Antidepressant Elavil

Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant which is also called as Amitriptyline. This medicine affects the chemicals of the brain which may be unbalanced in case of people with depression. Elavil basically is used for the treatment of the symptoms of depression.

Drug Uses

Elavil is used for the treatment of depression. By increasing levels of certain chemicals in the brain, an improvement in mood is achieved. It is used for the healing of mental/mood problems. It helps improve the mood and the feeling of well-being, relieves anxiety & tension and help one sleep better, while increasing the energy level. This medication typically belongs to tricyclic antidepressants class of drugs and works by altering the balance of some natural chemicals in the brain. This medication can also treat nerve pain (like postherpetic neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy), eating disorder (bulimia), some other mental/mood problems (like anxiety or panic disorder) and to prevent headaches due to migraine.

How Taken

Elavil comes in tablet form to be taken orally. The usual dosage is between one and four times a day. Elavil does not have to be taken with food. Patients generally report an improvement after taking Elavil regularly for two weeks. Do not stop taking Elavil without your doctor’s permission even if you are feeling better. Patients who have been using Elavil for a lengthy period will need the dosage reduced gradually before they are able to stop. Never increase or decrease the dosage without consulting a doctor.

Missed Dose

If a dose is missed, it can be taken as soon as you remember, as long as it does not clash with the next scheduled dose. In this case, rather skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose.

More Information

While using Elavil, be careful when driving, operating machinery or doing other potentially dangerous activities. Avoid such activities if you experience dizziness or drowsiness and consult your doctor if the symptoms persist or worsen. When alcohol is taken simultaneously with Elavil it can increase dizziness and/or drowsiness.

• Information for Adult Patients Prescribed Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Pain (.pdf)

Side Effects of Elavil

In case of Elavil, the following are the severe side effects which one might experience after consumption of the medication-

• Hives
• Difficulty in breathing;
• Swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat
• mood or behavioral changes
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling of impulsiveness
• Feeling of irritation and agitation
• Hostile or aggressive behavior
• Restlessness or hyperactivity (mentally or physically)
• Further more depression
• Development of thoughts of suicide or of hurting oneself
• unusual thoughts and/ or behavior
• Feeling of light headedness
• Feeling of passing out
• chest pain or some pressure
• Pain spreading to the jaw or the shoulder area
• Nausea or sweating
• Pounding heartbeats or the fluttering in the chest
• Confusion or hallucinations
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Painful or difficulty in urination
• Severe constipation
• Easy bruising or unusual bleeding
• Sudden weakness
• Ill feeling
• Fever, chills, soreness in the throat
• Mouth sores
• Trouble in swallowing
• Swollen gums

The following are the common side effects which one might experience after consumption of the medication:

• constipation, diarrhea
• nausea, vomiting or upset stomach
• mouth pain
• Black tongue
• unusual taste
• appetite or weight change
• urinating less than the usual
• itching or rash

Contraindications of Elavil

Elavil should not be used by one, if he/she:

• Is Allergic to amitriptyline
• Has had a heart attack in the recent past
• Has used in the past 14 days an MAO inhibitor like isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, methylene blue injection, tranylcypromine and others
• Suffers from a bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) or schizophrenia
• Has a history of some mental illness or psychosis
• Suffer from liver or heart disease
• Has had a history of stroke, heart attack or seizures
• Suffers from diabetes
• Suffers from glaucoma
• Has a problem with urination

Pregnancy and Elavil

Elavil is an FDA pregnancy category C drug, which means how the drug will behave in case of pregnancy, is not known. Hence a doctor needs to be informed when one plans on getting pregnant or is pregnant. Elavil might pass into the breast milk and may cause some harm to the baby being nursed, and hence while breastfeeding a baby this medication needs to be avoided.

Warnings/Precautions

Patients with the following conditions may not be able to use Elavil, or will require a lower dosage: liver or kidney disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, stomach and/or intestinal problems, heart disease, heart attack, difficulty in urinating, prostrate problems or glaucoma. Elavil should not be used by pregnant women. If a woman falls pregnant while using Elavil, her doctor should immediately be notified. Speak to your doctor about breastfeeding while using Elavil. Elderly patients are likely to be more sensitive to the side-effects of Elavil and may therefore require a lower dosage.