Understanding Stresam (Etifoxine): A Comprehensive Guide to This Anxiety Medication
Stresam, containing the active ingredient etifoxine hydrochloride, is a medication that has been used for anxiety treatment for over 30 years. This medication works differently from commonly prescribed benzodiazepines and offers certain advantages in terms of side effect profile. If you’ve been prescribed Stresam or are considering it as a treatment option, this comprehensive guide will help you understand what it is, how it works, and what you should know before taking it.
What is Stresam (Etifoxine Hydrochloride)?
Stresam contains etifoxine hydrochloride, a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called anxiolytics, which are designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness. Unlike many other anxiety medications, etifoxine is classified as a benzoxazine compound, referring to its unique chemical structure. This medication serves as a tranquilizer specifically formulated to counteract various emotional and physical reactions that typically accompany anxiety states. If you’re struggling with anxiety symptoms, your doctor might recommend Stresam as an alternative to more commonly prescribed medications, especially if you’ve had issues with other anxiolytics in the past.
How Stresam Works in Your Body
When you take Stresam, it interacts with a protein in your body called the 18 kiloDalton Translocator Protein (TSPO). This protein is found in high levels in certain immune cells and in your brain. This interaction produces several beneficial effects that help manage your anxiety symptoms. The medication helps modulate your immune system, potentially reducing inflammation in your body. It also provides neuroprotection, which means it might help protect the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord from damage. Most importantly for anxiety treatment, Stresam’s effects on your brain help reduce feelings of anxiety and promote a sense of calmness. This mechanism differs from benzodiazepines, which primarily work by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA in your brain.
Potential Benefits and Uses of Stresam
The primary use of Stresam is for the treatment of anxiety disorders. It’s officially licensed in France for this purpose, though it’s not currently approved in the United Kingdom. When you experience anxiety, your body and mind go through numerous distressing changes, and Stresam works to oppose these reactions, helping you feel more at ease. Your doctor might prescribe this medication if you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety that interfere with your daily life.
Beyond anxiety treatment, researchers are investigating Stresam for potential benefits in patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS). This research aims to determine if the medication can help reduce inflammation and promote repair in the nervous system. This potential application highlights the versatility of this medication beyond its primary use as an anxiolytic. If you have both anxiety and multiple sclerosis, this medication might address both conditions, though this use is still being researched and isn’t yet officially approved.
Important Considerations Before Taking Stresam
Before starting Stresam, you should be aware of several contraindications that might make this medication unsuitable for you. You should not take Stresam if you have hypersensitivity (allergy) to etifoxine hydrochloride or any other ingredients in the medication. If you’ve experienced severe liver problems such as inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or severe skin reactions during previous treatment with Stresam, you should avoid using this medication again.
Stresam is also contraindicated if you’re in a state of shock, have severely impaired liver and/or kidney function, or suffer from myasthenia gravis, a disease that causes weak muscles. Documented cases have shown acute worsening of myasthenia gravis after just a single dose of etifoxine, confirming the importance of this contraindication. Additionally, you should not take this medication if you suffer from galactosaemia (a disorder of milk sugar digestion), glucose-galactose malabsorption, or lactase deficit.
If you’re at risk of developing liver problems, your doctor should conduct tests to check your liver function before you start taking Stresam and approximately one month after beginning treatment. This monitoring helps ensure the medication isn’t adversely affecting your liver health.
Possible Side Effects You Should Know
Like all medications, Stresam can cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them. The most common side effects include dermatological or acute hypersensitivity reactions, which account for approximately 59% of reported adverse effects. These primarily manifest as isolated cutaneous eruptions or skin rashes. You might also experience slight drowsiness at the start of treatment, though this typically disappears as your body adjusts to the medication.
More serious but less common side effects include severe skin reactions such as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), erythema multiforme, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If you notice any severe skin reactions, it’s crucial to stop taking Stresam immediately and seek urgent medical attention.
Liver disorders have been reported in some patients taking Stresam, with some developing acute hepatitis with a cytolytic biological pattern. Signs of liver problems include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), vomiting, tiredness, and abdominal pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor immediately.
An unexpected side effect reported in women is metrorrhagia (bleeding between menstrual periods), particularly in those taking oral contraceptive pills. This side effect appears to be reversible upon discontinuation of Stresam and has been confirmed through cases where the symptoms returned after restarting the medication.
Other reported side effects include neurological disorders such as headache, visual disturbances, sleep disorders, and dizziness. Some patients have also developed microscopic colitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the colon.
How to Properly Take Stresam
When taking Stresam, it’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions precisely. The usual recommended dose is 3 to 4 capsules (150 mg – 200 mg) daily, divided into two or three doses throughout the day. Each Stresam capsule contains 50 mg of etifoxine hydrochloride. The duration of treatment typically ranges from a few days to not more than 8 weeks, depending on your doctor’s recommendations and your individual condition.
You should swallow the capsules with a little water. It’s important not to adjust your dosage without consulting your doctor first. If you feel that the effect of Stresam is either too strong or too weak, discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist rather than adjusting the dose yourself.
In case of an overdose, you might experience increased drowsiness. If you suspect you’ve taken too much Stresam, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. If neither is available, you should contact the nearest hospital emergency department for advice.
Drug Interactions and Safety Considerations
Compared to many other anxiety medications, Stresam has fewer documented drug interactions. It is not listed on drugs.com, and there are no specific reports of drug interactions in the available literature. However, theoretically, it could have similar interactions as benzodiazepines, another class of anxiety medications.
If you’re taking other medications, always inform your doctor before starting Stresam. This is particularly important if you’re taking medications that affect your central nervous system, such as other tranquilizers, sleep medications, or certain antidepressants, as these might enhance the sedative effects of Stresam.
A French pharmacovigilance survey conducted over several years found that in cases of overdose, the most common symptoms were drowsiness and dizziness. One severe case involving a very high dose (2000 mg) resulted in rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure. This highlights the importance of taking the medication exactly as prescribed and keeping it out of reach of others.
The Manufacturer Behind Stresam
Stresam is manufactured by Adcock Ingram, a pharmaceutical company with a long history in medication production. The company is responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of Stresam through rigorous testing and adherence to pharmaceutical standards. The product information leaflet for Stresam was approved on August 2, 2022, indicating recent review and validation of the medication’s information.
Conclusion
Stresam (etifoxine hydrochloride) represents an alternative approach to anxiety treatment with a different mechanism of action compared to commonly prescribed benzodiazepines. Its interaction with the TSPO protein offers benefits for anxiety management and potentially other conditions such as multiple sclerosis. While it has been in clinical use for over 30 years and generally has a favorable safety profile compared to benzodiazepines, it’s important to be aware of possible side effects, particularly dermatological reactions and liver issues.
If you’re considering Stresam for anxiety treatment, discuss your medical history thoroughly with your doctor, especially regarding any liver conditions, allergies, or myasthenia gravis. Regular monitoring, particularly of liver function, may be necessary during treatment. By understanding what Stresam is, how it works, and what precautions to take, you can make more informed decisions about your mental health treatment in partnership with your healthcare provider.
