What Is Amitriptyline (Elavil)?
Amitriptyline is a prescription drug that's used to treat depression.
It's sometimes known by its former brand name, Elavil, but its manufacturer, AstraZeneca, stopped making it.
Amitriptyline is only available as a generic drug in the United States.
Besides depression, amitriptyline can be used "off-label" to treat post-herpetic neuralgia (a condition that occurs after having shingles), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and certain eating disorders.
It may also be used to prevent symptoms of migraines.
Amitriptyline is in an older class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), which include some of the earliest medications designed to treat depression.
Other drugs in this class are desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), and imipramine (Tofranil).
These antidepressants work by stopping the brain's nerve cells from absorbing the neurotransmitters epinephrine and serotonin.
Tricyclic antidepressants are more likely to cause serious side effects than today's newer antidepressants, such as Prozac and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), so doctors don't prescribe amitriptyline as often as they once did.
Amitriptyline was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1983.
In short-term studies, a small number of children, teen-agers and young adults (up to 24 years old) who took antidepressants such as amitriptyline became suicidal shortly after starting treatment.
You may have suicidal thoughts while taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old.
Your family members or other caregivers should watch for changes in your mood or other symptoms.
You, a family member, or caregiver should tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking amitriptyline (especially during the first weeks of treatment or any time you change your dose):
Before having any type of surgery, you should tell your surgeon that you are taking amitriptyline.
You may also need to make a plan with the doctor who prescribed the drug to carefully taper off before surgery.
You should not stop taking amitriptyline suddenly, as you could experience withdrawal symptoms.
It may take a few weeks before you feel the full effects of this medication.
Use this drug as directed, stay in touch with your doctor during your treatment for depression, and tell your doctor if amitriptyline isn't helping after four weeks.
Before taking amitriptyline, you should tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
Tell your doctor if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
You should not breastfeed while using this drug. Amitriptyline can also pass into breast milk and may harm a breastfeeding baby.
Trying to get a high off of amitriptyline or any prescription medication is extremely dangerous and could lead to severe side effects or a life-threatening overdose.
The medicine requires a prescription from your pet's veterinarian, and should only be used under a veterinarian's care..
However, you can make adjustments to your eating habits and engage in regular physical activity to counter this effect.
However, some doctors believe there are safer, more effective sleep therapies available, so the drug is rarely prescribed for insomnia anymore.
It's sometimes known by its former brand name, Elavil, but its manufacturer, AstraZeneca, stopped making it.
Amitriptyline is only available as a generic drug in the United States.
Besides depression, amitriptyline can be used "off-label" to treat post-herpetic neuralgia (a condition that occurs after having shingles), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and certain eating disorders.
It may also be used to prevent symptoms of migraines.
Amitriptyline is in an older class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), which include some of the earliest medications designed to treat depression.
Other drugs in this class are desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl), and imipramine (Tofranil).
These antidepressants work by stopping the brain's nerve cells from absorbing the neurotransmitters epinephrine and serotonin.
Tricyclic antidepressants are more likely to cause serious side effects than today's newer antidepressants, such as Prozac and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), so doctors don't prescribe amitriptyline as often as they once did.
Amitriptyline was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1983.
Amitriptyline Warnings
The FDA requires amitriptyline to carry a black-box warning because of the risk of suicide.In short-term studies, a small number of children, teen-agers and young adults (up to 24 years old) who took antidepressants such as amitriptyline became suicidal shortly after starting treatment.
You may have suicidal thoughts while taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old.
Your family members or other caregivers should watch for changes in your mood or other symptoms.
You, a family member, or caregiver should tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms while taking amitriptyline (especially during the first weeks of treatment or any time you change your dose):
- Thoughts of harming or killing yourself
- Worsening depression
- Extreme worry or other new feelings of anxiousness
- Agitation
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Aggressive behavior
- Irritability
- Unusual restlessness
- Unusual mood or behavior changes
- Unusual excitement or hyperactivity
- Agitation, hostility, or aggressiveness
- Unusually impulsive behavior
Before having any type of surgery, you should tell your surgeon that you are taking amitriptyline.
