The modern rhythm leaves its mark. Not to mention the constant stresses, which together with chronic fatigue lead to depression and other mental disorders. Antidepressants, which include Amitriptyline, help to cope with such violations.
Material Content:
Forms of release and composition of antidepressant
In pharmacies, the drug is presented in various forms:
- tableted - in cardboard packages of 20, 50 and 100 tablets (25 and 50 mg) together with the insert;
- injection solution - in 2 ml ampoules (10 mg / ml), which are packaged in 5 pcs. in molding containers placed in a cardboard box.
Amitriptyline 25 mg tablets contain a similar amount of amitriptyline hydrochloride.
If we are talking about a solution for injections, then in the ampoule, in addition to 20 ml of the active substance, there are such auxiliary components as glucose, sodium chloride, benzethonium chloride, water.
Pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics
If we consider the drug purely from a medical point of view, then amitriptyline belongs to the group of tricyclic indiscriminate inhibitors. The mechanism of its effect is to normalize mental balance with a further improvement in mood and a decrease in irritability. The effect is achieved by suppressing the reuptake of biologically active substances, through which impulses are transmitted from the nerve cell.In other words, due to the action of the drug, nerve cells are not able to retain hormones when impulse transmission occurs. As a result, neurotransmitters are accumulated, due to which the formation of stronger neural connections is noted.
It is important to understand that blues and depression are different conditions. If the first is due only to a bad mood, then the second is a serious pathology of the nervous system caused by its dysfunctions and a lack of neurotransmitters.
In such a situation, the structural relationship between the various parts of the central nervous system is violated, which requires medical treatment. To get rid of depression, it is necessary to use special pharmaceutical agents, including Amitriptyline.
In addition to the main antidepressant effect, Amitriptyline has the following:
- analgesic;
- anticholinergic;
- antihistamine;
- alpha adrenergic blocking;
- antiarrhythmic;
- anxiolytic;
- sedative.
Due to the latter effect, the drug has proven itself in the fight against anxiety and depressive states.
The tool does not apply to instant preparations. The therapeutic effect when prescribed is observed only after 14 to 20 days. After drug withdrawal, its excretion is carried out mainly by the kidneys (80%) for a week or even two-week period.
On a note! If you take "Amitriptyline" in doses lower than indicated for therapy, the tool will have only a sedative effect, which will give way to a stimulating effect only after increasing the dosage.
Indication for use, method and dosage of the drug
The medication should be used strictly as prescribed by a specialist. The main indications are mental disorders and central nervous system dysfunctions.
So, the drug is effective in eliminating or alleviating such conditions:
- depressions of androgenic and other genesis;
- anxiety conditions;
- psychosis
- schizophrenia;
- neurogenic pain syndrome;
- sleep disturbances;
- disorders caused by prolonged use of alcohol;
- deviant behavior;
- phobia
- epilepsy;
- increased appetite against the background of mental excitability;
- migraines, oncological diseases, neuralgia;
- ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract;
- uncontrolled urination.
Important! In addition to the treatment of depressive conditions, "Amitriptyline" is used as part of the complex therapy of other diseases in combination with other medications.
Instructions for use:
- Adults with a depressed state: at the first stage, the daily norm is 1 - 2 tablets. on the eve of sleep. To achieve the expected result, the dosage may increase to 12 tablets. in three doses, and most of them fall at night. Over time, the dose can be reduced, which depends on the condition of the patient. The duration of the course varies from 30 days to 1 year or more (as prescribed by the attending physician).
- Elderly people with minor mental disorders or as part of the complex treatment of more serious diseases (schizophrenia, psychosis): 1 - 4 tablets. on the eve of sleep with a gradual decrease to ½ - 2 tablets, when the desired result is achieved.
- In case of headaches and pain due to nerves: from ½ to 4 tablets, which depends on the patient’s well-being.
- In a depressed state for children (6 - 12 years old) / adolescents: ½ - 1 table. and up to 4 pcs. respectively.
