Product information
About Dexetine
Dexetine contains duloxetine, an antidepressant of the SNRI group. It increases the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline, two chemicals in the brain that affect mood and the way the body feels pain.
Dexetine is used in adults to treat depression, generalised anxiety disorder (long-lasting feelings of worry and nervousness), and nerve pain caused by diabetes, which can feel like burning, stabbing, or electric shocks.
It can take a few weeks before you feel better. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor.
How to use
Take Dexetine exactly as your doctor has told you. Your doctor will choose the dose and the strength that suit you.
- Depression and diabetic nerve pain: the usual dose is 60 mg once a day.
- Generalised anxiety disorder: the usual starting dose is 30 mg once a day. Most people then move to 60 mg once a day, and your doctor may increase it further.
- Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water, with or without food. Take it at about the same time every day.
- Do not stop taking Dexetine suddenly. Your doctor will lower the dose gradually, over at least 2 weeks.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is nearly due. Do not take a double dose.
Composition
- Dexetine 30 mg
- Each capsule contains duloxetine (as duloxetine hydrochloride) 30 mg.
- Dexetine 60 mg
- Each capsule contains duloxetine (as duloxetine hydrochloride) 60 mg.
- Pack sizes
- Pack of 10 capsules.
Side effects and warnings
Like all medicines, Dexetine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Very common ones include headache, sleepiness, feeling sick and a dry mouth. Common ones include loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, dizziness, sweating, constipation and diarrhoea.
- Do not take Dexetine if you are allergic to duloxetine or any of the other ingredients, or if you have liver disease or severe kidney disease.
- Do not take Dexetine if you take or have recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant, or if you take fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin or enoxacin.
- Thoughts of harming or killing yourself can happen or get worse in the first weeks of treatment with antidepressants. If this happens, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.
- Tell your doctor if you have bipolar disorder or mania, have had fits (seizures), have glaucoma, have bleeding problems or take blood thinners, or are at risk of low sodium in the blood.
- Medicines like Dexetine can raise blood pressure. Your doctor may check it from time to time.
- Dexetine is not normally used in children and adolescents under 18 years.
- Dexetine can make you feel sleepy or dizzy. Do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you, and take care with alcohol.
- If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breast-feeding, ask your doctor before taking Dexetine. Breast-feeding is not recommended.
Always read the patient information leaflet in the pack. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.