Description of the medicine: Asafen (Azaphenum)

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

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

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

Azafen is the original domestic antidepressant tricyclic structure. By pharmacological properties, it is close to imipramine, weakens the depriminating effects of reserpine, enhances the effects of phenamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan, but unlike imipramine (and amitriptyline) does not have anticholinergic activity. It does not have an inhibitory effect on MAO. The timoleptic effect is combined with sedative activity.

Azafen is widely used in the treatment of various depression.

It is prescribed for asthenic and anxiety-depressive states, a depressive stage of manic-depressive psychosis, involutional melancholy, depressions of an organic genesis, somatogenically caused depressions, reactive depressions, repressive states that develop with prolonged treatment with antipsychotics, as well as with astheno-depressive states of a neurotic nature. It can be used as a “treating” remedy after treatment with other drugs.

The drug is especially effective for mild to moderate depression; for deep depression can be used in combination with other tricyclic antidepressants. Asafen, if necessary, can be prescribed in combination with antipsychotics.

Due to its good tolerance, sufficiently strong antidepressant activity and sedative effect, azafen is widely used in diseases accompanied by depressive and neurotic conditions. There is evidence of the effectiveness of azafen for the treatment of depressive states in patients with coronary heart disease.

Azafen has been successfully used to treat shallow alcoholic depressions, which occur both with anxiety and with lethargy.

Azafen is prescribed orally (after eating) at a dose of 0.025-0.05 g (25-50 mg). Then the dose is gradually increased by 25-50 mg per day (in 3-4 doses). Typically, 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 lasts 1 - 1, 5 months. Upon reaching the therapeutic effect, the doses are gradually reduced and transferred to maintenance therapy (25 - 75 mg per day).

Asafen is usually well tolerated. In contrast to imizin, it does not cause exacerbation of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (delirium, hallucinations), and does not increase anxiety and fear. The drug does not cause sleep disturbances, and patients can take it in the evening; Asafen generally improves sleep. The drug does not have cardiac toxicity. The absence of pronounced side effects allows you to prescribe the drug to patients with somatic diseases and the elderly.