Sometimes, we face situations of stress and anxiety that cause very intense headaches and very strong body pain. It may 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 similar experiences. Problems lead us to look for 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 amitriptyline, what it is, what it is for, dosage, contraindications and side effects.
What is amitriptyline
When talking about amitriptyline we refer to a psychiatric medication within the group of tricyclic antidepressant medications. Beyond this name, it is possible to use this psychotropic drug for different conditions since its chemical components act in the body producing changes that can benefit the patient in their daily activities.
In the following articles, you can find more information about the and .
Next, we will see when to take amitriptyline, what its function is and what effects it has.
What is amitriptyline used for?
Firstly, it is worth mentioning the mechanism of action of amitriptyline. What does amitriptyline increase? Amitriptyline increases norepinephrine and serotonin levels. In the following articles, you will find more information about the and the .
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 that this medication has since it is also indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain (intense chronic pain due to a nerve injury), migraine (high intensity headache), neuralgia. posthepatic (pain caused by shingles), some eating disorders and nocturnal enuresis (difficulty retaining urine at night).
Amitriptyline dosage
Amitriptyline can be taken by children, adolescents and adults. The form of intake of this medication consists of tablets that are taken orally.
What is the recommended dose of amitriptyline? Taking as reference the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, these are the doses indicated depending on the person and the type of problem being treated:
- Children with nocturnal enuresis who are between 6 and 11 years of age can consume 10 to 20 milligrams before going to sleep, while those children who are 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 9 to 15 years who suffer from migraines, the dose ranges between 0.25 and 1 milligram at night.
- For the chronic neuropathic painin 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 are between 9 and 12 years of age, an average of 3 milligrams per day.
- In teenagers who suffer 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 patientsthe dose varies depending on the problem that is present, although the average intake ranges between 50 and 150 milligrams newspapers spread throughout the day.
The absorption of this psychotropic drug reaches its peak two or three hours after oral consumption, which means that in this period of time it produces its greatest effect on the body. The provision of this medication should not be done voluntarily, but under the control of a health professional who monitors the patient’s progress.
Contraindications of amitriptyline
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:
- and states of mania
- Epilepsy
- 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. Likewise, it is not advisable to take drinks with alcohol in case of treatment with this medication.
Amitriptyline Side Effects
Like any medication, there are side effects that the administration of amitriptyline can cause. Next, we are going to point out the most important ones to take into account:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Body instability
- Headache
- Difficulty urinating
- Blurry vision
- Drowsiness
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Nightmares
- Fatigue
- 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
- Strong 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
If you have any type of side effects, it is important to go to a health professional.
This article is merely informative, at 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 effectswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Medicines Committee, Spanish Pediatric Association. (2021). Amitriptyline. Retrieved from: https://www.aeped.es/pediamecum/generatepdf/api?n=83507
- Heerlein, A. (2002). Antidepressant pharmacological treatments. Chilean Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 40 (1), 21-45.
- Vidal, MA, Martínez-Fernández, E., Martínez-Vázquez de Castro, J., Torres, LM (2004). Efficacy of gabapentin and amitriptyline in neuropathic pain in diabetics. Magazine of the Spanish Pain Society, 11 (5), 292-305.