Elavil/Amitriptyline - What Are The Symptoms & Side Effects?
Amitriptyline or Elavil, a tricyclic antidepressant, is mainly used for relieving symptoms of mental depression. Basically, it works by slowing down the reabsorption process involved in several chemicals in the brain – serotonin and norepinephrine.
According to studies, allowing such chemicals to stay in the brain longer, can help prevent the occurrence of depression symptoms.
Uses of Elavil
As mentioned, Elavil is mainly used for the relief of symptoms of mental depression. However, nowadays, some doctors, aside from using it for mental depression and the like, also prescribed it to treat other disorders and ailments like bulimia (an eating disorder), pathological weeping, migraine headaches, laughing syndrome related with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain as well.
Possible Symptoms
Elavil when regularly used, and gradually or suddenly stopped could actually cause its users some side effects that may or may not last for some time.
When regularly used, the side effects may include:
- Hair loss
- Heart attack
- Blurred vision
- Bone marrow depression
- Bowel problems
- Breast enlargement, both in males and females
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Swelling of the testicles
- Water retention
- High body temperature
- Difficulty in urinating
- Rash
When gradually stopped may include side effects like:
- Irritability
- Dream and sleep disturbances
- Restlessness
When suddenly stopped may include side effects like:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Discomforts in body parts
Special Considerations and Warnings
Elavil and similar drugs may actually heighten the effects of alcohol. And so, it is best not to drink alcohol at all while under this drug. Similarly, according to studies, it can also cause some more adverse effects if taken with some other drugs like:
- MAO inhibitors like Nardil and Parnate
- Medications for irregular heartbeat, like flecainide and propafenone
- Airway-opening drugs like pseudoephedrine and albuterol
- Antidepressants like paroxetine, sertraline, fluoxetine, and amoxapine
- Antihistamines like diphenhydramine and clemastine fumarate
▪ Barbiturates like phenobarbital - Medicines for certain blood levels like clonidine
- Oral contraceptives like Ethchlorvynol
- Major tranquilizers like thioridazine and chlorpromazine
- Painkillers like meperidine and acetaminophen
- Parkinsonism drugs like levodopa and benztropine
- Tranquilizers like chlordiazepoxide warfarin and alprazolam
- Seizure medications like phenytoin and carbamazepine
- Sleep medicines like triazolam and flurazepam
In case you are taking any of the following drugs cited above, always tell your doctor or otherwise just stop using Elavil for a while until your doctor says so.
Elavil on Pregnancy Issues
Elavil, being safe for pregnant women, women thinking to get pregnant soon and already nursing mothers, has not yet been determined. Instead, it’s just been said that there might be some possible harm and adverse effects on infants or babies exposed to a powerful drug like Elavil.
Thus, if in the event you are now pregnant, thinking to get pregnant, or already a nursing mother, never think of yourself alone. Think of also of the baby that might be affected. If there’s no great need for you to take Elavil, then don’t dare to do so.