Medication Information Leaflet
Moclobemide belongs to a group of antidepressants known as reversible Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). It is used to treat symptoms of depression (low mood) such as:
Feelings of sadness
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
Feeling bad about yourself
Suicidal thoughts
Poor sleep, energy or appetite
Moclobemide may be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.
Follow the instructions on your medication label and take this medication as prescribed by your doctor.
This medication should be taken with or after food.
This medication needs to be taken regularly for a few weeks before you feel its full benefits. You should not stop taking this medication even if you do not feel better at the beginning. Continue to take this medication even after you feel better to prevent your symptoms from returning.
Do check with your doctor on how long you will have to be on this medication.
Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional. You may experience unpleasant effects such as dizziness, headache, difficulty sleeping, irritability and nausea if you suddenly stop taking the medication on your own.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then take the next dose at your usual timing. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, your doctor would have discussed the potential benefits and side-effects with you and should you have further questions or concerns, do consult your doctor.
You are taking any other medications including those that can be bought without a prescription, supplements, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies. Some of them may affect how this medication works or cause serious drug interactions.
You have or have ever had:
Other drug allergies
Medical conditions such as:
Other mental health conditions such as Bipolar disorder or mania (abnormally high or excited mood, or excessive activity and energy)
Been taking other medications for low mood in the past 2 weeks.
IMPORTANT:
In some cases, particularly in young people below the age of 25 years, this medication may cause the following changes to a person’s mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:
New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour, or
Other changes in mood or behaviour
Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.
It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/ she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without any of such problems.
The mentioned side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.
Nausea
Take the medication with or after food
Take simple meals and avoid rich or spicy foods
Constipation
Drink more water (if not on fluid-restricted diet), eat more high-fibre foods, and exercise regularly
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you need a medication to help with your constipation
Dry mouth
Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
Light-headedness (especially during a sudden change in posture)
Get up slowly from a sitting or lying down position
Difficulty sleeping
Discuss with your doctor if you can take this medication at a different time of the day
Avoid daytime naps, listen to relaxing music at bedtime
Avoid overeating or drinking before bedtime
Limit caffeine intake at least 8 hours before bedtime
Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak to your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
Rarely this medication may cause:
Confusion, agitation, hallucination, muscle rigidity, tremor (symptoms of serotonin syndrome)
Severe throbbing headache which starts at the back of the head and radiates forward
Neck stiffness
Fast, pounding, slow or irregular heartbeat
If you experience any of these side effects, you should stop your medication and inform your healthcare professional immediately.
Please also take note that the above listed side effects are not exhaustive. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication as it can cause excessive drowsiness.
When taken with certain food or drinks, moclobemide may cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure. To avoid such a reaction:
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
Disclaimers
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on Jun 2021
This article was last reviewed on Wednesday, November 22, 2023