milnacipran

What is the most important information I should know about milnacipran?

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking milnacipran. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Do not stop using milnacipran without first asking your doctor.

What is milnacipran?

Milnacipran is used to treat chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia (a medical condition that causes chronic pain in the muscles and joints).

Milnacipran may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking milnacipran?

Do not use milnacipran if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. After you stop taking milnacipran, you must wait at least 5 days before you start taking an MAOI.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• heart disease, high blood pressure;
• seizures or epilepsy;
• bipolar disorder (manic depression);
• bleeding problems;
• low levels of sodium in your blood;
• sexual problems;
• if you drink alcohol; or
• if you take a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with milnacipran and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking milnacipran. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Taking this medicine during pregnancy may cause serious lung problems or other complications in the baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do not start or stop taking this medicine during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of milnacipran on the baby.

How should I take milnacipran?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of this medicine.

Your blood pressure and heart rate will need to be checked often.

Tell your doctor if you have any changes in sexual function, such as loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, or (in men) problems with erections or ejaculation. Some sexual problems can be treated.

Do not stop using milnacipran suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using milnacipran.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, and slow breathing (breathing may stop).

What should I avoid while taking milnacipran?

What are the possible side effects of milnacipran?

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

• little or no urination;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• a seizure;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• liver problems --stomach pain (upper right side), itching, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• low sodium level --headache, confusion, severe weakness, vomiting, problems with thinking or memory, feeling unsteady; or
• manic episodes --racing thoughts, increased energy, unusual risk-taking behavior, extreme happiness, being irritable or talkative.

Some side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, constipation;
• dry mouth;
• increased blood pressure;
• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• increased sweating, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
• headache, dizziness; or
• trouble sleeping.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect milnacipran?

Other drugs may affect milnacipran, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about milnacipran.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 7.01. Revision date: 11/12/2021.