Amitriptyline

What is Amitriptyline?

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that has sedative effects. Amitriptyline can affect certain chemicals (neurotransmitters), which communicate with brain cells and aid in regulating mood. Amitriptyline is a prescribed medicine that is used to treat the symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline can also be employed for reasons not mentioned in this guideline.

Warnings

It is recommended not to take amitriptyline if you have recently suffered a cardiac attack.

Avoid using amitriptyline when you've used an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days, like isocarboxazid, linezolid blue injection, or phenelzine, rasagiline, and selegiline. tranylcypromine.

You might be thinking of suicide after you begin taking an antidepressant medication like amitriptyline, particularly if you are younger than 24. Your doctor should monitor you regularly for the first twelve weeks after starting treatment.

Inform your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms, for example, changes in your mood or behaviour, panic attacks, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. You should also tell your doctor about the feeling of being uncontrollably angry, irritable, or aggressive.energetic, restless (both physically and mentally), more despondent, or you're contemplating suicide or self-harm.

Before You Take This Drug

Do not take this medicine if you are sensitive to amitriptyline or

• If you've had heart attacks in the past.

Avoid using amitriptyline if you've used an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. A drug interaction that is dangerous can occur.Isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, rasagiline, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine are examples of MAO inhibitors.

Any "SSRI" antidepressant, such as escitalopram, citalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone, taken within the previous five weeks should be disclosed to your doctor.

To ensure that amitriptyline is suitable for you, ask your doctor if you've previously had:

• Bipolar disorder (manic depression) or schizophrenia;

• Mental illness, psychosis, or schizophrenia;

• Liver disease;

• Heart disease;

• A heart attack, stroke, or seizures;

• Diabetes (amitriptyline could cause blood sugar levels to rise or fall);

• Glaucoma; or

• Issues with urination.

A few young people may have thoughts of suicide when they first start taking antidepressants. Your doctor should be able to check your progress regularly. Family members or other carers should be aware of changes in your symptoms or mood.

Consult your physician if you are nursing or pregnant.

How to Take an Amitriptyline?

Follow the exact dosage as recommended by your physician. Follow the instructions on your prescription label and review all medication guides or instruction sheets. The doctor might modify your dose.

It could take up to four weeks for your symptoms to improve. Continue to take the medication as prescribed and notify your doctor if you feel your symptoms don't improve.

If you require surgery, inform your surgeon that you're currently using amitriptyline. It is possible that you will have to stop your medication for a brief period of time.

Do not stop taking amitriptyline abruptly, or you may experience uncomfortable withdrawal effects. Consult your physician about how you can safely stop taking amitriptyline.

Keep the bottle at room temperature, far from heat and moisture.When not in use, make sure the bottle is properly sealed.

Details On Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Depression:

OUTPATIENTS:

Initial dosage: 75 mg daily in divided doses. This can be increased up to 150 mg per day (if necessary).

Maintenance dose is 40–100 mg daily orally.

Maximum dose: 150 mg/day

Alternate outpatient treatment regimens: 50 to 100 mg taken orally in a single dose before bedtime. This could be multiplied by doses of 25 to 50 mg when required at bedtime, for an average of 150 mg/day.

INPATIENTS:

Initial dosage: 100 mg orally per day.

Maintenance dose 40 to 100 mg taken orally in one dose before bed

Maximum dose: 300 mg/day

Comments:

Dose increments should be taken at the end of the evening or just before going to bed because of the sedative effects.

The full therapeutic effect can take up to 30 days to manifest.

After a good improvement has been attained, the doses for maintenance should be lowered to the lowest level necessary to sustain symptom alleviation.

The maintenance therapy should continue for a minimum of 3 months to reduce the risk of relapse.

Use: Relief of the symptoms of depression

Usual Geriatric Dose for Depression:

10 mg orally three times per day and 20 milligrammes taken orally each night before bed Comments:

The full therapeutic effect could take up to 30 days to manifest.

Patients with advanced age should be carefully monitored and their blood levels measured when clinically acceptable.

The clinical reaction must be taken into account while adjusting the dose.

Treatment: relieves symptoms of depression

Usual Paediatric Dose for Depression:

12 years and more: 10 mg taken orally three times per day.

20 mg orally every night at bedtime

Comments:

The full therapeutic effect can take at least 30 days to manifest.

The clinical reaction must be taken into account while adjusting the dose.Treatment: relieves symptoms of depression

What Happens if I Miss a Dose?

Do not take the medicine for as long as you are able, but avoid your missed dose if it's nearing the time to take the next dose. Don't take two doses at once.

What Happens If I Overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A high dose of amitriptyline can cause death.

Some signs of overdose include an irregular heartbeat, a feeling that you're going to pass out, seizures, coma, or even coma.

What Should be Avoided?

Don't consume alcohol. Dangerous side effects or even death may occur when alcohol is mixed with amitriptyline.

Avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you are aware of the effects of amitriptyline on your body. Your reaction could be affected.

Avoid exposure to the sun and tanning beds. Amitriptyline can cause sunburn more quickly. Protect yourself with protective clothes and sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) while you're outdoors.

Side Effects Of Amitriptyline

Contact a medical professional immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms warning of an allergy reaction to amitriptyline, such as hives, breathing difficulties, and swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face,

If you notice any new or more severe symptoms, consult your physician for treatment, including changes in your behaviour or mood, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you are feeling angry, irritable, mpulsive,  or aggressive.Energetic, restless (both physically and mentally), despondent, or you're contemplating suicide or self-harm.

See your doctor right away. If you are suffering from:

• Symptoms of blood clots such as sudden numbness or weakness, issues with speech or vision, swelling, or redness of an arm or leg

• Strange thoughts or behaviours;

• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you're about to pass out.

• Chest tension or pain that is spreading into your shoulder or jaw, nausea, sweating;

• Beats of your heart, or the sound of a fluttering chest

• Confusion, hallucinations;

• A seizure (convulsions);

• Uncomfortable or difficult to urinate;

• Serious constipation;

• Easily bruising uncommon bleeding

• Chills, fever, sore throat, mouth sores

Common amitriptyline side effects are:

• Constipation, diarrhea;

• Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;

• Mouth pain, unusual taste, black tongue;

• Change in weight or appetite;

• The frequency of urination is lower than normal.

• Itching or rash

• Breast swelling (in either gender) 

• Reduced sex drive, insanity, or difficulty experiencing an orgasm.

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects, and others could happen. For guidance regarding medical effects, speak with your doctor.You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction With Other Drugs

Taking amitriptyline in conjunction with other medications that cause you to sleep can make this condition worse. Consult your physician before using amitriptyline along with a sleeping medication, painkiller, or narcotic medication such as muscle relaxers or medications for depression, anxiety, or seizures.

There are times when it's not recommended to take certain medicines simultaneously. Certain medications can alter the blood levels of other medications that you take, which can cause more side effects or make the drugs less effective.

Discuss all additional drugs with your doctor, including:

• Other antidepressants

• Medications to treat anxiety, depression, mood disorders, depression, or mental illness

• Cold or allergy medication (Benadryl and many others);

• Medicines for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease;

• Medication to treat stomach issues, motion sickness, or IBS;

• Medication to treat the overactive bladder treatment for overactive bladder

• Bronchodilator aspirin medication.

This list isn't complete. Other drugs can interact with amitriptyline, such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Some interactions with drugs may not be listed here. are listed here.