Amitriptyline for Depression

Overview

Amitriptyline is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Use in children and adolescents under 18 is generally not recommended due to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, although a doctor may prescribe it in certain cases.

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by increasing levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers), including serotonin and norepinephrine, in the brain. These chemical messengers help regulate mood and are believed to play a role in both depression and anxiety disorders.

How do I take it?

Prescribing information states that amitriptyline is taken by mouth in tablet form. It is typically taken one to four times daily at the same time each day. A health care provider usually starts treatment with a low dose and gradually increases it. Amitriptyline should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider. 

Side effects

Common side effects of amitriptyline include nausea, vomiting, somnolence (drowsiness), asthenia (weakness or tiredness), nightmares, cephalalgia (headache), xerostomia (dry mouth), constipation, urinary retention (difficulty urinating), blurred vision, paresthesia (pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet), sexual dysfunction (changes in sex drive or ability), hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), changes in appetite or weight, confusion, and unsteadiness.

Rare but serious side effects may include dysarthria (slow or difficult speech), syncope (fainting), hemiparesis (weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg), angina (crushing chest pain), tachyarrhythmia (rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat), severe rash or urticaria (hives), angioedema (swelling of the face and tongue), jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dystonia (jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms), tremor (uncontrollable shaking), coagulopathy (unusual bleeding or bruising), seizures, and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that do not exist).

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Amitriptyline — MedlinePlus