Desyrel is an antidepressant, a medicine that helps to lift mental depression.

Desyrel can help patients whose depression has not responded to other medications, or who have experienced limiting side effects with other antidepressants.

Desyrel may also be used to treat other conditions such as problems sleeping, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Desyrel belongs to a class of medications similar to the tricyclic anti-depressants (TCAs).

When depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of the chemicals noradrenaline and serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. When these chemicals are released from nerve cells they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood.

Desyrel works by preventing this re-absorption of serotonin back into the nerve cells.

Desyrel may also act to mimic the mood-lightening

Take Desyrel shortly after a meal or light snack. You may be more apt to feel dizzy or light-headed if you take Desyrel before you have eaten.

Adults
The usual starting dose of Desyrel is 150 milligrams per day, divided into 2 or more smaller doses. Your doctor may increase your dose by 50 milligrams per day every 3 or 4 days. Total dose of Desyrel should not exceed 400 milligrams per day, divided into smaller doses. Once you have responded well to Desyrel , your doctor

Desyrel may intensify the effects of alcohol. Do not drink alcohol while taking Desyrel.

If Desyrel is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Desyrel with the following:

• Antidepressant drugs known as MAO inhibitors, including Nardil and Parnate
• Barbiturates such as Seconal
• Central nervous system depressants such as Demerol and Halcion
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Most Important Fact about Desyrel

Desyrel may take 2 to 4 weeks to be effective. Desyrel does not provide immediate relief. Do not stop taking Desyrel without consulting with your medical practitioner.

Desyrel precautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

There is no information available about the safety of Desyrel during pregnancy, and Desyrel should be avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor. There

More common side effects of Desyrel may include:

• abdominal or stomach disorder,
• aches or pains in muscles and bones,
• anger or hostility,
• blurred vision,
• brief loss of consciousness,
• confusion, constipation,
• decreased appetite,
• diarrhea,
• dizziness or light-headedness,
• drowsiness,
• dry mouth,
• excitement,
• fainting,
• fast or fluttery heartbeat,
• fatigue,
• fluid retention and
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