Amitriptyline
Q: What can you tell me about amitriptyline? I take it for mild depression after taking Prozac and Paxil, which gave me bad side effects. I seem to be doing OK with it, and take it every night at bedtime. But when I had it refilled, the pharmacist mentioned leg cramps (which I never experienced). I am 71 and in the summer heat I sometimes experience slight dizziness.
A: Amitriptyline was one of the earliest medications for depression and has been used for over 40 years. Dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness and urinary retention are some of the common side effects.
It also can interfere with your ability to sweat and may cause the blood pressure to drop when you stand up or change position suddenly. This might explain your summer dizziness.
Article Created: 1998-05-11
Article Updated: 1998-10-17
"Dear Doctor" is a compilation of patient questions answered by doctors from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
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