Home Drug Guide Cryptenamine Acetates

Drug Guide

Generic Name

Cryptenamine Acetates

Brand Names Unitensen

Classification

Therapeutic: Antidepressant, Tricyclic

Pharmacological: Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor

FDA Approved Indications

  • Major depressive disorder
  • Anxiety disorders

Mechanism of Action

Cryptenamine Acetates inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, increasing their synaptic concentrations and exerting antidepressant effects.

Dosage and Administration

Adult: Typically 25-50 mg orally once daily, adjustable based on response and tolerability.

Pediatric: Not approved for use in children.

Geriatric: Start at lower doses due to increased sensitivity; monitor closely.

Renal Impairment: Adjust dosage based on severity of impairment.

Hepatic Impairment: Use with caution; dosage adjustments may be necessary.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Well absorbed orally.

Distribution: Widely distributed, crosses blood-brain barrier.

Metabolism: Metabolized primarily in the liver via CYP450 enzymes.

Excretion: Excreted mainly in urine as metabolites.

Half Life: Approximately 24 hours, allowing once-daily dosing.

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity to cryptenamine or other tricyclic antidepressants.
  • Recent myocardial infarction.

Precautions

  • Suicidality risk, especially in young adults.
  • Use cautiously in patients with epilepsy, urinary retention, angle-closure glaucoma, or bipolar disorder.

Adverse Reactions - Common

  • Dry mouth (Common)
  • Constipation (Common)
  • Drowsiness (Common)
  • Dizziness (Common)

Adverse Reactions - Serious

  • Cardiac arrhythmias (Serious)
  • Seizures (Serious)
  • Endocrine disturbances, such as SIADH or hyponatremia (Serious)

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • MAO inhibitors, other serotonergic drugs, CNS depressants

Drug-Food Interactions

  • Alcohol, fermented foods with tyramine (may increase hypertensive crisis risk)

Drug-Herb Interactions

  • St. John’s Wort, herbal supplements affecting serotonin levels

Nursing Implications

Assessment: Monitor mental status, suicidal ideation, and response to therapy.

Diagnoses:

  • Risk for injury related to orthostatic hypotension or sedation.
  • Ineffective coping related to side effects.

Implementation: Administer after meals to decrease gastrointestinal upset. Monitor ECG in patients with cardiac history. Regularly check blood pressure and heart rate.

Evaluation: Assess for improvement in depressive symptoms and adverse effects.

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Take medication exactly as prescribed.
  • Do not discontinue abruptly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
  • Report any signs of worsening depression or suicidal thoughts.
  • Limit alcohol and avoid sedatives unless approved by healthcare provider.

Special Considerations

Black Box Warnings:

  • Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Genetic Factors: CYP2D6 poor metabolizers may require dose adjustments.

Lab Test Interference: May cause false positives in certain urinary drug screening tests.

Overdose Management

Signs/Symptoms: Seizures, dysrhythmias, hypotension, coma, tachycardia.

Treatment: Supportive care, activated charcoal if within 1 hour of ingestion, cardiac monitoring, and management of dysrhythmias; consider IV sodium bicarbonate for cardiotoxicity.

Storage and Handling

Storage: Store at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Stability: Stable for 24 months under proper conditions.

🛡️ 5 Critical Medication Safety Tips for Nurses

1

Triple-Check High-Risk Medications

Always have another nurse verify insulin, heparin, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs. These "high-alert" medications cause the most serious errors. Check concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings twice.

2

Know Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Drugs

Common mix-ups: hydromorphone/morphine, Celebrex/Celexa, Zyprexa/Zyrtec. Always use BOTH generic and brand names, read labels twice, and use barcode scanning when available. One wrong letter can be fatal.

3

Assess Before AND After Giving Meds

Check vitals before cardiac meds, pain levels before analgesics, and blood glucose before insulin. Always reassess within 30 minutes to evaluate effectiveness and watch for adverse reactions.

4

Watch for Drug Interactions

Common dangerous combinations: warfarin + aspirin (bleeding), ACE inhibitors + potassium (hyperkalemia), digoxin + diuretics (toxicity). Always check drug interactions before administering new medications.

5

Educate Your Patients

Teach patients medication names, purposes, major side effects, and what to report. Informed patients catch errors and improve compliance. Always encourage questions - an educated patient is a safer patient.

⚡ Remember: When in doubt, don't give it out! It's always safer to double-check than regret later.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This drug guide is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for clinical use. Always consult current prescribing information, healthcare providers, and institutional protocols before administering any medication. Do not use this information for patient care decisions.