When amitriptyline is used at the same time as other antidepressant medications, it may lead to serotonin syndrome - a potentially dangerous interaction caused by high serotonin levels. Other side effects of amitriptyline include muscle stiffness and spasms, as well as blurred vision and eye pain caused by excessive pressure. Like other antidepressant drugs, amitriptyline can also affect your sex drive and sexual function, which may cause you to feel less interested in sexual activity.
Potential side effects of amitriptyline include: However, these days it generally isn’t used as a first-line medication (meaning the first type of medication prescribed to treat a condition) due to its high risk of causing side effects compared to newer drugs. Research suggests that low levels of these naturally-occurring chemicals is linked to a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.Īmitriptyline is effective at treating depression. These neurotransmitters are involved in regulating certain aspects of your moods, feelings and behavior. Like many other antidepressants, amitriptyline is also used off-label to treat other conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) and chronic pain.Īs a treatment for depression, amitriptyline works by increasing levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. It’s approved by the FDA as a medication for treating major depression. We’ve also covered what you need to know about amitriptyline and alcohol, from the health risks associated with drinking while using amitriptyline to simple techniques that you can use to avoid consuming alcohol while you’re treating depression.įinally, we’ve shared some other depression treatments that you may want to consider if you’re currently prescribed amitriptyline or feel worried that you could be depressed.Īmitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, or TCA.
This means that if you normally drink alcohol, you may have to make some adjustments to your lifestyle while you use amitriptyline to treat depression or a similar condition.īelow, we’ve explained what amitriptyline is, as well as how it works as a medication for clinical depression and other mental health conditions. Not only can alcohol make recovering from depression more difficult, but it may also increase your risk of developing side effects from antidepressants such as amitriptyline. If you’re prescribed amitriptyline, you may have questions about the safety of drinking alcohol while you’re using your medication.Ĭombining amitriptyline and alcohol isn’t recommended. If you have a mental illness such as major depressive disorder (MDD) or anxiety, you already have a lot to juggle.īetween the realities of your symptoms and the potential adverse effects of medications such as amitriptyline, there’s a lot to manage without even thinking about the effects of treatment on your social life.
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