Drug name
Elavil (Amitriptyline)
Drug Uses
This medication elevates the spirit of depression sufferers. Being a sedative medicine, Elavil helps the patients who have insomnia, feel nervousness and restlessness. It is also considered to treat fibromyalgia and the symptoms, concerning chronic pain.
How Taken
You may take the drug with food or without it. Patients with dysfunction of liver should take Elavil cautiously because this remedy is metabolized by the liver.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Elavil is known as an antidepressant medicicine. This drug improves mood by way of raising the neurotransmitters levels.
Missed Dose
If you omit a dose of Elavil, take it immediately. If several hours have passed or if it is nearing time for the next dose, do not double the dose to catch up.
In case you take one dosage of Elavil a day at bedtime, you should not use the omitted dosage next morning.
Storage
Elavil at room temperature, between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Keep in a hermetic and light-resistant container. Store it away from light, heat, moisture. Do not store it in the bathroom. Save this remedy out of the reach of children and pets.
Warnings Precautions
After starting to use Elavil, a couple of weeks may pass before you feel very well. You should not refuse from using this drug without previous consultation with your doctor. You are adviced not to miss the laboratory and doctor appointments when you are taking Elavil. Supplementary checking of your health condition is strongly adviced the beginning of elavil therapy and whenever your dosage change takes place.
Contact your health care provider/doctor immediately in case some of these symptoms apply to you:
trouble sleeping, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, restlessness, depression worsening. These side effects may indicate worsening of your condition or that your healing should be reckoned. Address your health care provider or doctor immediately in case any of unusual symptoms happen ask your doctor any questions you may have about the drug.
Inform your doctor/dentist that you are taking Elavil before a syrgery, medical/dental treatment, emergency care. You are not adviced to drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Dramamine
Using Dramamine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
You are adviced not to consume a lot of alcohol during Elavil therapy. Contact your pharmacist in case you have some questions about Elavil’s interaction with other medicines and depressants.
Sit up or lie down if you feel weakness or dizziness signs. Taking Elavil may result in high sensitivity to the sun. You should not expose to the sun, use tanning booths or sunlamps until you know your reaction to Elavil.
Take this medication with caution in the elderly. They are more impressionable to Elavil’s effects.
Elavil may cause serious harm to the human fetus. On condition you suspect you are pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. You should discuss all benefits and risks of taking this drug during your pregnancy. It is known that Elavil passes into human breast milk. Stop breast-feeding while using it.
Possible Side Effects
While using this medication the following side effects may occur:
gain of weight; increased appetite; dizziness; headache; weakness; drowsiness; diarrhea; sweating; pain in heart.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist in case such effects persist or are bothersome.
Contact your doctor immediately if you have:
irregular heartbeat; loss of hair; fainting; face/tongue twitching; balance loss; vision problems; hands, lips, face, eyes, tongue or throat swelling; irritability; seizures; hallucinations; pain in chest; eye pain; uncontrolled movements of legs/arms; bleeding/ bruising; sore throat; skin rash.
Address your doctor at once as soon as you feel nervousness, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, restlessness, worsening feelings of depression, difficulty sleeping, behavior changes, mood/mental changes.
Elavil seldom provokes allergic reactions. Anyway, ask for medical attention immediately in case you experience chest tightness; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; rash; hives; difficulty breathing etc.
More Information
Elavil should be used only by those patient for whom it is prescribed by a doctor. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms become worse and do not improve, contact your doctor.