Amitriptyline (Elavil) is an antidepressant.

Amitriptyline (Elavil) comes as a tablet to take by mouth, and may be taken with or without food.

Take Amitriptyline (Elavil) exactly as directed.

Side effects from Amitriptyline (Elavil) are common. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

blurred vision
changes in appetite or weight
changes in sex drive or ability
constipation
difficulty breathing or swallowing
difficulty urinating
drowsiness
dry mouth
excessive sweating
excitement or anxiety
fever
frequent urination
insomnia
irregular heartbeat
jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
nightmares
persistent fine tremor or inability to sit still
severe skin rash
shuffling walk
skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual
slow or difficult speech
upset stomach
weakness or tiredness
yellowing of the skin or eyes

If you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement inform your health care professional about the same.

MAOIs - because they can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening, reactions.
Do NOT take MAO inhibitors with, or within 2 weeks of taking, Elavil

anticholinergics
bupropion
cimetidine
fluconazole
phenothiazines
SSRIs
terbinafine
valproic acid because side effects such as blurred vision, difficult urination, drowsiness or sedation, dry mouth, or lightheadedness may occur
antihistamines
cisapride
droperidol
ketolides
macrolides
mibefradil
pimozide
streptogramins because serious side effects on the heart (eg, racing heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, life-threatening abnormal heartbeat leading to unconsciousness, and lack of heartbeat, may be increased by Amitriptyline (Elavil),
Carbamazepine, thyroid medicines (eg, levothyroxine), or stimulants (eg, albuterol, pseudoephedrine) because their side effects may be increased by Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Warfarin because side effects such as serious bleeding may be increased by Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Clonidine, guanethidine, or guanfacine because the effectiveness of these medicines may be decreased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Elavil may interact with other medicines that you take.

Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to Amitriptyline (Elavil).

Do NOT use Amitriptyline (Elavil)if:

You are allergic to any ingredient in Amitriptyline (Elavil)

You are currently taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine, selegiline) within the last 14 days

You are taking antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), cisapride, droperidol, a ketolide (eg, telithromycin) , a macrolide (eg, erythromycin), mibefradil, or pimozide

You are recovering from a heart attack

If you take several doses per day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.

If you take Amitriptyline (Elavil) once a day at bedtime and do not remember to take it until the next morning, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is used to treat depression.


Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Amitriptyline (Elavil) also is used occasionally to treat chronic pain and eating disorders.

Amitriptyline (Elavil) medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information

Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture.

Some medical conditions may interact with Amitriptyline (Elavil). Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

if you have a history of mental illness (eg, bipolar disorder, mania, manic-depression), or have considered or attempted suicide

if you have alcoholism or regularly consume 3 or more alcoholic beverages per day

if you have glaucoma, an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, chest pain, liver disease, prostate problems, thyroid disease, or are unable to urinate (urinary retention)

if you have a history of seizures, epilepsy, or porphyria