Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking dothiepin as follows:
- Dothiepin takes some time to fairly balance the chemicals in the brain, before any improvement in mood and behavior are noted. It could take about 2 – 4 weeks to see this change in mood. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without consulting your physician, as you failed to see the improvement with depression and anxiety symptoms immediately after taking the medication.
- Intake of dothiepin induces relaxation of urinary bladder, prevent/reduce episodes of bladder contraction, induce retention of urine in the bladder, and cause difficulty with emptying the bladder. Retention of urine in the bladder is a significant factor contributing to development of UTI. Individuals with history of retention of urine and frequent urinary tract infections must be aware of this side-effect of dothiepin, as the medication can exacerbate this risk significantly. Observing compliance with proper hydration measures, compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations, practicing hygiene & timed voiding with other UTI prevention measures can help reduce the risk of urinary retention and prevent development of any UTIs, secondary to dothiepin intake.
- As the balance between the chemicals in the brain has to be finely regulated to help relieve the anxiety and depressive symptoms and experience feelings of well-being, the dose of dothiepin also needs to be finely regulated, in order to accomplish this goal. Your physician could change the dose of dothiepin, based on the response and side-effects developed. Maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
- Notify your doctor of any unresolved and worsening anxiety and depressive symptoms or continuing unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
- Dothiepin use in expectant mothers could increase risk for postnatal depression in the mother. Dothiepin use in mothers can also increase risk for complications in breastfed newborns. So, dothiepin is cautiously administered or best avoided for an alternative drug during pregnancy, in women planning for pregnancy, and in women breastfeeding the newborn.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, as it can lead to toxicity. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
