Type of medication:
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that has also been prescribed off-label as a Migraine and headache preventive for many years. It was, in fact, among the first medications recognized as a potential preventive.
Precautions:
- It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow dosage adjustments and to help reduce side effects.
- This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants.
- This medicine may cause drowsiness. If this occurs, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
- Tricyclic antidepressants may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally.
- For diabetic patients: This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood sugar tests, check with your doctor.
- Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor
- The effects of this medicine may last
for 3 to 7 days after you have stopped taking it.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:
- FDA Pregnancy Category D. May harm an unborn baby. Do not take without talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Passes into breast milk and may affect
a nursing baby. Do not take without talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
Other medical conditions:
Be sure to let your doctor know of other medical problems you may have, especially:
- alcohol abuse (or history of)
- asthma, bipolar disorder
- blood disorders
- convulsions (seizures)
- difficult urination
- enlarged prostate
- glaucoma
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- schizophrenia
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- overactive thyroid
- stomach or intestinal problems
Other medications:
Be sure to let your doctor know of ALL medications you are taking, especially
- amphetamines
- appetite suppressants
- ephedrine
- epinephrine
- Isoproterenol
- medications for asthma or other breathing problems
- phenylephrine
- antipsychotic medications
- Clonidine
- thyroid medications
- Cimetidine (Tagamet)
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
- Monoamine oxidase
(MAO) inhibitors
Potential side effects:
- Stop using this medicine and check
with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
- allergic reaction (swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; difficulty breathing)
- seizures
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- symptoms of high blood pressure (blurred vision, headache)
- difficulty urinating
- fever with increased sweating, muscle stiffness, or severe muscle weakness
- Continue medication and talk to your
doctor if you experience:
- drowsiness or dizziness
- dry mouth and eyes
- constipation
- mild tremor
- sweating
- mild agitation, weakness, or headache
- ringing in the ears
- nausea
- loss of weight or appetite
Brand Names:
- U.S.: Elavil (discontinued), Endep
- Canada: Apo-Amitriptyline, Elavil (discontinued), Levate, Novotriptyn
- U.K.: Levate, Novotriptyn
- Australia: Tryptanol, Elavil, Endep, Amitrol
Material on this page is for
informational purposes only,
and should not be construed as medical advice.
Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications.
