What is amitriptyline?
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. Amitriptyline affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.
Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression.
Amitriptyline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about amitriptyline?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to amitriptyline, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
Do not use amitriptyline if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking amitriptyline?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to amitriptyline, or if you have recently had a heart attack.
Do not use amitriptyline if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.
To make sure you can safely take amitriptyline, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
heart disease;
a history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures;
bipolar disorder (manic-depression);
schizophrenia or other mental illness;
diabetes (amitriptyline may raise or lower blood sugar);
overactive thyroid;
glaucoma; or
problems with urination.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether amitriptyline will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Amitriptyline can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using amitriptyline.
Do not give this medication to anyone under 12 years old without medical advice.