Medication Information Leaflet
Dothiepin belongs to a class of medications known as Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). It is used to treat symptoms of depression (low mood) such as:
Dothiepin may also be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Your skin may become more sensitive to sunlight after starting this medication. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and use sunblock to protect your skin.
The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.
Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Rarely this medication may cause:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
IMPORTANT:
In some cases, particularly in young people below the age of 25 years, this medication may cause the following changes to a person’s mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:
Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.
It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/ she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without any of such problems.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Dothiepin as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on Aug 2022
This article was last reviewed on Thursday, August 12, 2021