Comprimés d'agomélatine

About agomelatine

What is agomelatine used for?

Agomelatine is an atypical antidepressant used to treat dépression.

Depression is common and symptoms can affect day-to-day life and can become very distressing. Treatments include talking (psychological) treatments and antidepressant medicines.

Our bodies follow a daily cycle, called circadian rhythms, which control sleep and other functions. When these rhythms are disrupted, it can lead to depression. Agomelatine helps depression by restoring this natural balance.

Side effects of agomelatine

The most common side effects of agomelatine are:

• Se sentir mal.

• Diarrhée.

• Feeling dizzy, tired or sleepy.

• Maux de tête

• Constipation.

• Douleurs d'estomac.

• Difficulté à dormir.

• Feeling anxious.

• Increased sweating.

• Douleur dorsale.

Vous trouverez une liste complète dans la notice d'information du fabricant fournie avec votre médicament. Les effets indésirables s'améliorent souvent à mesure que votre corps s'adapte au nouveau médicament, mais parlez-en à votre médecin ou pharmacien si l'un des effets suivants persiste ou devient gênant.

How to manage agomelatine side effects

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes que vous pensez être dus aux comprimés, parlez-en à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien pour obtenir des conseils supplémentaires.

Who should not take agomelatine?

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking agomelatine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous avez moins de 18 ans ou plus de 75 ans.

• Si vous êtes enceinte ou si vous allaitez.

• Si vous avez des problèmes avec le fonctionnement de votre foie, ou si vous avez des problèmes avec le fonctionnement de vos reins.

• If you have ever had abnormally 'high' moods or dementia.

• Si vous consommez régulièrement de grandes quantités d'alcool.

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments disponibles à l'achat sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médecines complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

How to take agomelatine

• Read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about agomelatine, and will also provide you with a full list of the side effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take agomelatine exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose is one tablet daily. This may be increased in some people to two tablets daily (taken together) after a couple of weeks.

• You should take the tablets at bedtime. The tablets can be taken either with or without food.

• If you forget to take a dose, do not worry, just take the next dose when it is due.
  

Tirer le meilleur parti de votre traitement

• It can take a week or two after starting the tablets before the effect begins to build up, and maybe a few weeks longer before you feel the full benefit from the treatment. Do not stop taking agomelatine after a few days, thinking it is not helping.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is because your doctor will want you to have a blood test every few weeks to check that your liver is staying healthy.

  • Your doctor will also give you a booklet to read which explains about what symptoms to look out for as signs that the medicine could be harming your liver. There is a list of these symptoms in the section below on the problems which can be caused by agomelatine.

• While you feel depressed or are taking agomelatine, you may have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life. It is very important that you tell your doctor about this straightaway if it happens to you.

• Taking agomelatine and alcohol is not recommended, so do not drink alcohol during your treatment with this medicine.

• Smoking can affect the amount of agomelatine in your body. Let your doctor know if you either start or stop smoking while you are taking agomelatine.

• Your doctor will ask you to carry on taking agomelatine for a while after you feel better. This is to stop your symptoms from returning.

• There are several types of antidepressants and they differ in their possible side effects. If you find that agomelatine does not suit you then let your doctor know, as another could be found that will suit you.

How to store agomelatine

• Gardez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.
  

Informations importantes sur tous les médicaments

Questions fréquemment posées

Is agomelatine a strong antidepressant?

Agomelatine is not considered a “strong” antidepressant in the traditional sense, but it can be effective for some people. It works differently to many other antidepressants, helping regulate sleep as well as mood.

Does agomelatine cause weight gain?

Agomelatine is less likely to cause weight gain than many other antidepressants. While changes in weight can happen for some people, they are not usually common side effects.

What class of drug is agomelatine?

Agomelatine belongs to a class of antidepressants known as melatonergic antidepressants. It works differently from SSRIs and SNRIs by acting on melatonin and serotonin receptors, which may help improve sleep patterns as well as mood.