天空

About Symbyax

Symbyax was the first antidepressant approved by the FDA for acute treatment of treatment-resistant depression and bipolar I depression in adults.

Be Sure to Talk With Your Healthcare Provider to See If Symbyax Is Right For You

To learn more, please review some common questions about your treatment with Symbyax and Symbyax side effect information. Additional information about Symbyax can be found by reviewing the Safety Information and Boxed Warnings, Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide.

Taking Symbyax

How Soon Will Symbyax Help Me Feel Better?

You may start feeling better within as few as 7 days of starting Symbyax. But it can take up to a few weeks or longer to feel its full benefit. Everyone responds to medicine differently. Not everyone will get better after taking Symbyax. If you don’t think you are getting better, call your doctor.

It is important you take Symbyax exactly as a healthcare professional has prescribed. He or she will decide how long you should take Symbyax. If Symbyax does not start to work immediately, you should try not to be discouraged.

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Symbyax?

Before taking Symbyax, tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription and nonprescription medicines you use. This includes medicines for migraines, to avoid a possible life-threatening condition. Also, tell your healthcare provider about any vitamins or herbal supplements you take and if you are planning on taking any of the following medicines:

ZYPREXA® (olanzapine), ZYPREXA RELPREVV (olanzapine), Prozac® (fluoxetine hydrochloride), Sarafem® (fluoxetine hydrochloride), or medicines that contain them.

Ibuprofen, aspirin, or blood thinners. Symbyax can increase the risk of bleeding, especially when taken with these medicines. If you notice increased or unusual bruising or other bleeding, contact your healthcare provider.

Also tell your healthcare provider about any medical conditions you have, including heart problems, seizures, diabetes or high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood, liver problems, low or high blood pressure, strokes or “mini-strokes” also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), bleeding problems, Alzheimer’s disease, narrow-angle glaucoma, enlarged prostate in men, bowel obstruction, breast cancer, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, or any other medical condition.

Who Should NOT Take SYMBYAX

Do not take SYMBYAX if you already take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) or if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks. Do not take an MAOI within 5 weeks of stopping SYMBYAX. People who take SYMBYAX close in time to an MAOI can have serious and life-threatening side effects, with symptoms including: high fever, continued muscle spasms that you cannot control, rigid muscles, changes in heart rate and blood pressure that happen fast, confusion, unconsciousness. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is an MAOI

Do not take SYMBYAX if you already take Mellaril (thioridazine). Do not take Mellaril within 5 weeks of stopping SYMBYAX. Mellaril can cause serious heart rhythm problems and you could die suddenly

Do not take SYMBYAX if you take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap)

What Happens If I Stop Taking Symbyax?

You should not stop taking Symbyax suddenly. If you do, you may have dizziness, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. Talk with your healthcare professional before stopping Symbyax.

Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider to see if Symbyax is right for you.

For additional information, please review some common questions about your treatment with Symbyax and Symbyax side effect information. More information about Symbyax can be found by reviewing the Safety Information and Boxed Warnings, Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide.

Mellaril® is a registered trademark of Novartis.
Orap® is a registered trademark of Gate Pharmaceuticals, a division of Teva Pharmaceuticals USA.
Prozac® and ZYPREXA® are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.
Sarafem® is a registered trademark of Warner Chilcott, Inc.

Side Effects

Symbyax is associated with some possible side effects. Not everyone will experience these side effects. It is important to know the possible side effects of any medicine you take and how to manage them. Some may just be uncomfortable. Others can be more serious.

Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or won't go away. Some common, possible side effects of Symbyax are:

    * Tiredness
    * Increased appetite
    * Blurred vision
    * Dry mouth
    * Feeling weak
    * Sleeping for long periods of time
    * Tremors (shakes)
    * Swelling of your hands and feet

This is not a complete list of possible side effects of Symbyax. To learn more about all the side effects of Symbyax, please review the Safety Information and Boxed Warnings, Symbyax Medication Guide, and Prescribing Information.

If you have questions or concerns, talk with your healthcare provider. Do not stop taking Symbyax without first talking with him or her.
Risks of Suicide

Symbyax has not been studied in children under 18 and is not approved for this age group. Additionally, all antidepressants carry a warning of increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Thoughts of death or suicide are common in depression, and it's important to take such thoughts seriously. If you feel like giving up or as if you might hurt yourself, get help immediately:

    * Call your doctor
    * Go to the emergency room
    * Call 911
    * Call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

What Are Some Additional Things I Should Know About Symbyax?

High blood sugar can happen if you have diabetes already or if you have never had diabetes. High blood sugar could lead to a build up of acid in your blood due to ketones (ketoacidosis), coma, or death. Your doctor should do tests to check your blood sugar before you start taking SYMBYAX and during treatment. In people who do not have diabetes, sometimes high blood sugar goes away when SYMBYAX is stopped. People with diabetes and some people who did not have diabetes before taking SYMBYAX need to take medicine for high blood sugar even after they stop taking SYMBYAX. If you have diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions about how often to check your blood sugar while taking SYMBYAX.

People taking Symbyax should have blood tests to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels before they start taking SYMBYAX and during treatment.

People may gain weight while taking Symbyax and should have their weight checked regularly during treatment.
When to Call Your Healthcare Professional

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and bipolar I depression can be associated with periods when symptoms can worsen or thoughts of suicide can emerge. People with depression and their families should be familiar with the signs of suicide risk. A healthcare professional should be contacted if the individual's symptoms become severe or occur suddenly.

Also, you should alert your doctor immediately if:

    * You have thoughts about death or suicide
    * You think you could hurt yourself or others
    * You believe your symptoms are becoming worse or you develop new symptoms
    * You are experiencing unwanted side effects