This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Amitriptyline

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant with sedative properties.

Dose of 75-200 mg per day in divided doses - starting dose is 50-75 mg per day in adults; 25-50mg in elderly and adolescents - which should be increased gently over 10 days. The usual maximum effective prescribed dose is 150 mg per day.

Especially useful for depression with anxiety, and particularly those with endogenous features, e.g. early morning wakening, diurnal mood variation, severe mood changes, weight loss. It is the tricyclic antidepressant of preference for sedation, and is best given as a once nightly dose. There is little advantage in using commercial sustained-release preparations.

The patient should be advised to expect a 10-14 day delay before the onset of therapeutic action at each dose level, and that side effects may make them feel worse before improvement begins.

The summary of product characteristics should be consulted before prescribing this drug.


Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.