Most doctors recommend that you take antidepressants for 6 months to a year after you've stopped feeling depressed. Stopping before then can make depression come back. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking amitriptyline for longer than a few months. It will depend on:. 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 withdrawal side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. If you've been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off amitriptyline.
Your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you have been taking amitriptyline for a long time. This is to help prevent any withdrawal side effects you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine. These include:. Do not stop taking amitriptyline suddenly, or without talking to your doctor first. Amitriptyline can change how hungry you feel. Some people feel more hungry when they're taking it, while 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's best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel. It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected.
It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking amitryptyline. UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Amitriptyline does not work any better or worse than other antidepressants. However, for some people, the side effects are a problem and they may have fewer side effects with another antidepressant.
Sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another. Talk to your doctor if you are not feeling any better after taking amitriptyline for 6 weeks, or sooner if the side effects are still a problem. Antidepressants, including amitriptyline, are just one of several approaches to treating depression.
Other potential treatments include:. You can drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline but it may make you feel sleepy. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel.
You can eat and drink normally while taking amitriptyline. However, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. Amitriptyline does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.
The good effects of amitriptyline may, after a while, improve your sex life as your mood lifts and you become interested in life and relationships again. 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 antidepressant you can try. If you get vaginal bleeding after the menopause make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
There's no evidence that amitriptyline affects either male or female fertility. Cannabis with amitriptyline can give you a fast heartbeat. Cannabis can also make drowsiness worse, especially if you've just started taking amitriptyline. Methadone and other opiates for example, heroin can increase the risk of severe drowsiness if you're taking amitriptyline. Find out more the side effects of some recreational drugs on the Frank website.
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: 9 September Next review due: 9 September Amitriptyline for depression On this page About amitriptyline for depression Key facts Who can and cannot take amitriptyline How and when to take amitriptyline for depression Side effects How to cope with side effects of amitriptyline Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about amitriptyline.
About amitriptyline for depression Amitriptyline is an antidepressant medicine. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It works by increasing levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. You may start to feel better after 1 to 2 weeks but it can take 4 to 6 weeks for amitriptyline to work fully. Side effects such as a dry mouth and constipation are common. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
It's best to take amitriptyline in the evening or before you go to bed. This is because it can make you feel sleepy. Amitriptyline can cause side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking it. To make sure it's safe for you, check with your doctor 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 problems have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment ECT — amitriptyline may increase your risk of having a fit or seizure are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding have glaucoma — amitriptyline can increase the pressure in your eye have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life have problems emptying your bladder have type 1 or type 2 diabetes If you have diabetes , amitriptyline can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable.
Dosage and strength Amitriptyline tablets come in different strengths of 10mg, 25mg or 50mg. The maximum dose of amitriptyline is mg per day. How to take it Amitriptyline does not usually upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food. What if I forget to take it? Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.
What if I take too much? Taking more than your prescribed dose of amitriptyline can: make you feel agitated make you sick vomiting cause shaking cause a fast heart rate cause fits or seizures shaking and jerking uncontrollably. Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
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This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. May 15, Issue. Am Fam Physician. Searchable Question In patients being treated for depression, which antidepressants have a low risk of sexual side effects?
Evidence-Based Answer Bupropion Wellbutrin , nefazodone Serzone , amitriptyline Elavil , and moclobemide Manerix, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type A not available in the United States have been shown to cause less sexual dysfunction than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. Evidence Summary The incidence of sexual side effects between different antidepressants in adults with depressive or anxiety disorders has been reported by 25 RCTs, most of which were included in two recent descriptive systematic reviews.
Clinical Commentary Bupropion appears to be the best antidepressant for use in patients who are concerned about drug-related sexual dysfunction. Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere. Choose a single article, issue, or full-access subscription. Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue. Purchase Access: See My Options close. Best Value!
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