Drug Info
What are amitriptyline tablets?
AMITRIPTYLINE (Elavil, Endep) is an antidepressant.
Amitriptyline can lift your spirits by treating your depression,
especially if it is associated with sleep disturbance. Improvement
of sleep patterns can be the first benefit of treatment. Your
prescriber or health care professional may prescribe amitriptyline
for other conditions, such as relief from nerve pain. Generic
amitriptyline tablets are available.
What should my health care professional know
before I take amitriptyline?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:;
an alcohol problem; asthma, difficulty breathing; blood disorders
or disease; diabetes; difficulty passing urine, prostate trouble;
glaucoma; having intramuscular injections; heart disease or previous
heart attack; liver disease; over active thyroid; Parkinson's
disease; schizophrenia; seizures (convulsions); stomach disease;
an unusual or allergic reaction to amitriptyline, other medicines,
foods, dyes, or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get pregnant;
breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take amitriptyline tablets by mouth. Follow the
directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with
a drink of water. You can take the tablets with or without food.
Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine
more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's
advice.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional
regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may
be needed.
Adolescents, 12 to 18 years old, and elderly
patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction to this
medicine and need smaller doses.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose normally taken at bedtime
to avoid daytime drowsiness, it may be better to miss that dose.
If you take more than one dose a day and miss a dose, take it
as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take
only that dose. Follow your prescriber's advice on missed doses.
Do not take double or extra doses.
What drug(s) may interact with amitriptyline?
Amitriptyline can interact with many other medicines.
Some interactions can be very important. Make sure your prescriber
or health care professional knows about all other medicines you
are taking. Many important interactions are listed below:
Do not take amitriptyline with any of the following
medications:; astemizole (Hismanal); cisapride (Propulsid); probucol;
terfenadine (Seldane); thioridazine (Mellaril); medicines called
MAO inhibitors-phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate),
isocarboxazid (Marplan), selegiline (Eldepryl); other medicines
for mental depression (may be duplicate therapies or cause additive
side effects)
Amitriptyline may also interact with any of the
following medications:; alcohol; antacids; atropine and related
drugs like hyoscyamine, scopolamine, tolterodine and others; barbiturate
medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions),
such as phenobarbital; blood thinners, such as warfarin; bromocriptine;
bupropion; cimetidine; clonidine; cocaine; delavirdine; diphenoxylate;
disulfiram; donepezil; drugs for treating HIV infection; female
hormones, including contraceptive or birth control Tablets and estrogen;
galantamine; herbs and dietary supplements like ephedra (Ma huang),
kava kava, SAM-e, St. John's wort, valerian, or others ; imatinib,
STI-571; kaolin; pectin; labetalol; levodopa and other medicines
for movement problems like Parkinson's disease; lithium; medicines
for anxiety or sleeping problems; medicines for colds, flu and
breathing difficulties, like pseudoephedrine; medicines for hay
fever or allergies (antihistamines); medicines for weight loss
or appetite control; medicines used to regulate abnormal heartbeat
or to treat other heart conditions (examples: amiodarone, bepridil,
disopyramide, dofetilide, encainide, flecainide, ibutilide, mibefradil,
procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, and others); metoclopramide;
muscle relaxants, like cyclobenzaprine; other medicines for mental
or mood problems and psychotic disturbances; prescription pain
medications like morphine, codeine, tramadol and others; procarbazine;
seizure (convulsion) or epilepsy medicine such as carbamazepine
or phenytoin; stimulants like dexmethylphenidate or methylphenidate;
some antibiotics (examples: erythromycin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin,
linezolid, moxifloxacin, sotalol, sparfloxacin) ; tacrine; thyroid
hormones such as levothyroxine
Tell your prescriber or health care professional
about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription
medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell
your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent
user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you
use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works.
Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting
any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking amitriptyline?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber
or health care professional as soon as possible:; abnormal production
of milk in females; blurred vision or eye pain; breast enlargement
in both males and females; confusion, hallucinations (seeing or
hearing things that are not really there); difficulty breathing;
fainting spells; fever with increased sweating; irregular or fast,
pounding heartbeat, palpitations; muscle stiffness, or spasms;
pain or difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder control; seizures
(convulsions); sexual difficulties (decreased sexual ability or
desire, difficulty ejaculating); stomach pain; swelling of the
testicles; tingling, pain, or numbness in the feet or hands; unusual
weakness or tiredness; yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical
attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional
if they continue or are bothersome):; anxiety; constipation, or
diarrhea; drowsiness or dizziness; dry mouth; increased sensitivity
of the skin to sun or ultraviolet light; loss of appetite; nausea,
vomiting; skin rash or itching; weight gain or loss
What should I watch for while taking amitriptyline?
Visit your prescriber or health care professional
for regular checks on your progress. It can take several days
before you feel the full effect of amitriptyline.
If you have been taking amitriptyline regularly
for some time, do not suddenly stop taking it. You must gradually
reduce the dose or you may get severe side effects. Ask your prescriber
or health care professional for advice. Even after you stop taking
amitriptyline it can still affect your body for several days.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use
machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you
know how amitriptyline affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly,
especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk
of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may increase dizziness and
drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
Do not treat yourself for coughs, colds or allergies
without asking your prescriber or health care professional for
advice. Some ingredients can increase possible side effects.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum
or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water will help.
Amitripyline may cause dry eyes and blurred vision.
If you wear contact lenses you may feel some discomfort. Lubricating
drops may help. See your ophthalmologist if the problem does not
go away or is severe.
Amitriptyline may make your skin more sensitive
to the sun. Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors
and use a sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds
or booths.
If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar more
often than usual, especially during the first few weeks of treatment
with amitriptyline. Amitriptyline can affect blood glucose (sugar)
levels.
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