Elavil

Drug name

Elavil (Amitriptyline)

Drug Uses

Elavil is intended to treat such conditions as depression, insomnia, restlessness, nervousness as well as fibromyalgia and chronic pain symptoms.

How Taken

It is permitted to take the medicine while meal as well as before or after it. Patients with liver problems should use the medicine with caution.

Missed Dose

In case you have missed to take the medicine do it at the moment you have remembered but skip it in case it is the time of your next dosage and follow your usual schedule. You shouldn’t use double dose simultaneously. In case you take one 1 dose per day before going to sleep, skip the dose you have forgotten to take next morning.

Storage

Keep the medicine at the room temperature in a cool and dark place.

Warnings Precautions

The effect of the treatment may show after several weeks of the therapy. Contact your doctor before you stop the therapy. Follow doctor prescriptions and laboratory appointments throughout therapy period. It is recommended to check patient’s condition at the beginning of the therapy and after every dosage change. Consult your doctor immediately in case you have such conditions as anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsive feelings, severe restlessness, or worsening of depression, as they may mean aggravation of your condition or a need to consider your therapy by Elavil. Monitor for the patient taking the medicine for mentioned conditions to occur in case you are his/her parent or caregiver, and contact the doctor in case any of them will take place. Let the doctor or dentist know that you taking Elavil before you have any medical care. Avoid operating any machinery until you are aware of the medicine’s effect on you as taking the medicine alone, in combination with other medications or alcohol may decrease possibility to execute these operations. Decrease the amount of the alcohol you drink throughout the therapy period. Taking the medicine will increase the aftermath of the alcohol and other antidepressants. Contact your doctor in case you are not sure what medications are antidepressants. Such factors as alcohol, hot weather, fever and exercise can cause dizziness, so do not execute any sharp movements to prevent these side effects. It is also recommended to sit or lay down in case you feel dizziness. Taking the medicine can amplify your skin sensitivity to the sun. Do not take sun bathes until you are aware of your body reaction to this medicine. In case you need to be under the sun for a long period of time use clothes to protect your body from sun rays. Avoid overheating when doing any exercises or in hot weather as it can cause heatstroke. Consult your doctor before starting to take any other medicine. Patients in ages as well as children or adolescent may appear to be more sensitive to the medicine therefore they should take it with caution. Taking the medicine may harm human fetus. Consult with your doctor the possibility of the therapy throughout pregnancy period. Avoid breast-feeding throughout the therapy period as the medicine may appear in the breast milk.

Possible Side Effects

Taking the medicine can cause such side effects as dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, diarrhea, excess sweating, heartburn, unpleasant taste, weight gain, or an increased appetite especially for sweets. Contact your doctor in case these side effects persist for a long period of time. Contact you doctor immediately in case you have constipation; blurred vision or other vision changes; eye pain; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hair loss; shakiness; fainting; twitching of the face or tongue; mood swings; loss of balance; uncontrolled movements of arms and legs or stiffness; difficulty in speaking and swallowing; unusual bleeding or bruising; sore throat or fever; skin rash and itching; swelling of hands, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; irritability; ringing in the ears; seizures; yellowing of the skin or eyes; hallucinations; or chest pain. Consult your doctor at once in case you have severe nervousness or anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, feelings of irritability or hostility, impulsive behavior or other unusual changes in behavior, severe restlessness, worsening feelings of depression, thoughts of hurting yourself, or any other mental or mood changes. It is unlikely that you will have any allergic reaction (symptoms - rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing) but contact your doctor at once in case you have it. Consult your doctor in case you have any other side effects not mentioned here.

More Information

Let your doctor know in case your condition doesn’t improve after 4 weeks of therapy. Do not give the Elavil to those patients having not corresponding prescriptions. The medicine is not intended to treat other conditions. Keep the drug in the place beyond the reach of children. Don’t forget to refresh your drug reserve in case you use it for a long period of time.