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Special Precautions
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or any
other medications.
Tell your doctor if:
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You or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder
(mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited)
- You have mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood)
- You or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide
- You drink large amounts of alcohol
- You have recently had a heart attack
- You have or have ever had glaucoma
- You have an enlarged prostate
- You have difficulty urinating
- You have seizures
- You have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- You have diabetes
- You have liver, kidney, or heart disease
-
You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant
while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor immediately.
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If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you
are taking amitriptyline.
Amitriptyline may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know
how this medication affects you. Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused
by this medication.
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.
These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or another mental illness,
whether or not you are taking amitriptyline or any other medication.
You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away
if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- new or worsening depression
- thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so
- extreme worry
- agitation
- panic attacks
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- aggressive behavior
- irritability
- acting without thinking
- severe restlessness
- frenzied abnormal excitement
Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medicines that cause drowsiness (eg,
sedatives, tranquilizers) while taking Amitriptyline.
Amitriptyline will add to the
effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions
about which medicines are depressants.
Alcoholic beverages, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase dizziness. To
prevent dizziness or fainting, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit
or lie down at the first sign of dizziness or weakness.
Involuntary and uncontrollable movements may develop in patients taking Amitriptyline.
Occurrence is highest among the elderly, especially women. The risk of developing these
involuntary movements and the likelihood they will become permanent are increased with
long-term use and with high doses. However, it is possible to develop these symptoms after
short-term use at low doses.
Contact your health care provider at once if any of the following occur:
involuntary movements of the tongue, face, mouth, or jaw (eg, protrusion of tongue,
puffing of cheeks, puckering of mouth, chewing movements), sometimes accompanied by
involuntary movements of the arms and legs
Amitriptyline may cause sensitivity to sunlight.
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and
other ultraviolet light (eg, tanning beds). Use sunscreens and wear protective
clothing until tolerance is determined.
Do not become overheated in hot weather or during exercise or other activities since
heatstroke may occur.
Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor
or dentist that you are using Amitriptyline.
Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call
the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
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