Side effect What is it? What should I do if it happens to me?
COMMON
CONSTIPATION Feeling "bunged up" inside. You can't pass a
motion or stool.
Eat more fibre e.g. bran, fruit and vegetables. Do more
walking. Make sure you drink plenty of fluid. A mild laxative
from a pharmacy might help.
DIZZINESS Feeling light-headed and faint. Don't stand up too quickly. Try and lie down when you feel it
coming on. Don't drive.
DRY MOUTH Not much saliva or spit. Sugar-free boiled sweets, chewing gum or eating citrus fruits
usually helps. If not, your doctor can give you a mouth spray.
A change in medicine or dose may be possible.
INSOMNIA Not able to sleep at night If you are worried, contact your doctor. Try taking your second
dose of the day in the evening rather than late at night.
SWEATING Sweating more than normal. If it is bad, see your doctor.
UNCOMMON
IMPOTENCE Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection. Contact your doctor. He/she may be able to give you another
antidepressant that doesn’t cause this problem
POSTURAL
HYPOTENSION
A low blood pressure. This can make you
feel dizzy especially when you stand or get
out of bed too quickly.
Try not too stand up or get out of bed too quickly. If you feel
dizzy, don’t drive. This dizziness is not dangerous. It may
happen more at doses above 12mg a day.
TACHYCARDIA A fast heart beat. It may feel like palpitations. This is not usually dangerous. It can easily be treated if it lasts
a long time.
URINARY
HESITANCY
Difficulty in passing urine, especially if you
are a man.
Contact your doctor now.
VERTIGO Dizziness and light headedness. You may
also feel sick.
Contact your doctor.
What about alcohol?
It is officially recommended that people taking reboxetine should not drink alcohol. This is because both reboxetine and
alcohol can cause drowsiness. If the two are taken at the same time, severe drowsiness can result. This can lead to falls or
accidents. As well as this, drinking alcohol often makes depression worse. Excessive drinking is especially likely to do this.
Once people are used to taking medication, they can sometimes drink alcohol in small amounts without any harm. Avoid
alcohol altogether for the first one or two months. After this, if you want a drink, try a glass of your normal drink and see
how you feel. If this doesn’t make you feel drowsy, then it is probably OK to drink small amounts. It pays to be very cautious
because alcohol affects people in different ways, especially when they are taking medication.
Don’t stop taking your medication because you fancy a drink at the weekend. If you do drink alcohol, drink only small
amounts. Never drink any alcohol and drive while on reboxetine. Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor or
pharmacist.
When I feel better, can I stop taking reboxetine?
No. If you stop taking reboxetine, your original symptoms may return. To reduce your chances of becoming depressed
again, you may need to take your antidepressant for at least 6 months after you feel better, and sometimes longer. This is
not thought to be harmful. You should decide with your doctor when you can come off it.
Remember, leaflets like this can only describe some of the effects of medication. You may find other
books or leaflets also useful. If you have access to the internet you may find a lot of information
there as well, but be careful, as internet based information is not always accurate.
2001 United Kingdom Psychiatric Pharmacy Group www.ukppg.org.uk
This leaflet is to help you understand about your medicine. It is not an official manufacturer's Patient Information Leaflet.
For more information call the UKPPG National Telephone Helpline, 11am to 5pm, Monday to Friday on 020 7919 2999 or
visit www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy
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