for a patient prescribed amitriptyline (elavil) and should instruct the patient to report:

Amitriptyline 5/8 side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to your national health agency. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report

Full Answer

How should a 75-year-old patient take amitryptiline (Elavil)?

A 75-year-old patient with a long history of depression begins amitryptiline (Elavil) 100 mg/day. The patient also takes a diuretic daily for hypertension.

What is amitriptyline (Elavil)?

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medication (tertiary amine). The TCAs are very toxic when ingested at levels of 1000 to 3000 mg, and overdosage and suicide attempts with this medication are extremely dangerous and often require emergency medical attention.

What should I know about amitriptyline before taking it?

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. It is not known whether amitriptyline will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Elavil. Amitriptyline can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.

How to know if Elavil is safe?

To make sure Elavil is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: 1 bipolar disorder (manic-depression) or schizophrenia; 2 a history of mental illness or psychosis; 3 liver disease; 4 heart disease; 5 a history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures; 6 ... (more items)

What are the side effects of Elavil?

Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, weight gain, or trouble urinating may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

What are the most common side effects of amitriptyline?

Common side effectsconstipation.dizziness.dry mouth.feeling sleepy.difficulty peeing.headache.

What are the contraindications of amitriptyline?

The following conditions are contraindicated with this drug....Who should not take AMITRIPTYLINE HCL?overactive thyroid gland.manic-depression.suicidal thoughts.alcoholism.wide-angle glaucoma.closed angle glaucoma.heart attack within the last 30 days.torsades de pointes, a type of abnormal heart rhythm.More items...

What do I need to know before taking amitriptyline?

Amitriptyline FDA warning Amitriptyline has increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in some individuals, particularly children and young adults. It is important to monitor for worsening symptoms of mood, thoughts, or behavior and call 911 immediately if you notice changes.

Can amitriptyline cause low blood pressure?

In general, amitriptyline side effects include weight gain, generalized weakness and sleepiness, alopecia, blurred vision, dry mouth, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, urinary retention, and can cause serious side effects like arrhythmia, blood dyscrasias, and hypotension [9-13].

Does amitriptyline cause increased blood pressure?

Elavil can cause severe high blood pressure when used with epinephrine.

What does amitriptyline interact with?

Some products that may interact with this drug include: arbutamine, disulfiram, thyroid supplements, other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, "blood thinners" such as warfarin), anticholinergic drugs (such as belladonna alkaloids), certain ...

Why is amitriptyline a high risk medication?

In severe cases, Elavil has been linked to a condition called QT prolongation, which could cause seizures, fainting, and in fatal cases, death. Research has linked the use of antidepressants to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and ideation.

Does amitriptyline increase resting heart rate?

Antidepressants. Certain medicines used to treat depression can raise your heart rate. They include serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine, and tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, and others.

Can amitriptyline cause urinary problems?

to the use of amitripty- line, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) with significant potential to cause adverse anticholinergic effects,1,2 including: • current diagnosis of BPH – amitriptyline increases the risk of urinary retention, worsens the symptoms of BPH and can increase the postvoid residue (PVR), thereby ...

Can amitriptyline cause heart problems?

Amitriptyline may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.

Does amitriptyline give you Diarrhoea?

Amitriptyline may make you feel sleepy....Can amitriptyline cause problems?Common amitriptyline side-effectsWhat can I do if I experience this?Feeling sick (nausea), diarrhoea, stomach painStick to simple meals - avoid rich or spicy foods. Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids5 more rows•Sep 28, 2020

Before Taking This Medicine

You should not use Elavil if you are allergic to amitriptyline, or: 1. if you have recently had a heart attack.Do not use Elavil if you have used a...

How Should I Take Elavil?

Take Elavil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller...

Elavil Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose of Elavil for Depression:Outpatients:Usual dose: 75 mg orally per day in divided doses; this may be increased to a total of 150 mg...

What Happens If I Miss A Dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...

What Happens If I Overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of amitriptyline can be fatal.Overdose symptoms may in...

What Should I Avoid While Taking Elavil?

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with Elavil.See also: Elavil and alcohol (in more detail)T...

What Other Drugs Will Affect Elavil?

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking Elavil with a sleeping pill, narco...

What is the best medication for epileptic seizures?

Diazepam (Valium) is used intravenously to control seizures and is the drug of choice for status epilepticus. To minimize the interaction between antacids and ranitidine, patients with peptic ulcer disease should be instructed to take the antacid: a. 1 hour before or after the ranitidine.

Is Jaycee on escitalopram?

Jaycee has been on escitalopram (Lexapro) for a year and is willing to try tapering off of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. What is the initial dosage adjustment when starting a taper off antidepressants?

How long does it take to respond to antidepressants?

Most patients who respond initially to antidepressant therapy require at least 1 year of therapy and may take medication on a lifetime basis. This is similar to patients who take antihypertensives or insulin. The patient's statement alerts the nurse to set clear therapy goals that extend beyond medication assessment.

What is the purpose of knowing when the last dose of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)

Knowing when the last dose of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) was taken helps determine immediate treatment. Although the ingestion of alcohol is pertinent to determining what tyramine-containing foods the patient may have had, it is not as crucial as knowing when the last dose of MAOI was consumed.

Does fluphenazine cause infection?

Fluphenazine (Prolixin) may cause the side effect of infection, because this medication can reduce the normal bacteria in the patient's mouth and increase sensitivity to infection. A thick white coating on the tongue indicates infection and must be treated. Brushing the tongue and teeth is a good preventive measure.

Is Elavil a TCA?

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medication (tertiary amine). The TCAs are very toxic when ingested at levels of 1000 to 3000 mg, and overdosage and suicide attempts with this medication are extremely dangerous and often require emergency medical attention.

Can you take SSRIs with meals?

To reduce nausea, the patient should be advised to take the medicine with meals.

Do nurses need to know about psychotropic drugs?

Knowledge of pharmacology algorithms or of monotherapeutic symptoms is not applicable since they are not required needs. A knowledge of the doses of all "atypical" psychotropic drugs is too specific to one class of psychotropic medications. Nurses need to know information about all psychotropic medications.