Amitriptyline HCL (Generic Elavil)

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.

Amitriptyline Common uses

Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) is used to treat symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants (mood elevators). It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

Amitriptyline Directions

Amitriptyline comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken one to four times a day. To help you remember to take Amitriptyline, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Amitriptyline exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Amitriptyline and gradually increase your dose. It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of Amitriptyline. Continue to take Amitriptyline even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Amitriptyline without talking to your doctor. Stopping amitriptyline suddenly may cause withdrawal symptoms (upset stomach, headache, and lack of energy). Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.

Amitriptyline Cautions

Before taking Amitriptyline, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Amitriptyline or any other medications. Do not take Amitriptyline if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks; or if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid). Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.

Be sure to mention any of the following: antihistamines; cimetidine (Tagamet); diet pills; disulfiram (Antabuse); ethchlorvynol (Placidyl); guanethidine (Ismelin); ipratropium (Atrovent); quinidine (Quinidex); medications for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide (Tambocor) and propafenone (Rythmol); medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, nausea, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; other antidepressants; phenobarbital (Bellatal, Solfoton); sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); sleeping pills; thyroid medications; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.