Can i cut elavil in half

However, it becomes more likely where higher doses are used, or other medications affecting serotonin are added as well. Your doctor can advise you on what is best in your situation. Click here for more information on Serotonin Syndrome.

Amitriptyline is safe to use long term. However if you decide to stop it, then stop it slowly. Do not stop it suddenly. You may find it easiest to reduce the dose by 5mg half a blue tablet every few days, or discuss your individual situation with your doctor. Once you get down to 10mg or less, you can stop it. If you stop amitriptyline, it may take weeks or sometimes months for the pain to return.

If the pain returns you should start the amitriptyline again. Some women choose to use low doses of amitriptyline for short periods of a few weeks or so during times when their pain is a problem. Other people stay on the same dose longer term. In the past, when it was used for depression, many women took amitriptyline in pregnancy because their depression was severe. We therefore have a lot of information on this medication in pregnancy.

The risk to the baby is very small, especially as the doses we use for pain are much lower than those used in the past. No more drugs! This can improve your mood. I think perhaps it's more to do with the small dosage not being therapeutic I read most pdocs say you need 10mg at minimum , but initially 2. For example, a day supply could last Can You Split Elavil Pills for six months if the pills are split.

Even scored tablets can be difficult to split into two perfect halves, and medicine is sometimes distributed unevenly within a …. If a larger dose of your statin medication costs the same as or less than the smaller dose, ask your doctor to write a prescription for twice the intended dose, and then split the pills in half Amitriptyline is long acting, so only needs to be taken once a day.

Cardiovascular: Myocardial infarction ; stroke ; nonspecific ECG changes and changes in AV conduction; heart block ; arrhythmias; hypotension , particularly orthostatic hypotension ; syncope ; hypertension ; tachycardia ; palpitation A good practice is to split your pills one at a time, and take the second half as your next dose.

As one of the most common side effects is drowsiness, it is best to take it one to two hours before bedtime. Amitriptyline is used for depression and may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

It can also change the way that your nerves receive pain signals so pain goes away. The enteric coating may not be released in the appropriate part of the digestive tract. Customs and Border Protection. You should not use Elavil if you are taking drugs of the MAOI class or have taken these medications in the past 14 days.

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. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that can help with symptoms of depression and other disorders. This article provides an overview…. Doctors often prescribe medications and counseling, but diet can also make a difference.

Find out about the different types of antidepressants, how they work, any adverse effects, when you can take them, and the alternatives available. Depression is a common mental health condition that can range in severity from mild to debilitating. Learn about 16 ways to fight depression in this….

A recent study examined how air pollutants impact brain networks to mediate changes in cognitive function and enhance the risk of depression. Highlights for amitriptyline.

What is amitriptyline? But it usually takes 1 or 2 weeks for pain to begin to wear off. It can take between 4 and 6 weeks before you feel the full benefits of amitriptyline as a painkiller. Do not stop taking amitriptyline after 1 to 2 weeks just because you feel it's not helping your symptoms. Give it at least 6 weeks to work. Although amitriptyline is an antidepressant, the doses are lower to help pain. Taking amitriptyline as a painkiller will not change your personality or make you feel any different.

Once you're feeling better you'll probably continue to take amitriptyline for as long as it's working for you as a painkiller or to help prevent migraines. Amitriptyline is safe to take for a long time. There do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking it for many months or years. Amitriptyline is not addictive but you can get extra side effects if you stop taking it suddenly. You may have flu-like symptoms like feeling sick, muscle pain and feeling tired or restless.

To help prevent this happening, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks — or longer, if you have been taking amitriptyline for a long time. You may get extra side effects when you stop taking amitriptyline, especially if you stop taking it suddenly. These side effects are a physical reaction as the medicine leaves your system.

You may get flu-like symptoms like feeling sick, muscle pain and feeling tired or restless. To help prevent them, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks — or longer, if you have been taking amitriptyline for a long time. Do not stop taking amitriptyline suddenly, or without talking to your doctor. Amitriptyline can change how hungry you feel. Some people feel more hungry when they're taking it — others feel less hungry.

So your weight may change when you first start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking amitriptyline, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist. Some people feel sleepy while they're taking amitriptyline. It is best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.

Antidepressants like amitriptyline are just one of several ways to treat nerve pain or prevent migraine. Other treatments include:. You can drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline but it may make you feel sleepy. It's usually best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. Apart from avoiding drinking too much alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking amitriptyline. Amitriptyline does not affect any type of contraception including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

Some people have sex-related problems while taking amitriptyline. These can include:. Sexual side effects are not common and should pass after the first couple of weeks.

If they do not, and this is a problem for you, go back to your doctor to see if there's another medicine you can try. If you're a woman and you get vaginal bleeding after the menopause , make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. There is no clear evidence that amitriptyline affects either male or female fertility.

Cannabis with amitriptyline can make you feel very sleepy, especially if you've just started taking amitriptyline. Cannabis with amitriptyline can also give you a fast heartbeat.

Amitriptyline has not been properly tested with recreational drugs. Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking amitriptyline.

Page last reviewed: 16 September Next review due: 16 September Amitriptyline for pain and migraine On this page About amitriptyline for pain and migraine Key facts Who can and cannot take amitriptyline How and when to take amitriptyline Side effects How to cope with side effects of amitriptyline Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about amitriptyline.

About amitriptyline for pain and migraine Amitriptyline is a medicine used for treating pain. You can take it: to treat nerve pain neuralgia and back pain to help prevent migraine attacks Amitriptyline is available on prescription. Amitriptyline is also used to treat depression.