Ixel (Milnacipran) is one of the newer antidepressants on the market.
The active ingredient Milnacipran acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Commonly it is used for the treatment of clinical depression.
In addition the active agent Milnacipran is a very practical treatment for chronic pain conditions like Fibromyalgia and Lupus.

Dosage & Administration Information:

The recommended dose is 50 mg twice daily. Best is to take the medication in the mornings with breakfast and in the evenings with dinner.
Provided the kidneyfunction is normal, there is no need for elderly people to adjust their dosage. In the case of kidney insufficiency an adjustment is required.
Then it is suggested to reduce the dose to 50 mg or 25 mg, depending on the limitation of the kidney function. As with all antidepressants the effect of Ixel is recognized only after approximately 1 to 3 weeks. To avoid a relapse the Ixel-therapy shall be undertaken for several month ( usually 6 month).

How does Ixel works:

Certain brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) are related to the cause of depression. This includes the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Researchers showed that abnormalities in the activity of these neurotransmitters do affect mood and behavior of people. The generic ingredient of Ixel, milnacipran, acts at the same time on these two neurotransmitters. Basically this action is known under the term Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, short SNRIs. SNRIs increase the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine by inhibiting their reabsorption (reuptake) into cells in the brain. It is believed that these higher levels raise up neurotransmission (sending of nerve impulses) — and so control and improve mood, depression and pain. Drugs like Ixel are often also called dual reuptake inhibitors.

Side Effects:

As any other drug the agent milnacipran can create unwished side effects. Against this, not everybody who uses this medication will realize them. Even more, in most of the cases people accept Ixel comparatively well. In the event of side effects do appear, in most cases, these are insignificant and do not demand therapy. To the greatest extend they shall be easily treated by yourself or by your physician.

• Rapid heart rate
• Heart palpitations
• Restlessness
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety,
• Panic attacks
• Agitation,
• Aggressiveness
• Suicidal behavior
• Happiness that switches extreme quickly between depressed or sad mood
• Headache
• Chest pain
• Itching
• Confusion
• Shivering
• Fever
• Nausea

Precautions:

Such symptoms as insomnia and nervousness at the beginning of the treatment may make a temporary symptomatically therapy necessary.
In case of a sudden change into a mania the Ixel-therapy shall be interrupted and replaced by a depressant neuroleptic drug. As with most anti-depressants there exist contraindications with other anti-depressants and MAO inhibiting drugs, beneath Deprenyl, Gerovital-H3 and Manerix. Therefore a combined use with other medication is strictly not recommended. In case you have to apply Ixel in combination with other drugs, do not so before having consulted a doctor or pharmacist. Further on, we do not suggest mix with other noradrenaline or serotonin enhancing medicines such as Modafinil, Prozac, Adrafinil, Yohimbine, Zoloft and Paxil, unless a doctor or pharmacist gave you different instructions.

Beyond that Ixel should be used over carefully in cases of:

• Kidney insufficiency
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• History of Epilepsy
• Acute congestive glaucoma

Further Advice:

Ixel is not recommended for the use of elderly people. Beyond that it is not advised to give the medication to children and people under the age of 18.