Valdoxan: What is it and what is it for?

What is valdoxan?

Valdoxan® is a drug whose active compound is agomelatine, which has symptomatic tricyclic antidepressant properties, which act directly towards neurotransmitters and their effect on brain neurochemistry.

Note: It should be noted that this drug is commercially distributed byLaboratorios Servier. (1)

What is valdoxan for?

• Valdoxan® is responsible for suppressing or blocking the neurotransmitters 5-HT2C (serotonin receptors), stimulating melatonin receptors (sleep regulating hormone in all living beings), resulting in higher levels of dopamine andnoradrenaline. That is, control and improvement of mood.
• It is used to treat:
  • Episodes ofmajor depressionin adults. (2)
  • Anxietyresulting from depressive episodes.
  • Bipolar disorder. (3)

Dosage and routes of administration of valdoxan

Valdoxan® commonly comes as25 mg film-coated tablets of the active substanceand approximately 61 mglactose with an oral route of administration. Therefore, their doses are divided as follows:

• Adults: Use 1 tablet of 25 mg a day, always before sleeping, only increase the dose to 2 tablets if the symptoms do not decrease completely.

To highlight: There are no data that support the administration of agomelatine (a component of valdoxan®) in children , adolescents or adults over 70 years of age.

Valdoxan Side Effects

As it is a drug that intervenes in neurotransmitters, we can get certain adverse effects produced by valdoxan®, due to the absorption of the drugin the system. Among the most notable are:

• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• headache.
• Fatigue.

Important:It is necessary to suspend the administration of the drug in case the adverse symptoms worsen the patient. Also remembering that treatment with valdoxan®worsens the existing risks of liver damage .

Contraindications and warnings of valdoxan

Valdoxan® has a strong mechanism of action due to the agomelatine substance, therefore it is not recommended for a certain population of patients in special conditions, also having certain warnings and precautions. Strictly it should not be prescribed in the following cases:

• Liver failure.
• Allergic reactions to the active ingredient of agomelatine.
• Patients under 18 years of age with depression.
• Patients with depression in advanced age with more than 75 years.

Avoid if you have:

• Treatment with drugs fluvoxamine and ciprofloxacin. (4)
• Advanced stage of pregnancy.
• Severe renal failure.
• Altered liver enzymes.

Warnings:

• Do not consume this medicine mixed with alcohol.
• It should be kept out of the reach of children.
• Its use is endorsed only with a medical prescription.
• It is necessary to prevent its use in patients undergoing treatment for cirrhosis or other diseases of liver function.
• Valdoxan® should not be administered in case of carrying out work involving the handling of heavy machinery.