Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Diarrhoea, Fatigue.

Expert advice for Astal Tablet
It can take 2-3 weeks for Astal to start working. Do not stop treatment suddenly as this may cause a stomach upset, flu-like withdrawal symptoms and sleep disturbance. If your doctor asks you to stop Astal, you should reduce the dose slowly over 4 weeks. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Astal, as it may cause excessive drowsiness and calmness. The addiction/dependence potential of Astal is very less. You may develop anxiety during initiation of therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Astal work?
Astal works by increasing the levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. This improves mood and physical symptoms in depression and relieves symptoms of panic and obsessive disorders.

Q. Can I take Astal with coffee?
There is usually no significant effect of taking coffee with Astal but a very high quantity of consumption of coffee may cause restlessness and anxiety.

Q. Is Astal addictive?
No. Astal is not addictive. Its abrupt discontinuation may cause some withdrawal symptoms. But still is not addictive as there is no drug-seeking behaviour and it has no abuse liability.

Q. Why does Astal cause nausea?
Astal increases the activity of serotonin a chemical which is also involved in the vomiting process so makes the person nauseating.

Q. Why does Astal make me tired?
Tiredness is usually associated with depression. Astal can alter the sleep quality and can make the person feel tired most of the time.

Q. Can I use Astal for a migraine?
Astal is not approved for the treatment of a migraine. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Q. Can I use Astal for bipolar disorder?
Astal should not be used for the treatment of bipolar disorder as it can aggravate the problem. Only in few cases, it can be used that too with caution with other drugs if depression is the more persistent feature of person's bipolar illness. But the person should be very regular with drugs prescribed for the mania part also called mood stabilisers.

Q. Does Astal cause hair loss?
There are some case reports of hair loss with the use of Astal. It is very infrequent and it usually stops after the discontinuation of the drug. It can be very distressing for a person, especially for the females. So a person should tell his doctor if he is having hair loss with the use of Astal.

Q. Can I use Astal for sleep problem?
Astal may itself cause sleep disorders. So it is not recommended for the sleep problem.

Q. Can I use Astal for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Astal can be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but there are better alternatives available, in case they don't work then Astal can be used. Although it is prescribed in a higher dose and for longer duration in case of OCD in comparison to depression.

Q. Which is better medication, Astal or sertraline?
Astal is the safest drug in its class. Sertraline can be used in case Astal doesn't work for depression. However, setraline can be preferred in case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Q. Which is better medication, Astal or citalopram?
Astal is more effective than citalopram for major depression. Although some studies have shown that there is no difference among two in case of effectiveness but some recent studies have shown Astal to be superior to citalopram for major depression.

Q. Can I take Astal with diphenhydramine?
It is better to avoid diphenhydramine with Astal. Diphenhydramine can aggravate side effects of Astal and can cause dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating.

Q. Can I take Astal with aspirin?
It is usually avoided as it can increase the chances of bleeding.

Q. Can I take Astal with Ibuprofen?
No. Combined these two drugs may increase the chances of bleeding especially in persons already on a blood thinner. Nasal bleeding is usually the first symptom.

Q. Can I take Astal with methylphenidate?
It is better to avoid methylphenidate with Astal. Because methylphenidate can increase the blood levels of Astal and its effects and rarely can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome with symptoms like anxiety, restlessness, extreme changes in heart rate and blood pressure, blurred vision, incoordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.

Q. Can Astal be given with lisdexamfetamine?
It is better to avoid this combined therapy of lisdexamfetamine with Astal, it leads to increased anxiety, restlessness and sometimes serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome includes vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme changes in blood pressure and even seizure may occur. It can be life-threatening.

Q. Can I take Astal with alprazolam?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Astal with clonazepam?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can Astal be used with hydrocodone?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Astal with dextromethorphan?
You should not take Dextromethorphan with Astal. It can lead to the seotonin syndrome. Before taking any medications with Astal, your should consult with your doctor.

Q. Can I take Astal and paracetamol?
Yes. There is no known interaction between Astal and paracetamol.

Q. How does Astal differ from fluoxetine?
Astal and fluoxetin belongs to same class of medicine called as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Q. How doses Astal differ from amitriptyline?
Astal is a newer drug belongs to class selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) while amitryptiline is an older drug belonging to class tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). Both drugs are almost equally effective for treating depression but Astal has much lesser side effects in comparison to amitryptiline and so preferred over amitryptiline for the treatment of depression.

Q. How does Astal differ from imipramine?
Astal is much safer than imipramine and is preferred in most of the conditions over imipramine. However, imipramine can be preferred in bed-wetting in children.

Q. What would happen if I stop taking Astal?
You may experience withdrawal symptoms which can be in the form flu like symptoms, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, nausea or sleep problems. These symptoms usually last for one to two weeks. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.

Q. When and How to stop Astal?
You should consult your doctor before stopping the treatment. It would depend on the number and severity of depressive episodes.The dose should be tapered slowly to prevent intense withdrawal symptoms.

Q. Is Astal a benzodiazepine?
No. Astal is not a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines decrease the anxiety and induce sleep. Astal belongs to the class of selective sertonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It may cause insomnia and restlessness initially as the side effect which usually goes away with time.

Q. Is Astal a narcotic?
No. Astal is not a narcotic drug. Narcotics are drugs with sleep inducing properties, usual derivatives of Opium like Heroin and Morphine.