Amitriptyline

Amitriptyline is used to relieve symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or guilt; loss of interest in daily activities, changes in appetite, tiredness, sleeping too much, insomnia, and thoughts of death or suicide. Amitriptyline is in a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Amitriptyline affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome: Blurred vision, change in sexual desire or ability, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, trouble sleeping, weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur: Severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue), chest pain, confusion, dark urine, delusions, difficulty speaking or swallowing; fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations, new or worsening agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, restlessness, or inability to sit still; numbness or tingling in an arm or leg; one-sided weakness, seizures, severe or persistent dizziness or headache; severe or persistent trouble sleeping; slurred speech, suicidal thoughts or actions; tremor, trouble urinating, uncontrolled muscle movements (eg, of face, tongue, arms, legs).

Some medical conditions may interact with Amitriptyline. Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding If you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement; If you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances; If you have a history of mental illness (eg, bipolar disorder, mania, manic-depression), or have considered or attempted suicide; If you have alcoholism or regularly consume 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day; If you have glaucoma, an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, chest pain, liver disease, prostate problems, thyroid disease, or are unable to urinate (urinary retention); If you have a history of seizures, epilepsy, or porphyria. 

Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following: MAOIs (eg, phenelzine, selegiline) because they can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening, reactions.

Do NOT take MAO inhibitors with, or within 2 weeks of taking, Amitriptyline; Anticholinergics (eg, scopolamine), bupropion, cimetidine, fluconazole, phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine), SSRIs (eg, fluoxetine), terbinafine, or valproic acid because side effects such as blurred vision, difficult urination, drowsiness or sedation, dry mouth, or lightheadedness may occur; Antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), cisapride, droperidol, ketolides (eg, telithromycin), macrolides (eg, erythromycin), mibefradil, pimozide, or streptogramins (eg, quinupristin/dalfopristin) because serious side effects on the heart (eg, racing heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, life-threatening abnormal heartbeat leading to unconsciousness, and lack of heartbeat, may be increased by Amitriptyline; Carbamazepine, thyroid medicines (eg, levothyroxine, Synthroid), or stimulants (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine).

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Amitriptyline may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.