Indications
Therapeutic Class
Pharmacology
Amitriptyline HCl is an antidepressant with sedative effects. Its mechanism of action in man is not known. It is not a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and it does not act primarily by stimulation of the central nervous system.
Amitriptyline inhibits the membrane pump mechanism responsible for uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic and serotonergic neurons. Pharmacologically, this action may potentiate or prolong neuronal activity since reuptake of these biogenic amines is important physiologically in terminating transmitting activity. This interference with reuptake of norepinephrine and/or serotonin is believed by some to underlie the antidepressant activity of Amitriptyline.
Dosage & Administration
Depression :
- Adults: Initially 50-70 mg a day in divided dose or as a single dose at night at bed time.
- Elderly and adolescents: 25-50 mg daily in divided doses or as single dose at bed time. Dose can be increased gradually as necessary to a maximum of 150-200 mg. Usual maintenance dose is 50-100 mg daily.
Nocturnal enuresis:
- 6-10 years: 10-20 mg at bed time.
- 11-16 years: 25-50 mg at bed time for up to 3 months and gradually withdrawn.
Interaction
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors can potentiate the effects of Amitriptyline.
Anticholinergic agents: Amitriptylin should not be given with symptomatic agents such as adrenaline, epinephrine, isoprenaline, noradrenaline.
CNS depressant: Amitriptyline may enhance the response to alcohol, barbiturates.
Cemitidine: Cemitidine is reported to reduce hepatic metabolism of certain tricyclic antidepressants.
Contraindications
Side Effects
- Cardiovascular reactions: Hypotension, syncope, postural hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, palpitations, myocardial infarction, arrythmias, and heart block stroke.
- CNS and neuromuscular: Confusional states, disturbed concentration disorientation, delusions, and hallucinations.
- Anticholinergic: Dry mouth, blurred vision, mydriasis, increased intraoccular pressure, hyperplasia.
- Allergic: Skin rash, urticaria, and photosensitization.
- Haematological: Bone-marrow depression including agranulocytosis, leukopenia, eosinophilia, and thrombocytopenia.
- Gastrointestinal: Nausea, epigastric distress, vomiting anorexia, diarrhoea.
- Endocrine: Testicular swelling, gynaecomastia; breast enlargement, galactorrhoea.
- Other reaction: Dizziness, weakness, fatigue, headache, weight loss
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