Amitriptyline is safe to take for a long time. There do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking it for many months or years. Amitriptyline is not addictive but you can get extra side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. You may have flu-like symptoms like feeling sick, muscle pain and feeling tired or restless. To help prevent this happening, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks — or longer, if you have been taking amitriptyline for a long time.
You may get extra side effects when you stop taking amitriptyline, especially if you stop taking it suddenly. These side effects are a physical reaction as the medicine leaves your system. You may get flu-like symptoms like feeling sick, muscle pain and feeling tired or restless. To help prevent them, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks — or longer, if you have been taking amitriptyline for a long time. Do not stop taking amitriptyline suddenly, or without talking to your doctor.
Amitriptyline can change how hungry you feel. Some people feel more hungry when they're taking it — others feel less hungry. So your weight may change when you first start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking amitriptyline, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist.
Some people feel sleepy while they're taking amitriptyline. It is best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel. Antidepressants like amitriptyline are just one of several ways to treat nerve pain or prevent migraine.
Other treatments include:. You can drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline but it may make you feel sleepy. It's usually best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel.
Apart from avoiding drinking too much alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking amitriptyline.
Amitriptyline does not affect any type of contraception including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Some people have sex-related problems while taking amitriptyline. These can include:. Sexual side effects are not common and should pass after the first couple of weeks.
If they do not, and this is a problem for you, go back to your doctor to see if there's another medicine you can try. If you're a woman and you get vaginal bleeding after the menopause , make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
There is no clear evidence that amitriptyline affects either male or female fertility. Cannabis with amitriptyline can make you feel very sleepy, especially if you've just started taking amitriptyline. Cannabis with amitriptyline can also give you a fast heartbeat. Amitriptyline has not been properly tested with recreational drugs. Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking amitriptyline.
Page last reviewed: 16 September Next review due: 16 September Amitriptyline for pain and migraine On this page About amitriptyline for pain and migraine Key facts Who can and cannot take amitriptyline How and when to take amitriptyline Side effects How to cope with side effects of amitriptyline Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about amitriptyline.
About amitriptyline for pain and migraine Amitriptyline is a medicine used for treating pain. You can take it: to treat nerve pain neuralgia and back pain to help prevent migraine attacks Amitriptyline is available on prescription. Amitriptyline is also used to treat depression.
Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It's best to take your amitriptyline in the evening or before you go to bed. This is because it can make you feel sleepy.
You may start to feel better after 1 or 2 weeks, but it can take 6 weeks for amitriptyline to work as a painkiller. Amitriptyline can cause extra side effects if you stop taking it suddenly.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking it. Amitriptyline is also used to treat depression, but at lower doses it's very good for treating pain. Check with your doctor before starting to take amitriptyline if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to amitriptyline or any other medicine have a heart problem — amitriptyline can make some heart problems worse have a rare blood disorder called porphyria have liver or kidney problems have epilepsy — amitriptyline can increase seizures or fits have ever taken any medicines for depression — some antidepressants used rarely can affect the way amitriptyline works are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding have an eye problem called glaucoma — amitriptyline can increase the pressure in your eye have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life have type 1 or type 2 diabetes If you have diabetes , amitriptyline may change your blood sugar level.
Dosage Amitriptyline tablets come in 3 different strengths — 10mg, 25mg or 50mg. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Common side effects Doses of amitriptyline for pain are lower than the doses for depression.
Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: constipation dizziness dry mouth feeling sleepy difficulty peeing headache Serious side effects It happens rarely, but some people have a serious side effect after taking amitriptyline. Call a doctor straight away if you have: a fast or irregular heartbeat yellow skin, or the whites of your eyes go yellow — these can be signs of a liver problem a headache, feel confused or weak, or get muscle cramps — these can be signs of a low sodium level in your blood thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life eye pain, a change in your eyesight, swelling or redness in or around your eye.
Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to amitriptyline. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: constipation — eat more high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals.
Try to drink several glasses of water or other non-alcoholic drinks every day. If you can, it may also help to do some exercise. Although side effects, such as dry mouth, increased appetite and constipation may occur, consultation with the physician may help minimize the likelihood and severity of these effects.
It can cause sedation and can be taken at night to help sleep. Tags: amitriptyline , elavil , headache , tricyclic antidepressants. Subscribe to our Monthly e-Newsletter. Gain access to the most current migraine and headache information, prevention, treatment, research, and news.
However, like any medication, it comes with a chance of side effects. This article explores what current research suggests about the risks and benefits of using amitriptyline for migraine prevention. Amitriptyline is part of a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants TCAs. TCAs are typically prescribed for depression, but many have additional uses.
Although Elavil was discontinued in , amitriptyline is still available in generic forms. Amitriptyline in particular has been used to treat a wide range of conditions that cause chronic pain, including migraine. For instance, a study assessed its efficacy in a randomized controlled trial. The authors concluded that amitriptyline was effective for migraine prevention. Other countries have formally approved the use of amitriptyline for migraine prevention.
Amitriptyline increases the effects of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is associated with emotional well-being, pain regulation, and other biological functions such as sleeping and eating.
For some people, serotonin is one of those factors. Research has shown that people who experience migraine attacks are more likely to have low levels of serotonin. For many, alterations in serotonin level or activity can trigger a migraine attack. More research needs to be done to understand its exact mechanism of action.
However, the review also reported that children between 10 and 17 who were treated with amitriptyline alongside cognitive behavioral therapy CBT were more likely to experience a reduction in chronic headaches. The recommended starting dose of amitriptyline for migraine is 10 milligrams mg per day.
The maximum dose of amitriptyline is mg per day, and higher doses are more likely to cause side effects. Amitriptyline is available in tablet and liquid form. According to ClinCalc. In addition, the average prescription lasted approximately 44 days. Like any medication, amitriptyline can cause side effects.
The most common side effects are mild, and include:. Although serious side effects are less common, they can occur. You should seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following while taking amitriptyline:.
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