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GENERIC NAME:
amitriptyline
BRAND NAME: Elavil,
Endep
DRUG CLASS AND
MECHANISM: Amitriptyline is an
antidepressant medication. Depression is an
all-pervasive sense of sadness and gloom. In
some patients with depression, abnormal levels
of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters may
relate to their depression. Amitriptyline
elevates mood by raising the level of
neurotransmitters in brain tissue.
PRESCRIPTION: yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE:
yes
PREPARATIONS:
Tablets: 10mg, 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 150mg.
STORAGE:
Amitriptyline should be stored at room
temperature in a tight, light resistant
container.
PRESCRIBED FOR:
Amitriptyline is used to elevate the mood of
patients with depression. Amitriptyline is also
a sedative, and is useful in depressed patients
with insomnia, restlessness, and nervousness. It has also been
found to be helpful for treating
fibromyalgia and symptoms related to
chronic pain.
DOSING:
Amitriptyline may be taken with or without food.
Amitriptyline is metabolized by the liver and
should be used with caution in patients with
liver dysfunction.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Amitriptyline should not be used with monoamine
oxidase inhibiting drugs. High fever,
convulsions and even death can occur when these
two drugs are used together. Epinephrine should
not be used with amitriptyline, since together
they can cause severe high blood pressure.
Amitriptyline is used with caution in patients
with seizures, since it can increase the risk of
seizures. Amitriptyline is used with caution in
patients with prostate enlargement because of
risk of urine retention. Amitriptyline can cause
elevated pressure in the eyes of certain
patients with glaucoma. Alcohol blocks
the antidepressant action of amitriptyline but
increases its sedative effect. Amitriptyline can
aggravate paranoid symptoms in patients with
schizophrenia, and
increase symptoms of mania in patients with
manic-depressive disease. Cimetidine (Tagamet) can
increase blood levels of amitriptyline and its
side effects. Overdose with amitriptyline can
cause life threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
The sedative effect of the medication can
possibly impair the mental and physical
abilities required for driving or operating
machinery.
PREGNANCY: Safety
in pregnancy and children is not established.
NURSING MOTHERS:
Amitriptyline is secreted in human milk, and
potentially can adversely affect the nursing
infant.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Sometimes troublesome side effects include fast
heart rate, blurred vision, urinary retention,
dry mouth, constipation, weight gain
or loss, and low blood
pressure on standing. Rash, hives, seizures, and
hepatitis are rare side effects.
"If antidepressants are
discontinued abruptly, symptoms may occur such
as dizziness,
headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in
the sense of smell, taste, etc. (Such symptoms
even may occur when even a few doses of
antidepressant are missed.) Therefore, it is
recommended that the dose of antidepressant be
reduced gradually when therapy is discontinued."
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