What is Amitriptyline?
This is a medicine used to treat pain and is especially good for nerve pain such as back pain and neuralgia.
It can also help prevent migraine attacks.
Amitriptyline is available on prescription. It comes as tablets and as a liquid.
Check with your doctor before starting to take amitriptyline if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to amitriptyline or any other medicines in the past
- have a heart problem – amitriptyline can make some heart problems worse
- have a rare illness called porphyria
- have liver or kidney problems
- have epilepsy – amitriptyline can increase seizures
- have ever taken any medicines for depression – some rarely-used antidepressants can interfere with amitriptyline
- are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant or you are breastfeeding – amitriptyline isn’t always recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding
- have an eye problem called glaucoma – amitriptyline can increase the pressure in your eye
- have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life
If you have diabetes, amitriptyline may change your blood sugar level. Check your blood sugar more often for the first few weeks of treatment with amitriptyline. Talk to your diabetes doctor if the reading goes too high or low.
