Generic Name: Amitriptyline
Brand Name: Elavil
This medication description is not meant for treatment without a specialist's intervention.

Common Uses:
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. How tricyclic antidepressants improve depression symptoms is not fully understood. They are thought to increase the activity of certain chemicals in your brain (norepinephrine, serotonin), which help to improve your mood. Amitriptyline is used for treating depression. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How to use:
Before you start taking any new medicine, please consult your doctor.
Amitriptyline comes with an additional patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Amitriptyline refilled. It may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Avoid eating or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Amitriptyline. Amitriptyline may take up to 30 days to control symptoms of depression. Continue to use Amitriptyline even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.

Warning and Precautions:
Amitriptyline may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Amitriptyline. Using Amitriptyline alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medicines that cause drowsiness (e.g., sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Amitriptyline. It will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants.
Amitriptyline may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
Involuntary and uncontrollable movements may develop in patients taking Amitriptyline. Occurrence is the highest among the elderly, especially women. The risk of developing these involuntary movements and the likelihood they will become permanent are increased with long-term use and with high doses. However, it is possible to develop these symptoms after short-term use at low doses. Contact your health care provider at once if any of the following occur: involuntary movements of your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw (e.g., protrusion of tongue, puffing of cheeks, puckering of mouth, chewing movements), sometimes accompanied by involuntary movements of your arms and legs.
Amitriptyline may cause sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and other ultraviolet light (e.g., tanning beds). Use sunscreens and wear protective clothing until tolerance is determined.
Do not become overheated in hot weather or during exercise or other activities since heatstroke may occur.
Children, teenagers, and young adults who take Amitriptyline may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch all patients who take Amitriptyline closely. Contact your doctor at once if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms such as depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behaviour; panic attacks; or any unusual change in mood or behaviour occur. Contact your doctor right away if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur.
Diabetes patients - Amitriptyline may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are using Amitriptyline.

Important safety information:
Amitriptyline has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss the benefits and risks of using Amitriptyline during pregnancy with your doctor. Amitriptyline is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Amitriptyline.

Side Effects:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome: blurred vision; change in sexual desire or ability; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Overdose:
Symptoms may include flushing, fast or irregular heartbeat, dry mouth, drowsiness, confusion, agitation, enlarged pupils, seizures, loss of consciousness, hallucinations, stupor, mydriasis, hyperpyrexia, paralytic ileus, urinary retention, decreased GI motility, cardiovascular toxicity, rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, respiratory depression, cyanosis, shock, diaphoresis, aspiration, ARDS, hyperthermia, hypothermia, polyradiculoneuropathy, muscle rigidity, disorders of ocular motility, vomiting.

Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose of Amitriptyline, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Do not use this medicine:
if you have any allergic reaction to any component of this medicine.

Storage conditions:
Amitriptyline should be kept away from heat, direct light, water, moisture at a room temperature (approximately 23 degrees C). The medicine should be kept in a place unreachable for children.

All the information given above is a summary. You have to visit your doctor to get more information about this medicine. Do not share Amitriptyline with the others who it was not prescribed for. Do not use it for other health conditions. Do not store this medication with an end term of its storage.