just wanted to share my understanding is that the dose of amitriptyline for cvs
is way lower than it would be prescribed for depression. Mimi

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "mcdolemom728" <mcdolemom@...>

I found this info online. I would definitely call the doctor,
something doesn't sound right.



Other drug names: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Amitriptyline
(a mee trip' ti leen)

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed?
How should this medicine be used?
Other uses for this medicine
What special precautions should I follow?
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
In case of emergency/overdose
What other information should I know?
Brand names of combination products


IMPORTANT WARNING: Return to top
A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years
of age) who took antidepressants ('mood elevators') such as
amitriptyline during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about
harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so). Children,
teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat
depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become
suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take
antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts are not
sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered
in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant.
Children younger than 18 years of age should not normally take
amitriptyline, but in some cases, a doctor may decide that
amitriptyline is the best medication to treat a child's condition.

You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways
when you take amitriptyline or other antidepressants even if you are an
adult over age 24. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning
of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or
decreased. 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; and
frenzied abnormal excitement. 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.

Your healthcare provider will want to see you often while you are
taking amitriptyline, especially at the beginning of your treatment. Be
sure to keep all appointments for office visits with your doctor.

The doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient
information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with
amitriptyline. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or
pharmacist if you have any questions. You also can obtain the
Medication Guide from the FDA website:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/antidepressants_MG_2007.pdf
.

No matter your age, before you take an antidepressant, you, your
parent, or your caregiver should talk to your doctor about the risks
and benefits of treating your condition with an antidepressant or with
other treatments. You should also talk about the risks and benefits of
not treating your condition. You should know that having depression or
another mental illness greatly increases the risk that you will become
suicidal. This risk is higher if you or anyone in your family has or
has ever had bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to
abnormally excited) or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood) or has
thought about or attempted suicide. Talk to your doctor about your
condition, symptoms, and personal and family medical history. You and
your doctor will decide what type of treatment is right for you.


Why is this medication prescribed? Return to top
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 that
are needed to maintain mental balance.

How should this medicine be used? Return to top
Amitriptyline comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken
one to four times a day. Take amitriptyline at around the same time(s)
every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully,
and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not
understand. Take amitriptyline exactly as directed. Do not take more or
less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of amitriptyline and
gradually increase your dose.

It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of
amitriptyline. Continue to take amitriptyline even if you feel well. Do
not stop taking amitriptyline without talking to your doctor. If you
suddenly stop taking amitriptyline, you may experience withdrawal
symptoms such as nausea, headache, and lack of energy. Your doctor will
probably decrease your dose gradually.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top
Amitriptyline is also sometimes used to treat eating disorders and post-
herpetic neuralgia (the burning, stabbing pains, or aches that may last
for months or years after a shingles infection). 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.

What special precautions should I follow? Return to top
Before taking amitriptyline,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or
any other medications.
tell your doctor if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid) (not available
in the U.S.) or monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have taken an
MAO inhibitor during the past 14 days. Your doctor will probably tell
you that you should not take amitriptyline.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and
nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and
herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the
following: antihistamines; cimetidine (Tagamet); diet pills; disulfiram
(Antabuse); guanethidine (Ismelin); ipratropium (Atrovent); quinidine
(Quinidex); medications for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide
(Tambocor) and propafenone (Rythmol); medications for anxiety, asthma,
colds, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, nausea, Parkinson's
disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; other antidepressants;
phenobarbital (Bellatal, Solfoton); sedatives; selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine
(Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and
sertraline (Zoloft); sleeping pills; thyroid medications; and
tranquilizers. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have stopped
taking fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) in the past 5 weeks.Your doctor may
need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully
for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack. Your doctor
will probably tell you not to take amitriptyline.
tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you have
or have ever had glaucoma (an eye condition); an enlarged prostate (a
male reproductive gland); difficulty urinating; seizures; an overactive
thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); diabetes; schizophrenia (a mental
illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in
life, and strong or inappropriate emotions); or liver, kidney, or heart
disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you
become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor. Do not
breast-feed while you are taking amitriptyline.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or
dentist that you are taking amitriptyline.
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.
remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this
medication.
What special dietary instructions should I follow? Return to top
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose? Return to top
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is
almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your
regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a
missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause? Return to top
Amitriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these
symptoms are severe or do not go away:

nausea
vomiting
drowsiness
weakness or tiredness
nightmares
headaches
dry mouth
constipation
difficulty urinating
blurred vision
pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
changes in sex drive or ability
excessive sweating
changes in appetite or weight
confusion
unsteadiness

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the
following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section,
call your doctor immediately:

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

Amitriptyline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you
have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a
report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse
Event Reporting program online [at
http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? Return to top
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and
out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from
excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any
medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your
pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top
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.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

irregular heartbeat
seizures
coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
confusion
problems concentrating
hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
agitation
drowsiness
rigid muscles
vomiting
fever
cold body temperature

What other information should I know? Return to top
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor
may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to
amitriptyline.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any
questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names of combination products Return to top
Limbitrol® (containing amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide)
Limbitrol® DS (containing amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide)


Last Revised - 08/01/2007

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer
The MedMaster™ Patient Drug Information database provides information
copyrighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.,
Bethesda, Maryland Copyright© 2007. All Rights Reserved.

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Page last updated: 19 December 2007

--- In cyclicvomitingsyndrome@yahoogroups.com, "ohgr8nowwhat"
<OneSmartCooke@...> wrote:
>
> Mary -
>
> > I hope they didn't take him off the amitriptyline cold turkey, they
> > are supposed to gradually reduce the dose.
>
> They took him off of it cold turkey. I asked the Neuro. and he said
it
> was fine to stop it immediately and go to the Depakote. I did this
on
> Thurs. and my son says he isn't feeling well. Come to think of it,
he
> was hurting (body/feet) and emotional today. HHMM... More info. and
> thoughts on this would be appreciated!
>
> Terry
>




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