Description of the medicine: Azafen (Azaphenum)

AZAPHENUM (Azaphenum). 2- (4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl) -10-methyl-3,4-diazaphenoxazine dihydrochloride.

Synonyms: Azaxazine, Diazephen, Azaxazin, Dizaphenum, Pipofezinum.

Crystalline powder is yellowish green in color. Easily soluble in water, practically insoluble in alcohol, pH 1, 25% solution 2, 5-3, 0.

Azafen is the original domestic antidepressant of the tricyclic structure. According to its pharmacological properties, it is close to imipramine, weakens the depressant effects of reserpine, enhances the action of phenamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, but unlike imipramine (and amitriptyline) does not possess cholinolytic activity. Inhibitory effect on MAO does not have. Timoleptic action is combined with sedative activity.

Azafen has found wide application in the treatment of various depressions.

He is prescribed for asthenic and anxious-depressive states, depressive stage of manic-depressive psychosis, involuntary melancholia, depressions of organic genesis, somatogenically caused depression, reactive depression, repressive conditions developing with prolonged treatment with neuroleptics, and also in astheno-depressive states of neurotic character. Can be used as a "healing" remedy after treatment with other drugs.

The drug is especially effective in mild and moderate depression; At deep depressions can be used in combination with other tricyclic antidepressants. Azafen, if necessary, can be administered in combination with neuroleptics.

In connection with good tolerability, sufficiently strong antidepressant activity and sedative action, azafen is widely used in diseases accompanied by depressive and neurotic states. There are data on the effectiveness of azaphene for the treatment of depressive conditions in patients with coronary heart disease.

With success use azafen for the treatment of shallow alcoholic depressions, proceeding with both anxiety and inhibition.

Assign azafen inside (after eating) at a dose of 0.025-0.05 g (25-50 mg). Then the dose is gradually increased by 25 to 50 mg per day (in 3 to 4 doses). Usually, the therapeutic dose is 0.15-0.2 g per day. If necessary, increase the daily dose to 0.4 g. The course of treatment continues 1 - 1, 5 months. When the therapeutic effect is achieved, the doses are gradually reduced and switched to maintenance therapy (25 to 75 mg per day).

Azafen is usually well tolerated. In contrast to imizin, does not cause exacerbation in patients with schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms (delirium, hallucinations), does not increase anxiety and fear. The drug does not cause sleep disturbances, and patients can take it in the evening; As a rule, the reception of azaphene improves sleep. The drug has no cardiothoxic properties. Absence of pronounced side effects allows prescribing the drug to patients with somatic diseases and elderly people.