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Original poster

Anyone taken/know anything about Dosulepin?

33 replies

Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 16:37

I am going through a bit of a stressful time atm, & today I went to see my doctor about it.
I explained my situation & asked about possibly having some more counselling, which he is going to try & organise.
I told him I wasn't sure I wanted ads, as I am not depressed as such, just very stressed & run down, but he has requested I try taking Dosulepin to help with my anxiety levels.
I have never heard of this drug & know nothing about any possible side effects.
I am in two minds as to whether I should start taking these tablets.
Has anyone any experience of this drug?

OP posts:
alexa1 · 09/11/2006 16:50

hi. im sorry i know nothing about dosulepin but i went to the docs for the same reasons as u and she prescribed 'escitalopram' which i have to say i was reluctant to take but so far so good. its only been 4 days but i feel relaxed and not so anxious. prior to these AD's i was on 'citalopram' which didn;t agree with me. i had terrible side effects with it.
i think its a case of try and see. they might work for u, there again they might not but im sure you will find one that does work.
im pretty sure one the girls on here has taken that AD u mention. hopefully she will come on here and post soon.
my anxiety levels are always high but over the last few months there has been a lot going on in my life that i feel i need something to help me get through it. hopefully u will feel better soon. give them a go and if they dont work go back to the GP.

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 16:57

Thanks, alexa1.

I was also on citalopram a while back. I was prescribed it for my PND & it made me feel quite sick.
I told him that I didn't need ads, because I feel I am stressed rather than depressed, but he said they help bring your anxiety levels down & also help you sleep.
I am going through a very stressful time atm, & I guess if they help de-stress me a little, it may be worth giving them a go.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 17:22

Quick bump!

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lulumama · 09/11/2006 17:26

not taken them myskef...but have expereince of various ADs

rad the leaflet in the box....call your doctor or go to Boots and speak to the pharmacist to discuss further if neccesary

side effects tend to be similar ..is it an SSRI?

lulumama · 09/11/2006 17:26

read the leaflet obviously!

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 17:30

I will read the leaflet - will probably scare myself silly with the list of side effects listed, as they cover all possibilities!
I nearly scared myself out of taking citalopram after reading all possible side effects on the leaflet!!

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Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 17:34

He did say it may leave me feeling heavy headed in the morning - nothing new there!!

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Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 21:38

Nobody heard of this drug??

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DontlookatmeImscary · 09/11/2006 21:43

I have just started on this. Have been on them about a week.
Do you have any already. Ifnot I'll have a look at the leaflet and let you know the sideeffects/any other info you want.

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 09/11/2006 22:24

I haven't picked them up yet. I got the prescription today, but had to rush straight to work after doctors appt.
I have never heard of them before, but my doctor said they are good for anxiety.
How are you finding them?

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DontlookatmeImscary · 10/11/2006 09:21

So far they seem ok. I'm on the lowest dose possible. The main thing I've noticed is they are helping me sleep better although I've heard this affect canwear offafter a while. I,m also feeling less stressed out but that could be due to the sleep. It's early days yet, but the next couple of weeks will be the real test though asI usually have ny worst days a week or so before af is due.

Anyway, it says on the leaflet they are "used to treat depression and isparticularly useful when depression is accompanied by anxiety.

There's a big list of side effects but then most medicines have longlists too.The main one seems tobe a dry mouth which I'vehad. I also had headaches the first few days but they've stopped now and I couldn't really say if it was due to the tablets ornot.

I was hesitant about taking them even after I picked them up butI'm glad I havenow.

Hope they work out for you too

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 10/11/2006 14:00

Thanks, DLAMIS. It is good to hear from someone who has taken these tablets, as I had never heard of them!
My gp did tell me that they may give me dry lips & make me feel a bit heavy headed in the morning.
He is starting me on a very low dosage.
I was wary about taking ads, but he has told me these are not addictive & do help with anxiety.
I think I will give them a go!

