What if I take too much? Taking more than your prescribed dose can cause potentially serious symptoms and side effects, such as: vomiting shaking drowsiness changes to your heartbeat seizures. Side-effects and risks. Common side effects include: constipation dizziness dry mouth feeling sleepy difficulty weeing headache. Get medical help straight away if you experience: weakness on one side of your body blurred eyesight trouble speaking, thinking or balancing.
These could be signs of a stroke and you need to call to ask for an ambulance. Allergic reactions. These are symptoms of a serious allergic reaction and you must seek medical help straight away.
Other conditions it may affect. Effects on other treatments. Painkillers , such as codeine or tramadol, could react with it to make you sleepy and less alert.
Antidepressants — some antidepressant treatments, such as serotonin re-uptake inhibitors SSRIs or MAOI drugs, can interfere with it, causing high blood pressure or heart problems. Alcohol and amitriptyline can also interact to cause high blood pressure. Recreational drugs. Cannabis can make you feel very sleepy and can also make your heart beat very fast. Antidepressants may be prescribed alone or alongside traditional painkillers. Healthcare products may opt to prescribe amitriptyline for other causes of pain, as well, including chronic back and neck pain due to disease or injury.
Antidepressants like amitriptyline are not typically the first medications healthcare providers prescribe for these types of pain, but they're often used when other treatments haven't been successful. While a fair amount of research supports the use of amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants for neuropathic pain and migraine, evidence thus far is lacking when it comes to chronic neck or back pain. A review of studies published in found that tricyclics in general haven't been shown to alleviate back pain.
However, the reviewers considered the evidence of generally low quality, so much work remains to be done on this topic. Additional off-label uses of amitriptyline include:. The appropriate dosages of amitriptyline for treating chronic back or neck pain haven't been determined, but healthcare providers can use those that have been established for pain conditions as a guideline.
As a general rule, the dosage for pain is lower than it is for depression. Amitriptyline treatment is typically titrated, meaning that you start with a smaller dose and gradually increase the dose until the desired effect is achieved, which can help avoid significant side effects. When used for the treatment of neuropathic pain, many healthcare providers will start at a dose of 25 milligrams mg and gradually increase the amount over the course of several weeks or months.
People who are smaller or frail may be started at 10 mg. Older adults may have a strong response to amitriptyline and, therefore, need smaller doses. Amitriptyline is often avoided in people over age 60 because the drug may increase their risk of cardiac arrhythmia abnormal heart rhythm. Amitriptyline is also contraindicated for use in people with a known allergy to the drug or any inactive ingredient in it.
It should also never be used in people who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs for depression. All antidepressants carry a black box warning advising consumers of the risk of suicidal thoughts in children, adolescents, and young adults who take the drug. For this reason, they're only used to treat pain in younger people if the benefits are believed to outweigh the risks. However, studies show amitriptyline may be one of the least likely antidepressants to cause this side effect.
Amitriptyline comes in tablet form. The drug is generally taken at night to avoid dizziness, drowsiness, and other central nervous system side effects. The pill should be swallowed whole. Do not break, split, crush, or chew the tablet as it can affect its absorption of the drug in the gut. There are no food restrictions; amitriptyline can be taken with or without food. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of your next dose, simply skip the original dose and continue as normal. Do not double the dose to catch up. Amitriptyline can be stored safely at room temperature.
Keep the tablets in their original light-resistant container, and avoid storing them on a sunny windowsill or in your glove compartment.
Here are 17 recipes to help you make the most of it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm. Amitriptyline Off-label prescribing Black box warning How it works Dosage Side effects Drug interactions Other warnings Benefits Bottom line Chronic lack of sleep is more than just frustrating. What is amitriptyline? What is off-label prescribing? FDA warnings about amitriptyline. How does amitriptyline work?
What is a typical dosage when prescribed for sleep? Are there side effects from taking amitriptyline for sleep? Are there interactions with other drugs? Are there any warnings about taking amitriptyline for sleep? What are the benefits of taking amitriptyline for sleep? The bottom line. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Can Sleep Apnea Cause Depression? Medically reviewed by Timothy J.
Legg, Ph. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Amitriptyline dose for pain. Amitriptyline adverse effects Generally, side effects are common when taking amitriptyline for pain. Less common side effects include skin rash, mood change, anxiety, and increased bleeding.
Overall, however, amitriptyline at lower doses for chronic pain has few sides effects. Frequently asked questions How should I increase the dose of amitriptyline? Generally, you should start at a low dose mg and increase by 10mg every days. How long does amitriptyline take to work for pain? Is amitriptyline addictive?
Amitriptyline and sleep: is it a sleeping tablet? How long do I need to take amitriptyline? Alternative to amitriptyline for pain Generally, if patients cannot tolerate amitriptyline for pain, we consider other medications. Nortriptyline This drug is a tricyclic antidepressant, which is in a similar class to amitriptyline.
Duloxetine This drug is a different type of antidepressant that works on different receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Pregabalin or Gabapentin We know these drugs by the common brand name of Neurontin or Lyrica. Which is better for pain gabapentin or amitriptyline? Final word from Sportdoctorlondon about amitriptyline for pain We think Amitriptyline is the medication of choice for assisting in the treatment of chronic pain such as nerve trapping or chronic shoulder or back pain.
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