Treatment FAQ

why is amitriptyline (elavil) the first choice for medical treatment of depression?

by Felton Runolfsson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Is amitriptyline the best antidepressant?

Is amitriptyline better than other antidepressants? Amitriptyline does not work any better or worse than other antidepressants. However, for some people, the side effects are a problem and they may have fewer side effects with another antidepressant.

What is the first line treatment for depression?

Consider sertraline and escitalopram as first-line agents for initial treatment of major depression in adults. The least tolerated antidepressants in this study were bupropion, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and duloxetine.May 15, 2010

How good is Elavil for depression?

Elavil has an average rating of 8.7 out of 10 from a total of 19 ratings for the treatment of Depression. 84% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 11% reported a negative effect.

Why is elavil no longer available?

In 2000, Elavil was discontinued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to the severe side effects people experienced while using the medication. Although you cannot get the brand name version, you can still get the generic alternative of Elavil, amitriptyline.Oct 29, 2021

What is the drug of choice for depression?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were launched in the mid to late 1980s. This generation of antidepressants is now the most common class used for depression. Examples include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), and sertraline (Zoloft).Mar 9, 2021

What treatment for depression is the most effective?

Many experts agree that a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy is the best treatment for severe clinical depression.Sep 15, 2005

How effective is Elavil?

Elavil has an average rating of 9.6 out of 10 from a total of 17 ratings for the treatment of Anxiety and Stress. 94% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 0% reported a negative experience.

How good is Elavil?

Elavil has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 140 ratings on Drugs.com. 70% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 13% reported a negative experience.
...
User Reviews for Elavil.
ConditionAnxiety and Stress
Avg. Rating9.6
Reviews17 reviews
Compare9 medications
9 more columns

Is Elavil a good drug?

It may help improve mood and feelings of well-being, relieve anxiety and tension, help you sleep better, and increase your energy level. This medication belongs to a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants.

Why did Astrazeneca stop making Elavil?

The drug, which was manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc., was cited for GMP problems in 2000 (Also see "Vioxx GMP Violations Cited In FDA Warning Letter Spur Merck Retraining" - Pink Sheet, 17 Jul, 2000.).

What is the difference between Elavil and amitriptyline?

Elavil is the brand name for Amitriptyline, a prescription Antidepressant medication that belongs to a class of drugs called Tricyclic Antidepressants.Oct 4, 2021

What does Elavil do to the brain?

Amitriptyline works by increasing the amount of serotonin your brain makes. Serotonin is a chemical, called a neurotransmitter, that the brain sends out to nerves in the body. Serotonin is thought to improve your mood, sleep and the way your body responds to pain.

When was amitriptyline first used?

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that was synthesised in 1960 and introduced as early as 1961 in the USA, but is still regularly used. It has also been frequently used as an active comparator in trials on newer antidepressants and can therefore be called a 'benchmark' antidepressant. However, its efficacy and safety compared ...

Is amitriptyline a tricyclic?

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant drug that has been used for decades in the treatment of depression. The current review includes 39 trials with a total of 3509 participants and confirms its efficacy compared to placebo or no treatment. This finding is important, because the efficacy of antidepressants has recently been questioned.

How many trials are there for amitriptyline?

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant drug that has been used for decades in the treatment of depression. The current review includes 39 trials with a total of 3509 participants and confirms its efficacy compared to placebo or no treatment.

Which antidepressants should be used for the initial treatment of depression?

Andrea: Family physicians regularly encounter patients with depression. With the ever-increasing number of new-generation antidepressants available and their competing claims of tolerability and effectiveness, it's hard to determine which antidepressant to use for initial treatment of major depression.

What does this article say?

Andrea: The authors of this study reviewed 117 randomized controlled trials comparing one antidepressant with another; placebo-controlled trials were excluded.

Should we believe this study?

Andrea: The authors used two outcomes that we care about: effectiveness (how well the medication works) and tolerability (whether the patients actually took the medication). Adverse effects and cost of the medication can affect drop-out rates.

What should the family physician do?

Bob: This study gives me a reasonable starting point for choosing antidepressants for my patients. I would likely start with sertraline over escitalopram, because it is one fourth the cost. 3 Fluvoxamine and duloxetine will remain low on my list of first-line antidepressants.

Can elderly people take amitriptyline?

Tertiary amine tricyclics such as amitriptyline and imipramine have been reported to be effective in depressed geriatric patients, but because of their potential for side effects, it is not advisable to use them in the elderly.

Is Desipramine safe for elderly?

This does not mean, however, that it is not an effective drug for the elderly depressed . Nortriptyline is the tricyclic that has been the most studied.

Is nortriptyline a tricyclic?

Nortriptyline is the tricyclic that has been the most studied. The results of those studies show that it should be recommended as an antidepressant for older patients. It is effective in both the acute and continuation treatment of depression in the elderly.

Is cyclic antidepressant effective?

They're effective, but they've generally been replaced by antidepressants that cause fewer side effects. However, cyclic antidepressants may be a good option for some people. In certain cases, they relieve depression when other treatments have failed. Cyclic antidepressants are designated as tricyclic or tetracyclic, ...

What is the FDA approved medication for depression?

Nortriptyline (Pamelor) Protriptyline. Trimipramine. The FDA approved the tetracycline antidepressant maprotiline to treat depression. Sometimes cyclic antidepressants are used to treat conditions other than depression, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders or nerve-related (neuropathic) pain.

How long does it take for an antidepressant to work?

Typically, it may take several weeks or longer before an antidepressant is fully effective and for initial side effects to ease up. Your doctor may recommend dose adjustments or different antidepressants, but with patience, you and your doctor can find a medication that works well for you. Oct. 08, 2019. Show references.

Can tricyclic antidepressants cause seizures?

Increased or irregular heart rate. More-frequent seizures in people who have seizures.

Does doxepin cause weight gain?

Amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and trimipramine are more likely to cause weight gain than other tricyclic antidepressants are. Nortriptyline and desipramine appear to have better tolerated side effects than other tricyclic antidepressants do.

Does doxepin make you sleepy?

Amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and trimipramine are more likely to make you sleepy than other tricyclic antidepressants are. Taking these medications at bedtime may help. Amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and trimipramine are more likely to cause weight gain than other tricyclic antidepressants are.

Can antidepressants cause sleepiness?

For antidepressants that cause sleepiness, be careful about doing activities that require you to be alert, such as driving a car, until you know how the medication will affect you. Which antidepressant is best for you depends on a number of issues, such as your symptoms and any other health conditions you may have.

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