Side Effects

If you experience serious or severe side effects from Serentil, you should call your doctor. This drug may cause serious heartbeat irregularities. Contact your doctor right away if you have an unusually fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat. Other serious side effects may include:

• Muscle spasms in jaw, neck, or back
• Rash
• Yellowed eyes or skin
• Eye pain or discoloration
• Difficulty urinating or loss of bladder control
• Frequent urination
• Tremors or shakiness
• Seizures
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness
• Pacing or restlessness
• Unusual or uncontrollable movements of the tongue, face, mouth, or jaw, which may be linked to a condition known as tardive dyskinesia
• Shuffling walk or slowed movements
• Difficulty breathing

Less serious side effects may include:

• Drowsiness
• Upset stomach, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
• Dry mouth and nasal congestion
• Constipation
• Anxiety or restlessness
• Changes in appetite or weight gain
• Increased skin sensitivity to sunlight
• Loss of interest in sex
• Menstrual irregularities

Precautions

This medication is no longer available by prescription in the U.S. Serentil may cause life-threatening, erratic heartbeats. This drug is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating elderly people who experience dementia, as it may increase the risk of death.

If you have been diagnosed with asthma, seizures, an overactive thyroid, irregular heartbeat, heart pain, glaucoma, asthma, emphysema, high or low blood pressure, bone marrow disease, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, urinary problems, liver disease, or lung problems, you should talk to your doctor before you begin to take this drug. Tell your doctor if you have ever been treated for alcoholism, depression, or if you have ever had shock therapy.

Serentil may interact with other medications, including antacids, antihistamines, sleep aids, pain relievers, weight loss aids, antidepressants, and heart medication. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Serentil if you are currently taking other prescription drugs or supplements.

If you begin taking this medication, here are some important considerations for its use:

• If you become pregnant while taking this medication, you should talk to your doctor about alternative treatments for your condition. This drug may cause problems in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medication as it is not known whether Serentil is able to pass into breast milk. Do not stop taking this medication unless you are told to do so by your doctor.
• Wear protective clothing or use sun block if you need to spend a lot of time outside. This drug may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
• This medication may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not engage in potentially hazardous activities such as driving, climbing, or operating heavy machinery until you find out how this medication affects you.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while on this medication. Serentil may interact with alcohol and cause potentially dangerous levels of drowsiness, dizziness, or sedation.
• You may experience dizziness if you quickly try to stand up after a prolonged period of sitting or lying down. Stand slowly, with both feet on the floor, in order to minimize falls. This condition is known as orthostatic or postural hypotension and is a common side effect of many psychotropic medications.
• If you are having any type of surgery, including oral surgery, tell your surgeon or anesthesiologist that you are taking this drug.