ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) Tablets are indicated for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe anxiety and/or agitation and depressed mood; patients with depression in whom anxiety and/or agitation are moderate or severe; patients with anxiety and depression associated with chronic physical disease; patients in whom depression and anxiety cannot be clearly differentiated.

Schizophrenic patients who have associated symptoms of depression should be considered for therapy with ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) .

Initial Dosage

In psychoneurotic patients whose anxiety and depression warrant combined therapy, one ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) Tablet (2-25) or one ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) -Forte Tablet (4-25) three or four times a day is recommended.

In elderly patients and adolescents, a lower initial dosage may be needed. The dosage may then be adjusted cautiously to produce an adequate response.

In more severely ill patients with schizophrenia, two ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) -Forte Tablets (4-25) three times a day are recommended as the initial dosage. If necessary, a fourth dose may be given at bedtime. The total daily dosage should not exceed eight tablets of any strength.

Maintenance Dosage

Depending on the condition being treated, the onset of therapeutic response may vary from a few days to a few weeks or even longer. After a satisfactory response is noted, dosage should be reduced to the smallest dose which is effective for relief of the symptoms for which ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) Tablets are being administered. A useful maintenance dosage is one ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) Tablet (2-25) or one ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) -Forte Tablet (4-25) two to four times a day. In some patients, maintenance dosage is required for many months.

ETRAFON 2-10 Tablets (2-10) can be used to increase flexibility in adjusting maintenance dosage to the lowest amount consistent with relief of symptoms.

ETRAFON 2-10 Tablets (perphenazine 2 mg and amitriptyline hydrochloride 10 mg): deep yellow, sugar-coated tablets branded in blue-black with the Schering trademark and either product identification letters ANA, or number 287; bottles of 100 (NDC 0085-0287-04) and box of 100 for unit-dose dispensing (10 strips of 10 tablets each) (NDC 0085-0287-08).

ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) Tablets (perphenazine 2 mg and amitriptyline hydrochloride 25 mg): pink, sugar-coated tablets branded in red with the Schering trademark and either product identification letters ANC, or number 598; bottles of 100 (NDC 0085-0598-04) and box of 100 for unit-dose dispensing (10 strips of 10 tablets each) (NDC 0085-0598-08).

ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) -Forte Tablets (perphenazine 4 mg and amitriptyline hydrochloride 25 mg): red, sugar-coated tablets branded in blue with the Schering trademark and either product identification letters ANE, or number 720; bottles of 100 (NDC 0085-0720-04) and box of 100 for unit-dose dispensing (10 strips of 10 tablets each) (NDC 0085-0720-08).

Store ETRAFON 2-10, 2-25, 4-25 Tablets between 2° and 25°C (36° and 77°F). In addition, protect unit-dose packages from excessive moisture.

* Poisindex® Toxicologic Management. Topic: Antidepressants, Tricyclic. Micromedex Inc. Vol 85.

ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) ®

brand of perphenazine and

amitriptyline hydrochloride

ETRAFON 2-10 TABLETS (2-10), USP

ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) TABLETS (2-25), USP

ETRAFON (perphenazine and amitriptyline) -FORTE TABLETS (4-25), USP

Schering Corporation

Kenilworth, NJ 07033 USA

All rights reserved.

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/8/2004
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.