Although it is rare, amitriptyline can cause some severe side effects. Call right away if you experience a life-threatening medical emergency. Call right away if you experience any of these symptoms while taking amitriptyline, as they may indicate a life-threatening medical emergency:.
You may experience other symptoms not listed here. Always talk to your doctor about what you may be experiencing to learn if your medicine is responsible. Amitriptyline can interact with several medications.
It is essential to let your doctor and pharmacist know all the prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements you are taking to avoid a potentially serious reaction. This is not a complete list. There are several other drugs that may interact with amitriptyline.
Check with your doctor if you have specific concerns. Until your body gets used to the medicine, be careful with any activities that require you to be alert like driving or operating machinery. You should not drink alcohol or take other medicines that can make you drowsy with amitriptyline because it can increase the effect of the drug.
You should not suddenly stop taking amitriptyline. Talk to your doctor about the best way to gradually stop this medicine. Amitriptyline can be helpful if insomnia is results from another condition you may have, such as pain, depression or anxiety. You should discuss all your symptoms with your doctor to find the best treatment option for you. Amitriptyline has been around for many years and is an inexpensive option as a sleep aid.
Amitriptyline and antidepressants like it are commonly used off-label to treat insomnia, especially in people who also have symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline can cause significant side effects and can interact with other medications. The usual dose of amitriptyline for depression in adults is 50mg to mg a day. This may go up to mg to mg a day if you need a stronger dose, but only under the supervision of a specialist. Young people aged 16 to 17 years and older people sometimes start on a lower dose of 25mg to 50mg a day to reduce the chance of side effects.
Sometimes, when you're just starting treatment, you may be told to take a lower dose, 2 or 3 times a day, until you get used to the medicine. This is because taking a smaller dose 2 or 3 times a day for a while can reduce the chance of you having side effects. Amitriptyline does not usually upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. If you chew them, they taste bitter. The liquid comes with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose.
If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount. If you take amitriptyline once a day and forget a dose, leave your missed dose and take your next one the next day at the usual time. If you take amitriptyline 2 or 3 times a day and forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it's close to the time for your next dose. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
The amount of amitriptyline that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Go to Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. Take the amitriptyline packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you.
Like all medicines, amitriptyline can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Some of the common side effects of amitriptyline will gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these common side effects bother you or do not go away:. It happens rarely, but some people have a serious side effect after taking amitriptyline.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to amitriptyline. These are not all the side effects of amitriptyline. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. If you are already taking amitriptyline, you may be advised to continue taking it during pregnancy, especially if you take it to treat depression.
If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor can explain how taking amitriptyline can help you and how it might affect you. They will also help you choose the best treatment for you and your baby. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take amitriptyline while breastfeeding.
Amitriptyline passes into breast milk in very small amounts, so it's unlikely to cause any harm to your baby. It's important to keep taking amitriptyline to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, then talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.
Many medicines and amitriptyline can affect each other and increase the chances of side effects. Always check with your doctor or a pharmacist before starting any new medicine while you are taking amitriptyline. Taking amitriptyline with opioid medicines can increase your risk of becoming very drowsy and having breathing problems. Opioid medicines include:. Tell your doctor if you have ever taken any other medicines for depression. Some antidepressants can affect the way amitriptyline works and cause very high blood pressure.
This can happen even after you have stopped taking them. Do not take St John's wort, a herbal remedy for depression, while you're taking amitriptyline as this will increase your risk of side effects. There's very little information about taking amitriptyline with other herbal remedies and supplements. They are not tested in the same way as medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
Amitriptyline is from a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants. They are thought to work by increasing levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. Taking more than your prescribed dose can cause potentially serious symptoms and side effects, such as:. Many people take amitriptyline without experiencing any problems - but, like any medication, it can cause side effects.
Many of the more common ones go, once your body has adjusted to the treatment. Some people also find their appetite and weight changes when they start taking it.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your weight changes worry you. Because amitriptyline can make you drowsy, you should not cycle, drive or use machinery for the first few days of taking it, until you know how it affects you. In rare cases, people can have serious side effects. Get medical help straight away if you experience:. As with any medication, there is a very small risk you may be allergic to it.
You should contact a doctor immediately if:. Amitriptyline is safe to take with most other drugs prescribed for your condition, but some may interact with it. Learn about risks and side-effects. Speak to your doctor before starting amitriptyline if you use a recreational drug that may interact with it. However, some people have been known to experience sex-related problems early in their treatment, such as:.
These are quite uncommon and should settle down after the first few weeks of treatment. Srisurapanont M, Jarusuraisin N. Amitriptyline vs. Acta Psychiatr Scand. Holmberg G. Sedative effects of maprotiline and amitriptyline. Drowsiness, impaired performance and tricyclic antidepressants drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol. Hindmarch, I. An investigation of the effects of lofepramine, nomifensine, amitriptyline and placebo on aspects of memory and psychomotor performance related to car driving.
International clinical psychopharmacology, 3 2 , pp. The effect of four-week administration of amitriptyline on sleep bruxism.
A double-blind crossover clinical study. Effect of amitriptyline on symptoms, sleep, and visceral perception in patients with functional dyspepsia. Am J Gastroenterol. Low dose amitriptyline in chronic pain: the gain is modest. The effects of total sleep deprivation, selective sleep interruption and sleep recovery on pain tolerance thresholds in healthy subjects. Journal of sleep research. Roehrs T, Roth T.
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