Elavil

Name of generic use: amitriptyline
Name of the brand: Elavil Endep Vanatrip
Class of drugs: Tricyclic antidepressants

What is Elavil?

Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant that has effects of sedation. Elavil can affect certain chemicals (neurotransmitters) which communicate with brain cells and help regulate mood.

Elavil is a prescribed medicine that is used to treat the symptoms of depression.¶

Elavil is also used for reasons not mentioned in this guideline.

Warnings

It is recommended not to take Elavil in the event that you recently suffered a heart attack.

Avoid using Elavil when you’ve used an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days, like isocarboxazid-linezolid blue injections, phenelzine selegiline, rasagiline, or tranylcypromine.

There are times when you think about suicide the moment you begin taking an antidepressant medication like Elavil, particularly when you are less than 24. Your doctor must examine you regularly for at least the initial twelve weeks after starting treatment.

Inform your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms to your physician for treatment, including changes in your behavior or mood such as anxiety, panic attacks, and trouble sleeping. Also, when you are feeling angry, irritable, impulsive and aggressive, active, restless (mentally as well as physically) or depressed or you are thinking about suicide or harming yourself.

Before taking this medication, you must consult your physician.

Do not take this medication if you’re intolerant to Elavil, or:

If you’ve had an attack on your heart.

Avoid using Elavil if you’ve taken an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. A risky drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid linezolid, methylene blue injection rasagiline, phenelzine as well as tranylcypromine, and others.

Inform your doctor if were taking the “SSRI” antidepressant in the recent five weeks, including escitalopram, citalopram, or fluoxetine (Prozac) fluvoxamine sertraline, paroxetine (Zoloft), or trazodone or vilazodone.

To ensure that Elavil is suitable for you, ask your doctor if you’ve previously had:

bipolar disorder (manic-depression) or schizophrenia;
mental illness or psychosis
liver disease;
heart disease;
a heart attack, stroke, or seizures;
diabetes (Elavil could cause blood sugar levels to rise or fall);
glaucoma; or
Urination problems.

Many young people are prone to thoughts of suicide after first starting an antidepressant. Your doctor should be able to check your progress on a regular basis. Family members or other caregivers should be on the lookout for changes in your symptoms or mood.

Inform your doctor if are nursing or pregnant.

Elavil is not recommended for use by anyone who is younger than 12 years old.

How to use Elavil?

Follow the exact dosage as recommended by your physician. Follow the instructions on your prescription label, and go through all medication guides and instructions sheets. Your doctor may alter your dosage.

It could take up to four weeks before you notice improvement. Continue to take the medication according to the directions and inform your doctor if you feel your symptoms don’t improve.

If you require surgery, inform your doctor that you are currently taking Elavil. It may be necessary to stop your treatment for a brief period of time.

Don’t stop using Elavil in a hurry or you could experience uncomfortable withdrawal effects. Consult your physician about how to stop taking Elavilin in a safe manner.

Keep the bottle at room temperature, free of heat and moisture. Close the bottle when not being used.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Depression:

OUTPATIENTS:
Initial dose: 75 mg daily in divided doses. This could be increased by 150 mg/day (if required)
The maintenance dose is 40 to 100 mg taken orally daily
-Maximum dose: 150 mg/day

Alternate outpatient treatment regimens 50 to 100 mg administered orally as one dose before the time of sleeping; this dose can be multiplied in doses of 25 to 50 mg if needed before bed, to a maximum of 150 mg/day.

INPATIENTS:
Initial dose: 100 mg per day orally
Maintenance dosage: 40 to 100 mg daily as an individual dose taken at time of bed
-Maximum dose: 300 mg/day

Comments:
Dose increases should be administered at the end of the afternoon or before night because of the sedative effect.
The full therapeutic effect could last up to 30 days for the effect to be fully developed.
The doses for maintenance should be reduced to the minimum amount necessary to maintain relief of symptoms once an improvement is satisfactory.
Maintenance therapy should be maintained for 3 months or more to decrease the chance of the possibility of relapse.

