Product Description

General information
Elavil (Amitriptyline) is used for elevating the mood of patients with depression. It is also a sedative, and is used for patients with restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia. It is also helpful for treating fibromyalgia and symptoms, related to chronic pain. Elavil doesn’t depend on food: it may be taken with or without food. Elavil is metabolized by the liver and should be used with caution in patients with liver dysfunction. Elavil is an antidepressant medication. Depression is an all-pervasive sense of sadness and gloom. In some patients with depression, abnormal levels of brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters may relate to their depression. Elavil elevates mood by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue.

Missed dose
If a patient misses a dose of Elavil, he (she) should take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, it’ll be better to skip the missed dose and go back to the usual dosing schedule. Never take 2 doses at once. If it is taken 1 dose daily at bedtime, it is forbidden to take the missed dose next morning.

Storage
Store Amitriptyline away from heat and sunlight at room temperature.

Safety information
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter. Caution is advised when using this medicine in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine. Caution is advised when using this medicine in children or adolescent patients because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. For women: this medicine has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. Use this caution if you are pregnant. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. It may pass two or three weeks before you feel the complete benefit of this medicine after you start using it. No need to stop taking this medicine without checking with your doctor. While you are using this medicine keep all doctor and laboratory appointments. Additional monitoring of your condition is highly recommended at the start of treatment with Elavil and whenever a change to the dose is made. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you feel agitation, panic attacks, anxiety, difficulties of sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsive feelings, severe restlessness. These may be signs of worsening condition, or that your treatment with this medicine or recommended doze should be evaluated. Contact your doctor immediately for more information if any of these symptoms occur., You should also tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery. Check up how you react to this medicine and do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know. Keep in mind that using this medicine with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Try to shorten your alcohol doze per day while you are taking this medicine because Elavil will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Don’t forget that alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase dizziness. Sit down or stand up very slowly, especially in the morning to prevent dizziness or fainting. At the first sign of dizziness or weakness sit or lie down. This medicine may also increase your sensitivity to the sun. Avoid being in the open sun, avoid sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to this medicine. Use protective clothing or a sunscreen if you must be outside for a prolonged period of time. By no means overheat yourself in hot weather or during exercise or other activities since overheating may lead to heatstroke.

Side effects
After using Amitriptyline the following side effects may occur: weakness, excess sweating, headache, heartburn, dry mouth, unpleasant taste, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, diarrhea, weight gain, or an increased appetite especially for sweets. Check with your doctor if these symptoms continue or are bothersome. Also check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; blurred vision or other vision changes; sore throat or fever; constipation; eye pain; hair loss; shakiness; fainting; mood swings; twitching of the face or tongue; loss of balance; difficulty in speaking and swallowing; uncontrolled movements of arms and legs or stiffness; unusual bleeding or bruising; 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. If you experience feelings of irritability or hostility, agitation, panic attacks, severe nervousness or anxiety, difficulty sleeping, 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 contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing are unlikely to occur. If any seek immediate medical attention. If you notice other effects, not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.