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Is anyone in the world still taking Dosulepin??

Posted , 75 users are following.

Lisa362
Lisa362

HI,

I was wondering if anyone can help me here? I have been taking the tricyclic antidepressant dosulepin for the past 12 years. Last year I started reading stuff on the internet about it causing heart problems for people and that it wasn't being prescribed anymore. My doctor had never mentioned this to me. But I was worried so I went to my doctor to ask if I should change to another newer pill. She said she thought it was a good idea and switched me onto mirtazapine. To cut a long story short my anxiety and depression rocketed and I thought I was going to die so after a month I had no choice but to go back on dosulepin again. I had deteriorated so much that it literally took 4 months before I started to feel in any way well again.

Anyway I have now been back on dosulepin for 5 months and I know that I will have to take it for the rest of my life as it is the only drug that can help me. But I am starting to worry about the fact that NOONE seems to be prescribed it nowadays and everything on the internet seems to relate to how dangerous it is. I am frightened that I am on a drug that might give me a heart attack.

The doctor says I can have an EGC to check my heart but even if it comes back ok I think I will still worry about the fact that I have to take it daily for ever.

Please is there anyone on here that Is on dosulepin or another of the tricyclic's and if so do you have any information on the associated heart risks?

Thank you

Lisa

6 likes, 196 replies

196 Replies

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  • Valrose60
    Valrose60 Lisa362

    Posted

    Hi Lisa 

                 I've been taking dosulepin for over 20 yrs I've been to my doctors a few times lately and they have both talked about me coming off them it was only last week a doctor asked me how long I'd been on them when I told him he said I should try as they have bad side effects 

    im on 125 mg at the moment was only ever on 50 mg for years but my health changed 8 years ago and they upped them to 150 mg  I'm back down to 125mg and have tried to get down to 100mg but felt terrible I've only ever come off them a few times and always have to go back on them .

    i hope your still getting your medication I'm not having any trouble getting mine .

  • helen24442
    helen24442 Lisa362

    Posted

    Yes Lisa, I have been taking Dosulepin 75mg for 23 years now & I am

    very well on it.

    you should not worry, it's very good.

    i hope this helps.

    Helen

     

    • nicolas95358
      nicolas95358 helen24442

      Posted

      Hi Helen,

      Why did you take dosulepin? How long did it take to work?

      Thanks for your help

  • blondie123
    blondie123 Lisa362

    Posted

    Hi Lisa just joined I hav used dothiepin since 1983 and it's never caused me any problems. They did try nd change me to mirtazapin nd some others but I was a total mess took me bout 8 months to get back to where I was with dothiepin. The new tablets r probs cheaper than dothiepin.

    • nicolas95358
      nicolas95358 blondie123

      Posted

      Hi Blondie,

      Why did you take dosulepin? How long did it take to work?

      Thanks for your help

  • lesley99052
    lesley99052 Lisa362

    Posted

    Hi Lisa

    I've only just joined this sight. However like you I have been on dosulopin for about 12 years.

    I heard that too about heath issues and they would not be giving out to new patients any more.

    I've spoken to my go he has recommended venlafaxine as a back up plan.

    Over the next few months I am going to start to reduce my dosulopin I'm hoping I will be ok but at least I have a back up plan in place should i need it.

    So Lisa if you don't mind me asking where are you up to now with this medication.

    I take 25mg in the morning and 75mg at night?

    Good luck and please keep me posted.

    Regards

    Miss Lesley Wright (age 49)

  • denise1956
    denise1956 Lisa362

    Posted

    Hi Lisa - I have been on this medication for 33 years and I intend to stay on it whatever - I am 60 years old and take no other medication - I am not going to worry about possible effects now at my time of life - all I know is that I can live a life - I can cope with what life throws at me - I need my medication and that is that - I love feeling in control and not driven by fear and anxiety all the time - long live dusulepin!!!
    • malcolm_6956
      malcolm_6956 denise1956

      Posted

      Hi Denise, I'm in the same position. I'm now 60 and have been taking dothiepin 100mg and imipramine 100mg for 21 years. When I developed an arrhythmia my gp wanted to take me off both of them and try something new. I cooperated. It was one of the worst years of my life. Now that he is convinced that nothing else will work he has started me on anti-hypertensive medication. Still seeing what works. Life would be very difficult if dothiepin/dosulepin was taken off the market.

    • nicolas95358
      nicolas95358 denise1956

      Posted

      Hi Denise,

      Why did you take dosulepin? How long did it take to work?

      Thanks for your help

  • Jitterbugss
    Jitterbugss Lisa362

    Posted

    Hi Lisa, this is probably a bit late for you but thought I'd post just

    incase. I have just been prescribed Dolsupen(aka Doxepin, dothiepin).

    I am aware there is an increased risk of heart problems,

    which does concern me as im also on a fair few other meds for

    fybromyalgia and methadone for past opiate abuse,which can

    also cause heart problems. I researched antidepressants then

    asked my dr for dulsopen as I can't tolerate ssri's or snri's and

    im running out of options. Im due to start them on Tuesday as

    I've had to wean myself off sertraline first, which I've been on for

    5 months. I just wanted to let you know they are still being

    prescribed and although there are risks most people who take

    them will not be affected. For me, if they work then they will be

    worth the risk because I am unable to function without treatment for

    my depression and anxiety. Hope you're doing okay

    • leo29674
      leo29674 Jitterbugss

      Posted

      This drug was the only one out of many that helped me, good luck, and be well, Leo
  • leo29674
    leo29674 Lisa362

    Posted

    I am taking it now, I found it was the only one out of many medicines that helped me, I can manage the dside effects. Good luck, Leo
  • Jitterbugss
    Jitterbugss Lisa362

    Posted

    Ive just been prescribed dosulepin after several nightmare adverse reactions to ssri's and snri's. I was originally on mirtazapine which was great for my mood but left me groggy all day and my apetite was ridiculous. I put on 5 stone in 5 years and im certain if I'd carried on taking it id have continued to gain a stone a year at least, for the rest of my life. It was me that suggested dosulepin to my gp because i have fybromyalgia depression insomnia and several allergies. My being prescribed it might well come under 'exceptional circumstances' because that day things were pretty desperate. Ive been in excruciating pain for the last 6 months, both nerve and muscle pain. I suffer from muscle spasms that usually affect my limbs or my neck but last week i was having facial muscle spasms that meant i couldn't control my eye movements and left me unable to see. It was the straw that broke the camels back for me. It had got to the point where i felt life was not worth living so i would have tried anything.He agreed to take me off sertraline and i weaned off it over 10days. I started dulsopen 2 days ago. He did say that newer antidepressants were regarded as being much safer but agreed i was fast running out of options. Im in the middle of sertraline withdrawal and it's making me suicidal. I pray the dosulepin works and if it does that it will not be taken off the market because that would be the final nail in the coffin. I'm willing to take the risks associated with this med because life right now is unbearable. Im only 34 and if there's even a chance it could help then i have try. Hope you have all found something that works for you or have been allowed to go back to dosupelin. It's easy for doctors to take you off one med and give a script for another. Most cannot comprehend what its like to withdraw off these meds only to find the new one you have been given doesn't work or you are unable to tolerate it. I wish GP's were educated a lot more on the psych meds they give out. It can literally mean the difference between life or death for their patient. All the best

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