You may also need to make a plan with the doctor who prescribed the drug to carefully taper off before surgery.
You should not stop taking amitriptyline suddenly, as you could experience withdrawal symptoms.
It may take a few weeks before you feel the full effects of this medication.
Use this drug as directed, stay in touch with your doctor during your treatment for depression, and tell your doctor if amitriptyline isn't helping after four weeks.
Before taking amitriptyline, you should tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:
- Heart disease
- A history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures
- A history of drinking large amounts of alcohol
- Bipolar disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia, or any other mental illness
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Overactive thyroid
- An enlarged prostate
- Urination problems
Pregnancy and Amitriptyline
Amitriptyline might harm an unborn baby.Tell your doctor if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.
You should not breastfeed while using this drug. Amitriptyline can also pass into breast milk and may harm a breastfeeding baby.
Amitriptyline 'High' and Abuse
There have been some anecdotal reports that consuming larger doses of amitriptyline can lead to a "high" or hallucinations in some people.Trying to get a high off of amitriptyline or any prescription medication is extremely dangerous and could lead to severe side effects or a life-threatening overdose.
Amitriptyline for Dogs and Cats
Amitriptyline is commonly used in dogs and cats to treat behavior issues, such as separation anxiety, fear of noises, or other types of anxiousness.The medicine requires a prescription from your pet's veterinarian, and should only be used under a veterinarian's care..
Amitriptyline and Weight Gain
Weight gain is a common side effect of amitriptyline.However, you can make adjustments to your eating habits and engage in regular physical activity to counter this effect.
Amitriptyline and Sleep
Amitriptyline is often used as an "off-label" treatment for insomnia.However, some doctors believe there are safer, more effective sleep therapies available, so the drug is rarely prescribed for insomnia anymore.
Amitriptyline Side Effects
Common Side Effects of Amitriptyline
You should tell your doctor if any of the following side effects are severe or do not go away:- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness or tiredness
- Nightmares
- Excessive sweating
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Difficulty urinating
- Blurred vision
- Pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
- Changes in sex drive or ability
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Confusion
- Unsteadiness
Serious Side Effects of Amitriptyline
Tell your doctor or go to an emergency room right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects:- Slow or difficult speech
- Dizziness or faintness
- Weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
- Crushing or heavy chest pain
- Rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Severe skin rash or hives
- Swelling of the face and tongue
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
- Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
- Fainting
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
Amitriptyline Interactions
If you have used MAOIs recently, your doctor will probably tell you not to take amitriptyline.
You should tell your doctor about all prescription, nonprescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you're taking, especially:
- Antihistamines
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Diet pills
- Disulfiram (Antabuse)
- Guanethidine (Ismelin)
- Ipratropium (Atrovent)
- Quinidine (Quinidex)
- Medications for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide (Tambocor) and propafenone (Rythmol)
- Medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, nausea, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems
- Other antidepressants
- Phenobarbital (Bellatal, Solfoton)
- Sedatives, sleeping pills, or any drug that makes you sleepy, including cold medicines
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
- Thyroid medications
- Tranquilizers
Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
Amitriptyline and Alcohol
Alcohol may block the antidepressant action of this medication and increase its sedative effect.You should talk to your doctor about this risk.
Amitriptyline and Other Interactions
Amitriptyline may make you drowsy.You should not drive, operate machinery, or perform any other activity that requires alertness until you know how this medicine will affect you.
Amitriptyline Dosage
The recommended dose is 100-300 milligrams (mg) for most adults, and 25 mg for elderly patients. The initial dose is typically between 50-100 mg.
This medicine can be taken with or without food.
Amitriptyline Overdose
If you suspect an overdose, you should contact a poison-control center or emergency room immediately.You can get in touch with a poison-control center at (800) 222-1222.
Missed Dose of Amitriptyline
If you miss a dose of amitriptyline, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for your next dose.Then you should skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule.
Do not double up on doses to make up for a missed one.
Amitriptyline (Elavil) Pictures
