Amitriptyline is used to treat symptoms of depression. Amitriptyline is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain. Amitriptyline is also sometimes used to treat chronic pain, eating disorders, and certain skin problems. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Special precautions
Before taking amitriptyline,

• You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased.
• Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
• You should know that amitriptyline may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking amitriptyline.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor immediately.
• Also tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol; diabetes; an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); seizures; difficulty urinating; an enlarged prostate; and if you have or have ever had glaucoma; if you have recently had a heart attack; or liver, kidney, or heart disease.
• Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
• do not take amitriptyline if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks; or if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid).
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or any other medications.

Side effects
Amitriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• unsteadiness
• confusion
• changes in appetite or weight
• excessive sweating
• changes in sex drive or ability
• pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
• blurred vision
• difficulty urinating
• constipation
• dry mouth
• headaches
• restlessness
• nightmares
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• excitement or anxiety
• weakness or tiredness
• drowsiness
• vomiting
• upset stomach

Some side effects can be serious.

• seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
• seizures
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• fainting
• difficulty sitting still
• shaking hands that you cannot control
• jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• swelling of the face and tongue
• severe skin rash or hives
• rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• crushing chest pain
• weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
• dizziness or faintness
• slow or difficult speech

Amitriptyline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services.
Symptoms of overdose may include:

• cold body temperature
• fever
• vomiting
• rigid muscles
• drowsiness
• agitation
• seeing things that do not exist (hallucinating)
• problems concentrating
• confusion
• coma
• seizures
• irregular heartbeat