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What should I avoid while taking reserpine?

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Reserpine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Use caution when rising from a sitting or lying position, especially first thing in the morning. You may become dizzy while taking reserpine and you may fall and injure yourself if you get up quickly.

Avoid becoming overheated in hot weather or during exercise. Also avoid standing for long periods of time and use caution if you have a fever. These situations increase the effects of reserpine in your body, and you may become very dizzy.

Avoid alcohol while taking reserpine. It may increase the drowsiness you experience from reserpine therapy and may also increase dizziness. Use caution even with small amounts of alcohol.

Do not take other drugs such as sleeping pills, prescription pain relievers, antihistamines, or antidepressants without first talking to your doctor. These medicines may increase the drowsiness caused by reserpine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any other prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

What are the possible side effects of reserpine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking reserpine and seek emergency medical attention:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• a very irregular heartbeat;

• heart failure (shortness of breath, swelling of ankles or legs, sudden weight gain of 5 pounds or more);

• uncontrollable hand, arm, or leg movements; or

• chest pain.

Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue to take reserpine and talk to your doctor if you experience

• fatigue or drowsiness;

• dizziness (avoid standing up too quickly and use caution when performing hazardous activities);

• anxiety, depression, or nightmares;

• diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting (take reserpine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach);

• stuffy nose or a dry mouth (sucking on ice chips or sugarless hard candy may relieve a dry mouth);

• blurred vision;

• weight gain; or

• impotence or difficulty ejaculating.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect reserpine?

Do not take reserpine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or if you have taken one in the last 14 days. MAOIs, used to treat depression, include isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Before taking reserpine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;

• quinidine (Cardioquin); or

• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).

You may require special monitoring or a dose adjustment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Reserpine may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with reserpine or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about reserpine written for health professionals that you may read.