Amitriptyline has been approved by the FDA to relieve symptoms of depression and is commonly prescribed to patients because its mental health benefits outweigh its potential adverse side effects. Common side effects of amitriptyline include constipation, drowsiness, dry mouth, urinary retention problems, blurred vision, weight gain, and changing blood sugar levels.
Talk to your doctor about any medication you are currently taking before starting treatment with amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is not recommended for patients currently taking an SSRI (e.g.: paroxetine, fluoxetine), antihistamine (e.g.: cimetidine), or anticholinergic (e.g.: quinidine) medication. In addition, tell your doctor if you are taking an herbal remedy for depression (like St. John's Wort), as drug interactions between these chemicals can cause adverse effects.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a health history of glaucoma, arrhythmia, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or schizophrenia, as symptoms of these conditions may be heightened by amitriptyline therapy.
Finally, tell your doctor if you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Amitriptyline can be excreted into breast milk and may produce adverse effects in nursing children.
This is not a complete list of side effects associated with amitriptyline. For more information on adverse effects you may experience while taking amitriptyline, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.