Nefazodone (Systemic)

Brand Names : Serzone

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For nefazodone, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nefazodone or trazodone (e.g., Desyrel). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that nefazodone causes a decrease in the number of successful pregnancies, as well as a decrease in the weight of offspring, when given in doses several times higher than the human dose. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether nefazodone passes into human breast milk. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on nefazodone have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of this medicine in children up to 18 years of age with use in other age groups.

Nefazodone must be used with caution in children with depression. Studies have shown occurrences of children thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this medicine. More study is needed to be sure nefazodone is safe and effective in children.

Older adults - The relationship of age to the effects of nefazodone has not been systematically studied in older people. However, blood levels of nefazodone have been found to be higher in older patients. An older adult may require a lower dose of nefazodone than a younger adult.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking nefazodone, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alprazolam (e.g., Xanax) or
• Triazolam (e.g., Halcion) - Use with nefazodone may result in increased blood levels of these medicines and, therefore, increased effects. Your doctor may want to reduce the dose of these medicines if they are used at the same time as nefazodone. An older adult should not receive both triazolam and nefazodone

• Astemizole (e.g., Hismanal) or
• Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
• Pimozide (e.g., ORAP) or
• Terfenadine (e.g., Seldane) - Do not use these medicines with nefazodone or you may develop a very serious change in heart rhythm

• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) - Do not take carbamazepine with nefazodone. This medicine may interfere with nefazodone and cause it to not work to help with your depression.

• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]) - Do not take nefazodone while you are taking an MAO inhibitor or you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal problems, sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, and/or severe convulsions; at least 14 days should pass between stopping treatment with an MAO inhibitor and starting treatment with nefazodone and at least 7 days should pass between stopping treatment with nefazodone and starting treatment with an MAO inhibitor

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of nefazodone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Convulsions (seizures) (history of) - The risk of seizures may be increased

• Dehydration or
• Hypovolemia (low blood volume) - May increase the chance that low blood pressure (hypotension) will occur

• Heart disease or
• Stroke (or history of) - Nefazodone may make these conditions worse by causing low blood pressure (hypotension)

• Liver function problems - If your liver does not function well, due to liver problems or liver disease and you take nefazodone, the amount of nefazodone in your blood may be too high. This may cause serious disease or damage in your liver.

• Liver function problems when taking this medicine before and you had to stop taking it - You may have a greater chance of having liver problems if you take nefazodone again. Tell your doctor immediately if you have taken this medicine before.

• Mania (a type of mental illness) (history of) - Nefazodone may cause this problem to recur