An Elavil overdose can cause severe health problems such as cardiac arrest, dangerously low blood pressure, and seizures. In extreme cases, central nervous system depression and even death can occur. Signs of overdose include chest pain, extreme drowsiness, vomiting, muscle stiffness, rapid heartbeat, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, convulsions, and unconsciousness. The risk of overdose is significantly increased when Elavil is combined with other drugs, particularly alcohol.
This combination can cause extreme sedation and respiratory depression, but many people that abuse Elavil will mix them anyway simply to increase the intoxication experienced. Professionals generally consider Antidepressants to be nonaddictive; however, there is evidence that Elavil addiction is possible. Elavil depresses the central nervous system, an effect some find desirable, which can lead to misuse. An individual might abuse Elavil in order to feel relaxed, mildly euphoric, or sedated.
Chronic use of the drug can cause physical dependence; a person that was simply taking a higher dose of Elavil due to pain can become accustomed to the presence of the drug in the system and effectively develop a dependence.
In time, dependence can lead to addiction if left unchecked. Another telling sign of Elavil addiction is abusing the medication in combination with another substance to produce a greater sense of euphoria. People might also use Elavil as a way to come down from Stimulant drugs, such as Cocaine or Adderall. Make a Call When those addicted to Elavil attempt to stop taking it or reduce doses, they will start to experience withdrawal symptoms. The severity of withdrawal is dependent on a variety of factors such as the time span over which the drug was taken, the dosage, and the physiology of the individual taking Elavil.
Withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur in individuals that were taking high doses of Elavil for a long time rather than a shorter course of treatment. The safest way to detox from Elavil is under the supervision of medical professionals using the tapering off method. Tapering off Elavil includes progressively reducing the dose of the drug over the course of a few weeks or months until eventually use stops completely.
If you think that a loved one may be abusing or addicted to Elavil, know that there are multiple treatment options available. Learn More. Contact a treatment provider for rehab-related help today. She has always had a passion for literature and the written word. Upon graduation, Jena found her purpose in educating the public on addiction and helping those that struggle with substance dependency find the best treatment options available.
Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This medicine comes with a medication guide. Read and follow the instructions in the guide carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products.
Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking amitriptyline, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or any other medications. Your doctor will probably tell you that you should not take amitriptyline. Be sure to mention any of the following: antihistamines; cimetidine Tagamet ; diet pills; disulfiram Antabuse ; guanethidine Ismelin ; ipratropium Atrovent ; quinidine Quinidex ; medications for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide Tambocor and propafenone Rythmol ; medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, nausea, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; other antidepressants; phenobarbital Bellatal, Solfoton ; sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs such as citalopram Celexa , fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem , fluvoxamine Luvox , paroxetine Paxil , and sertraline Zoloft ; sleeping pills; thyroid medications; and tranquilizers.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have stopped taking fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem in the past 5 weeks. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take amitriptyline. If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor. Do not breast-feed while you are taking amitriptyline. Older adults should not usually take amitriptyline because it is not as safe or effective as other medication s that can be used to treat the same condition.
Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet. Amitriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nausea vomiting drowsiness weakness or tiredness nightmares headaches dry mouth constipation difficulty urinating blurred vision pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet changes in sex drive or ability excessive sweating changes in appetite or weight confusion unsteadiness Some side effects can be serious.
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately: slow or difficult speech dizziness or faintness weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg crushing chest pain rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat severe skin rash or hives swelling of the face and tongue yellowing of the skin or eyes jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body fainting unusual bleeding or bruising seizures hallucinating seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist Amitriptyline may cause other side effects.
Symptoms of overdose may include: irregular heartbeat seizures coma loss of consciousness for a period of time confusion problems concentrating hallucinating seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist agitation drowsiness rigid muscles vomiting fever cold body temperature. For women who are breastfeeding: Amitriptyline passes into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.
Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. These side effects include fast heart rate, difficulty urinating, constipation, dry mouth , and blurred vision.
For children: It has not been confirmed that this drug is safe and effective for use in children younger than 12 years. Use of this drug in children must balance the potential risks with the clinical need. Amitriptyline oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. If you stop taking this medication suddenly you may have withdrawal side effects such as nausea, headache, and tiredness. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once.
This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: Over time you should notice an improvement in your symptoms of depression. This can take more than a month. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. Your doctor will monitor your mental health while you take this drug. Be sure to tell your doctor about any unusual changes in your behavior and mood.
There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.
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