Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Amitriptyline is also sometimes used to treat chronic pain, eating disorders, and certain skin problems. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Special precautions
Before taking amitriptyline,
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or any other medications.
- do not take amitriptyline if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks; or if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid).
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
- Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide.
- Also tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol; if you have recently had a heart attack; and if you have or have ever had glaucoma; an enlarged prostate; difficulty urinating; seizures; an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); diabetes; or liver, kidney, or heart disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor immediately.
- If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking amitriptyline.
- You should know that amitriptyline may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
- Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
- You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased.
Side effects
Amitriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- upset stomach
- vomiting
- drowsiness
- weakness or tiredness
- excitement or anxiety
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- nightmares
- restlessness
- headaches
- dry mouth
- constipation
- difficulty urinating
- blurred vision
- pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
- changes in sex drive or ability
- excessive sweating
- changes in appetite or weight
- confusion
- unsteadiness
Some side effects can be serious.
- slow or difficult speech
- dizziness or faintness
- weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
- crushing chest pain
- rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- severe skin rash or hives
- swelling of the face and tongue
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
- shaking hands that you cannot control
- difficulty sitting still
- fainting
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- seizures
- seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
Amitriptyline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
- irregular heartbeat
- seizures
- coma
- confusion
- problems concentrating
- seeing things that do not exist (hallucinating)
- agitation
- drowsiness
- rigid muscles
- vomiting
- fever
- cold body temperature
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Do not let anyone else take your medication.
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