Amitriptyline is the most reliable antidepressant

Amitriptyline is one of the most common first-generation antidepressants. Despite the fact that many decades have passed since its first use, new antidepressants have appeared and continue to appear, it is still the drug with the strongest antidepressant effect. All newly created antidepressant drugs are compared to amitriptyline as the benchmark antidepressant.

Effects of amitriptyline

The main action of amitriptyline is antidepressant. It also has sedative (sedative), hypnotic and anti-anxiety effects. On a healthy person with a normal psychological state has no effect.

Besides this, there are other effects of amitriptyline:

• Analgesic
• Vegetostabilizing
• Antidiarrheal (fixative)
• Removes psychosomatic symptoms: skin rashes, high blood pressure, restores appetite, etc.
• Effective for some forms of enuresis (nocturnal urinary incontinence)

Mechanism of action

Amitriptyline is one of the most studied drugs. The therapeutic effects are achieved by reducing the reuptake in the brain of some neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and others. Side effects are caused by blockade of acetylcholine, histamine and adrenaline receptors.

Form of release

It is available in two forms:

1. 10 and 25 milligram tablets (0.01 and 0.025). In a package or box of 50 tablets.
2. s a 1% solution in ampoules of 2 milliliters (20 milligrams per ampoule). There are 10 ampoules in a pack.

Analogues

Amitriptyline is one of the most common antidepressants, so it is produced by many different pharmacological companies under different names. The most common names of analogues are Tryptizol, Saroten, Sarotex, Amisol, Apo-Amitriptyline, Amitriptyline retard, Amineurin, Amirol.

Instructions for taking

There is no universal instruction for taking amitriptyline. Treatment with amitriptyline should be guided by your doctor’s recommendations. Tableted forms are used orally after meals. It is possible to take them once a day (usually in the evening) or three times a day.

The average dosage during treatment with amitriptyline is 100 milligrams three times a day after meals (300 mg per day). Intravenous infusions are given once or twice a day.

Duration of treatment

The duration of treatment with amitriptyline is usually several months. Short courses (10 to 14 days) or single intake (for reactive conditions) are possible.

In chronic diseases, long-term and lifelong use is possible.

Indications for use

As doctors and scientists gain experience with the use of amitriptyline and the mechanisms of many diseases are clarified, the indications for its use are constantly expanding. The main indications are:

• Endogenous depression
• Depressive psychosis
• Anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Organic anxiety and depressive conditions
• Schizotypal disorder, schizophrenia with depressive symptoms
• Addictions (alcohol, drug, polydrug addiction)
• Neuroses
• Personality disorders (psychopathies)
• Somatoform and psychosomatic illnesses
• Eating disorders
• Pain syndrome
• Enuresis

Contraindications

Individual intolerance and allergy to amitriptyline, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation, atony of the urinary tract and prostatic hypertrophy, unconsciousness, taking drugs from the group of MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors.

Side effects

In low doses (less than 25 milligrams per day), side effects are rare. In doses greater than 25 milligrams, side effects may occur:

• Dry mouth
• Dilated pupils (mydriasis)
• Blurred focus of vision
• Constipation
• Delayed urination
• Drowsiness and dizziness
• Arrhythmia and tachycardia

Combination of amitriptyline with alcohol intake

During treatment with amitriptyline, alcohol and alcohol-containing medications should not be taken. Their simultaneous intake can be life-threatening.