- With uncontrolled urination for children (6 - 12 years old) / adolescents: ½ - 1 table. and up to 2 pcs. respectively.
Reception is carried out orally during or after eating, taking into account that a large dose is left to be taken on the eve of sleep.
Strict adherence to instructions is required to avoid cases of overdose.
During pregnancy and lactation
At any trimester of bearing a child, the drug is not recommended for use. This is permissible in exceptional situations, when the expected benefits to the mother's body are much greater than the likely threat to the fetus.
Since the active compound is absorbed into breast milk, lactation is included in the list of contraindications for taking Amitriptyline.
As a result of ignoring this recommendation, a baby may experience withdrawal syndrome, manifested by vomiting, nausea, shortness of breath, tremor, drowsiness, colic, and so on.
Drug interaction
When taking any other medicines, before prescribing "Amitriptyline", you should tell your doctor about this, because:
- the drug is incompatible with MOA inhibitors;
- in conjunction with other antidepressants, severe central nervous system depression occurs, which is fraught with malfunctions of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract;
- when taken with anticoagulants, the effect of the latter is enhanced;
- administration with anticholinergics can cause an epileptic seizure;
- when taken with birth control pills containing estrogen, the bioavailability of amitriptyline may increase.
Amitriptyline compatibility with alcohol
"Amitriptyline" and alcohol are incompatible, which the doctor who prescribes the antidepressant should warn the patient. Any medicine excludes the use of ethanol. But in this case, such an experiment can cause a stroke or heart attack, since both an antidepressant and alcohol first depress the central nervous system, and when combined, they make the combined effect of each other stronger. As a result, the patient may suffer from hallucinations, high blood pressure, disorientation, shortness of breath and other adverse reactions.
In addition to problems with the heart muscle, such a combination can negatively affect the kidneys, through which both substances are excreted, and the state of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, do not forget about the consequences for the liver, where both ethanol and amitriptyline are split. The result may be toxic necrosis.
Contraindications and side effects
The antidepressant "Amitriptyline" has a number of short-term side effects that, as a rule, disappear after the body adapts to it:
- blurry vision;
- increased intraocular pressure;
- dry mouth
- difficulty in defecation and urination against intestinal obstruction.
Malfunctions may also be observed:
- Central nervous system, which is manifested by headache, decreased performance, weakness, irritability, disorientation, sleep disorders and low concentration, blurred consciousness, hallucinations, tremors, sometimes convulsive manifestations, anxieties;
- circulatory system (disturbances in heart rate and conduction, instability of blood pressure limits, loss of consciousness);
- Gastrointestinal tract (nausea and subsequent vomiting, heartburn, rapid weight loss, stomatitis, disorders of taste buds, sometimes cholestatic jaundice, diarrhea);
- endocrine system, for example, in the form of swelling of the mammary glands and impaired potency.
Also, various allergic reactions (itching, rash, etc.) should be added to this list.
The drug should not be prescribed if the patient has:
- hypersensitivity to its components;
- taking MAO inhibitors (now or in the next two weeks);
- myocardial infarction;
- poisoning with ethanol, sleeping pills, analgesics and other psychoactive substances;
- angle-closure glaucoma;
- breast-feeding;
- galactose intolerance;
- lack of lactose;
- dysfunctions of antrioventricular and intraventricular conduction.
Analogs
In pharmacies, a number of structural analogues of Amitriptyline are presented, containing an identical active compound:
- Amizol
- Amirol;
- Saroten
- Tryptisolum;
- "Elivel."
Speaking about a group of tricyclic depressants, one cannot fail to mention such drugs as Clomipramine and Imipramine. But, naturally, the list of drugs with a similar effect is much larger.
"Amitriptyline" is an effective antidepressant, used to correct the mental state of a person who is depressed.However, before taking it, you need to consult a doctor who will select the necessary treatment regimen based on the results of the patient’s examination.
