Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Diarrhoea, Fatigue.

Expert advice for Estajoy Tablet
It can take 2-3 weeks for Estajoy 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 Estajoy, you should reduce the dose slowly over 4 weeks. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Estajoy, as it may cause excessive drowsiness and calmness. The addiction/dependence potential of Estajoy is very less. You may develop anxiety during initiation of therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Estajoy work?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy with coffee?
There is usually no significant effect of taking coffee with Estajoy but a very high quantity of consumption of coffee may cause restlessness and anxiety.

Q. Is Estajoy addictive?
No. Estajoy 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 Estajoy cause nausea?
Estajoy increases the activity of serotonin a chemical which is also involved in the vomiting process so makes the person nauseating.

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

Q. Can I use Estajoy for a migraine?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy for bipolar disorder?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy cause hair loss?
There are some case reports of hair loss with the use of Estajoy. 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 Estajoy.

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

Q. Can I use Estajoy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Estajoy can be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but there are better alternatives available, in case they don't work then Estajoy 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, Estajoy or sertraline?
Estajoy is the safest drug in its class. Sertraline can be used in case Estajoy doesn't work for depression. However, setraline can be preferred in case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Q. Which is better medication, Estajoy or citalopram?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy to be superior to citalopram for major depression.

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

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

Q. Can I take Estajoy 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 Estajoy with methylphenidate?
It is better to avoid methylphenidate with Estajoy. Because methylphenidate can increase the blood levels of Estajoy 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 Estajoy be given with lisdexamfetamine?
It is better to avoid this combined therapy of lisdexamfetamine with Estajoy, 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 Estajoy 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 Estajoy 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 Estajoy 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 Estajoy with dextromethorphan?
You should not take Dextromethorphan with Estajoy. It can lead to the seotonin syndrome. Before taking any medications with Estajoy, your should consult with your doctor.

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

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

Q. How doses Estajoy differ from amitriptyline?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy has much lesser side effects in comparison to amitryptiline and so preferred over amitryptiline for the treatment of depression.

Q. How does Estajoy differ from imipramine?
Estajoy 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 Estajoy?
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 Estajoy?
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 Estajoy a benzodiazepine?
No. Estajoy is not a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines decrease the anxiety and induce sleep. Estajoy 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 Estajoy a narcotic?
No. Estajoy is not a narcotic drug. Narcotics are drugs with sleep inducing properties, usual derivatives of Opium like Heroin and Morphine.