Use: Relieves the depression-related symptoms

Usual Geriatric Dose for Depression:

10 mg taken orally three times per day and 20 mg taken orally each day before the time of sleeping

Comments:
The full therapeutic effect can last at least 30 days to manifest.
Patients with advanced age should be closely monitored and the levels of serum measured as clinically acceptable.
Dose adjustments must be made in accordance with the clinical response.

Treatment: Relieves symptoms of depression

Usual Pediatric Dose for Depression:

12 years and over: 10 mg oral three times per day and 20 mg taken orally each night at bedtime

Comments:
The full therapeutic effect can last up to 30 days for the effect to be fully developed.
Dose adjustments must be made based on the clinical response.

Treatment: Relieves symptoms of depression

If I don’t take a dose?

Do not take the medicine for as long as you can, however, avoid any missed doses if it’s nearing the time to take the next dose. Don’t take two doses at a time.

How do I react if consume too much?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Elavil overdose could be fatal.

Some signs of overdose include irregular heart rhythms or feeling as if you may faint, seizures or even coma.

What can you do to be aware of to

Don’t drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or even death may occur when alcohol is mixed with Elavil.

Avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you are aware of how Elavil affects your body. Your reaction could be affected.

Avoid exposure to the sun as well as tanning beds. Elavil may cause sunburn more quickly. Protect yourself with protective clothing and sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) while you’re outdoors.

Elavil side effects

See a doctor immediately If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergy reaction to Elavil, such as asthmatic hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.

Inform your doctor about any new or more severe symptoms to your physician for example: change in behavior or mood such as anxiety, panic attacks, and trouble sleeping. Also, the feeling of being uncontrollably angry, irritable and aggressive, anxious, or hyperactive (mentally and physically) or depressed or are contemplating suicide or harming yourself.

Contact your doctor immediately If you suffer from:

symptoms of the presence of a blood clot – sudden numbness, weakness, difficulties with speech or vision swelling or redness of the leg or arm;
strange behavior or thoughts;
a euphoric feeling, similar to you are about to pass out.
chest tension or pain, that is spreading to your shoulder or jaw nausea, sweating;
beats of your heart, or the sound of a fluttering your chest
confusion, hallucinations;
a seizure (convulsions);
uncomfortable or difficult to urinate;
severe constipation that is severe;
easy bleeding unusual bleeding
Frequent chills, fever, and chills. Sore throat mouth sores.

Common side effects of Elavil be:

constipation, diarrhea;
nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;
mouth pain, unusual taste, black tongue;
change in weight or appetite;
The frequency of urination is lower than normal;
itching or rash
swelling of the breasts (in females or males) or
reduced sex drive, infertility or difficulty in getting an orgasm.

This isn’t a complete list of all side effects. others could happen. Consult your physician for advice regarding medical adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs can have an effect on the Elavil?

When you take Elavil in combination with other drugs that cause sleepiness could make you more sleepy. Consult your physician before using Elavil in conjunction with sleep medication, painkiller, narcotic medication, or muscle relaxer medications for depression, anxiety, or seizures.

There are times when it’s not recommended to take certain medications simultaneously. Certain drugs may affect the blood levels and levels of other drugs you are taking, which could create side effects or render the drugs less effective.

Inform your doctor about all other medicines you take including:

Other antidepressants as well;
medication for treating anxiety, depression mood disorders, depression, or mental illness
medicine for allergies or colds (Benadryl and other);
Medicine for treating Parkinson’s disease
Medicine to treat stomach disorders motion sickness or irritable bowel disorder;
medicine to treat an active bladder treatment for an overactive bladder
The medication for asthma bronchodilators.

This list is not comprehensive. Other drugs can interact with the Elavil such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter such as vitamins, herbal products. There are many possible interactions between drugs. are included in this article.

Jump To