AMITRIPTILINA: what is it, what is it for, dosage, contraindications and side effects

Sometimes, we face stress and anxiety situations that cause us very intense headaches and very strong body aches. It can also happen that we have very changeable moods that affect our daily activities. Maybe you are feeling in some way different from how you usually are or you know someone who has had experiences of this kind. Problems lead us to seek solutions that allow us to live better and there are medications that can generate this positive effect. Do you want to know more about this? In this Psychology-Online article, we invite you to continue reading about the amitriptyline, what it is, what it is for, dosage, contraindications and side effects.

Index

1. What is Amitriptyline
2. What is amitriptyline for
3. Amitriptyline dosage
4. Contraindications of amitriptyline
5. Side effects of amitriptyline

When talking about amitriptyline we refer to a psychiatric medication within the groups of tricyclic antidepressant medications

In the following articles, you can find more information about the Types of antidepressants and Tricyclic antidepressants.

Next, we will see when to take amitriptyline, what is its function and what effects it has.

The first place, it is worth mentioning the mechanism of action of amitriptyline. What increases amitriptyline? Amitriptyline increases the levels of norepinephrine and serotonin. In the following articles, you will find more information about the noradrenaline and the serotonin.

There are several uses for amitriptyline. On the one hand, it uses for the treatment of certain mental illnesses such as depression. However, it is not the only use of this drug since it is also indicated for the treatment of pain. neuropathic (severe chronic pain due to a nerve injury), migraine (severe headache), anxiety disorder, posthepatic neuralgia (pain caused by shingles), some eating disorders and nocturnal enuresis (difficulty in retaining urine at night).

Amitriptyline can be taken by both children and adolescents and adults. The form of intake of this medicine consists of tablets that are taken by mouth.

What is the recommended dose of amitriptyline? Taking as reference the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, these are the indicated doses depending on the person and the type of problem in question:

• Children with nocturnal enuresis who have between 6 and 11 years old can consume 10 to 20 milligrams before going to bed to sleep, while those children who have between 11 and 16 years must take between 25 and 50 milligrams at night. It is important to know that the supply of this medication in this population should not exceed 3 months.
• When it comes to children of 9 to 15 years suffering from migraines, the dose ranges from 0.25 and 1 milligram at night.
• For the chronic neuropathic pain, in children the dose ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 or 2 milligrams per day depending on the child.
• For the treatment of depressive disorders in children who have between 9 and 12 years of age, an average of 3 milligrams per day.
• On teenagers suffering from depression, the dose may be between 25 and 50 milligrams per day with the possibility of reaching 100 and 200 milligrams depending on the characteristics of the person.
• For the adult patients, the dose varies according to the problem that is present, although the average intake varies between 50 and 150 milligrams newspapers spread throughout the day.

The absorption of this psychotropic drug reaches its maximum point after two or three hours after oral consumption, which means that in this period of time it produces its greatest effect on the body. The supply of this medication should not be done on a voluntary basis, but under the control of a health professional who monitors the patient's progress.

We must know that amitriptyline has some contraindications when consuming it. Therefore, in this section we will talk about some psychiatric and medical conditions in which This medication is not recommended:

• Bipolar disorder and states of mania
• Epilepsy
• Schizophrenia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Liver failure
• Myocardial infarction
• Renal insufficiency
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Liver failure
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Prostatic hypertrophy
• Elevated intraocular pressure
• Reactions to sun exposure

On the other hand, the use of amitriptyline is not suggested if the patient must drive a vehicle since you can get dizzy. Similarly, it is not advisable to take drinks with alcohol in case of carrying out a treatment with this medication.

Like all medications, there are side effects that the supply of amitriptyline can generate. Next, we are going to point out the most important ones to take into account:

• Vomiting
• Sickness
• Body instability
• Headache
• Difficulty urinating
• Blurry vision
• Drowsiness
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Nightmares
• Tiredness
• Body weakness
• Pain or tingling in the hands and feet
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Alterations in sexual desire

On the other hand, there are other side effects that are more serious. Here we will mention the most important ones:

• Difficulty speaking
• Pounding heartbeat
• Rash
• Swelling of the tongue and face
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Seizures
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Bleeding
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Bruises
• Fading
• Tremors in the body
• Arm or leg numbness
• Seizures

Faced with any type of side effects, it is important to see a health professional.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Amitriptyline: what it is, what it is for, dosage, contraindications and side effects, we recommend that you enter our category of Psychopharmaceuticals.

• Medicines Committee, Spanish Association of Pediatrics. (2021). Amitriptyline. Recovered from: https://www.aeped.es/pediamecum/generatepdf/api? n = 83507
• Heerlein, A. (2002). Antidepressant drug treatments. Chilean Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 40 (1), 21-45.
• Vidal, M.A., Martínez-Fernández, E., Martínez-Vázquez de Castro, J., Torres, L.M. (2004). Efficacy of gabapentin and amitriptyline in neuropathic pain in diabetics. Journal of the Spanish Pain Society, 11 (5), 292-305.