 10 mg to 50 mg if the effect is insufficient.
4. Adepress 20 mg per day is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety.
5. For kidney or liver problems, a dose of 20 mg per day is prescribed. Elderly people are prohibited from taking more than 2 tablets per day.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

In order to prevent recurrence of attacks and disorders, it is necessary to re-treat every 4-6 months. Experts recommend discontinuing treatment gradually.

Possible side effects and overdose

In accordance with the instructions for Adepress, side effects after taking the drug are rare. The most common ones include:

• sleep rhythm disturbances, tremors, anxiety, irritability, malaise, decreased concentration, panic states;
• disturbances of the visual analyzer;
• pain and discomfort in the muscles, myasthenia gravis;
• frequent urination or retention;
• violation of libido and ejaculation;
• loss of appetite, dyspeptic disorders;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• rash, itching, swelling, hyperemia of the skin;
• increased sweating.

Side effects of antidepressants

An overdose of the drug occurs in cases of taking more than 60 mg per day. The main signs of overdose include:

• nausea and vomiting;
• blood pressure surges;
• cardiopalmus;
• anxiety states;
• chaotic muscle contractions;
• changes in the electrocardiogram;
• in severe cases - coma.

If at least a few symptoms of an overdose appear, the patient first of all needs to rinse the stomach. They also drink plenty of warm water in order to remove any remaining substances that have not yet been absorbed. After this, the victim is given adsorbent substances - activated carbon. To treat certain manifestations, symptomatic therapy is used.

Interaction with other drugs

Eating does not affect the properties of paroxetine. Doctors recommend refraining from drinking alcohol during treatment, as its toxic effect on the body may increase.

An enhanced effect is also observed when taken in parallel with barbiturates, phenytoin, indirect anticoagulants and tricyclic antidepressants.

When taken with liver medications, it is necessary to reduce the dose of Adepress.

Paroxetine may increase the duration of bleeding when taking warfarin. Blood coagulation disorders are observed during treatment with antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants and aspirin. The serotonergic effect is clearly manifested when used with tramadol and sumatriptan. An increase in the effect of Adepress is observed when taking tryptophan and drugs containing lithium. Paroxetine weakens the effects of antihypertensive drugs.

special instructions

During treatment, care must be taken both when driving vehicles and during any other potentially dangerous activities that require concentration and quick psychomotor reactions.

Simultaneous administration of drugs containing lithium is carried out under the control of the level of lithium ions in the blood.

Adepress, according to doctors, should be prescribed with caution to the elderly, as well as to patients with liver and kidney failure, angle-closure glaucoma and prostatic hyperplasia.

Adepress

Active substance:

Paroxetine*

Pharmgroup:

Antidepressants

Average price in pharmacies

Adepress drug interactions

The drug is incompatible with MAO inhibitors. The interval between appointments must be at least 14 days.

The combination with tryptophan causes “serotonin syndrome” – agitation, anxiety, diarrhea.

Adepress increases the concentration of procyclidine.

When interacting with indirect anticoagulants, bleeding time increases with unchanged prothrombin time.

Inducers of microsomal oxidation in the liver, such as phenytoin and phenobarbital, reduce efficiency and concentration, while inhibitors increase it.

The risk of side effects increases significantly if the following antidepressants are taken simultaneously with Adepress:

• Amitriptyline;
• Nortriptyline;
• Imipramine;
• Fluoxetine;
• Desipramine;
• Thioridazine;
• Propaphenone.

Contraindications

According to the instructions, Adepress should not be taken in the following cases:

• The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• Hypersensitivity to the active or auxiliary components;
• Unstable epilepsy;
• In combination with MAO inhibitors and for two weeks after their discontinuation;

Adepress should be used with caution when:

• Liver or kidney failure;
• Prostate hyperplasia;
• Angle-closure glaucoma;
• Epilepsy;
• Heart pathologies;
• Mania, convulsive states.

You should also be careful when using Adepress in combination with electrical pulse therapy, with drugs that increase the likelihood of bleeding, and in elderly patients.