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puppydavies · 10/11/2006 14:15

they're a tricyclic, which is an older type than the ssri's. they usually try an ssri first then move to tricyclics if they don't suit/stop working.

they're my ad of choice as they seem to suit me, but obviously everyone's different. i've been on them 3 times and never had a problem coming off them. i never have many side effects and found the dry mouth wore off after a while.

i do find them very sedative, i sleep very heavily on them, but you may not find that on a lower dose. funnily enough i usually get the "need to sleep all the time" kind of depression but they worked equally well for me last time when i was very agitated.

if you want to find out more the name has recently changed you could try searching for dothiapin (generic) or prothiaden (brand) alongside dosulepin.

any other questions just give me a shout

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 10/11/2006 15:52

Thanks for all that info, puppydavies.
I am afraid I have no clue what a tricyclic or a ssri is!!
Good to know you haven't had any horrible side effects, as that's one thing that has always put me off ADs. The sedative effect could prove a bit of a problem with me getting up for work in the morning though!
I don't think I am depressed, just mega stressed. My gp said they are very good for bringing down your anxiety levels & this is why he thought they may help me.

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madmarchhare · 10/11/2006 16:30

Yes, I have been taking them for almost 3 months now. I have had others in the past but unable to cope with the side effects now I have DS.

I found that the dosulepin did make me feel very tired at first but I do think that helped to keep away those anxious moments in the middle of the night.

I now take 150mg, after building up 25mg at a time, which seems to be the right dosage for me.

I have had a couple of 'wobbles' where I thought that the anxious moments/ palpitations were returning but have only lasted a day or so.

Overall they seem to be doing the trick for me and by far have the least side effects out of the ADs I have taken in the past.

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 10/11/2006 16:38

Thanks, madmarchhare. It is very reassuring to hear you have had so few side effects with them.
I must say, the tiredness thing is worrying me a little, because I work in a reception class & cannot afford to be too sleepy at work!

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DontlookatmeImshy · 11/11/2006 17:14

Hi PC.

I am starting to suffer with the heavy-head/sleepiness in the morning when I wake up. It does seem to wear off reasonable quickly(ie by the time I've got up, washed, dressed,) so I would guess you would beokay by the timeyou got to work.

madmarchhare · 13/11/2006 14:19

Yes, I find that the quicker I just get up and get on with it the sooner the tiredness goes.

Pink - just give them a go and if youre really not happy with them you could go back and discus with GP.

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 13/11/2006 19:31

Sounds like how I normally feel of a morning!
Thank you both for the info. I think I should definitely give them a try - especially after the awful nights sleep I had last night!

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Lozza121 · 03/01/2007 11:40

Have read all your messages. I have just took my first tablet last night fell asleep straight away but then after a few hours i woke up wide awake and couldn't get back to sleep. Kept getting hold then a bit chilly. Woke up feeling a bit anxious this morning aswell. Does this wear off after a while or has anyone else felt like this?

blossomhill · 03/01/2007 11:46

I am on these and they have been a god send to me through my anxious spells and help me sleep at night HTH

Frostythesurfmum · 03/01/2007 11:48

I've been on them for over 10 years now. They're an older style anti-depressant. They're great and keep me really well. I can honestly say I get no side effects from them, but I do get a really good night's sleep and wake refreshed. I can tell the difference between a night's sleep without them and one with, both times I sleep through, but ther's a difference in how I feel when I wake.

I too get that sleepy feeling first thing, but it wears off by the time I've made a cuppa and I've never had a problem getting to work on time because of it. I also took them throughout my pregnancy with no problems, and never had a problem waking in the night to feed dd.

You'll need to take them for a good 2-3 weeks to notice any change, and it won't be an over night miracle cure, you will gradually start to feel better.

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 03/01/2007 19:42

I ended up putting off taking these tablets, as I was worried about being drowsy in the morning, seen as I have to be up early for work.
I thought I could cope with herbal tablets alone & started taking Kalms. However things started to build up again & get much much worse. My sleeping was also almost non existant, so I have now picked up these tablets & am going to give them a go. Fingers crossed they will prove helpful!

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pinkbubble · 03/01/2007 20:16

PC please take them, you know they make you feel abit worse for a few days but ask friends for help! I have been on some on and off during the years so do know that. I am on them now-escitalopram and swear by them, infact I feel worse if I dont take them. Your GP would not give them to you if he thought you didnt need them now would he. Have you got an understandable work colleague who is happy to help? I'm sure you must

Original poster
Pinkchampagne · 03/01/2007 20:57

Hi pinkbubble, good to see you here!
You've cracked it then?!!

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