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Elavil (Amitriptyline) - Summary

 



ELAVIL SUMMARY

ELAVIL (amitriptyline hydrochloride) is an antidepressant drug of the tricyclic type. ELAVIL is an antidepressant with sedative effects. Its mechanism of action in man is not known. It is not a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and it does not act primarily by stimulation of the central nervous system.

For the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous depression is more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive states.
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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Elavil (Amitriptyline)

In Child Pain Relief, Antidepressant And Placebo Found To Be Equally Effective
Source: Irritable-Bowel Syndrome News From Medical News Today [2009.10.02]
When used "off-label," the antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo in treating pain-predominant gastrointestinal disorders in children, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. To view this article's video abstract, go to the AGA's YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/AmerGastroAssn...

Untreated, Mild May Become Major Depression (HealthDay)
Source: Y! Health News Search RSS Feed [2010.02.04]
HealthDay - THURSDAY, Feb. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For many people whose depression goes untreated, symptoms persist and worsen over time, eventually leading to a diagnosis of major depression, according to new research.

Link Between Excessive Internet Use And Depression
Source: Depression News From Medical News Today [2010.02.03]
People who spend a lot of time browsing the net are more likely to show depressive symptoms, according to the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists. Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites...

Internet Addicts More Prone to Depression (HealthDay)
Source: Y! Health Depression News [2010.02.03]
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Internet addicts who devote much of their lives to browsing the Web are more likely to show signs of depression, British researchers have found.

Internet Addicts More Prone to Depression
Source: MedicineNet Depression Specialty [2010.02.03]
Title: Internet Addicts More Prone to Depression
Category: Health News
Created: 2/3/2010 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 2/3/2010

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Published Studies Related to Elavil (Amitriptyline)

Multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of amitriptyline in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. [2009.10]
BACKGROUND & AIMS: There are no prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pharmacologic trials for the treatment of pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amitriptyline in children with pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders... CONCLUSIONS: Both amitriptyline and placebo were associated with excellent therapeutic response. There was no significant difference between amitriptyline and placebo after 4 weeks of treatment. Patients with mild to moderate intensity of pain responded better to treatment.

Two different doses of amitriptyline ER in the prophylaxis of migraine: long-term results and predictive factors. [2009.08]
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The rationale for our study was to examine the prophylactic benefit of two doses of amitriptyline over a 6-month observational period in patients with migraine. We aimed at evaluating whether 50 mg of amitryptiline extended release was more effective than 25 mg in reducing the number of migraine days... CONCLUSIONS: The prophylactic effect of amitriptyline seen in our study was rather weak and did not differ between the two treatment groups. The results of this 6-month, prospective, open-label clinical observation are therefore not encouraging.

Amitriptyline in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic symptoms. [2009.07]
BACKGROUND: Neuropathy is a common adverse effect of chemotherapy. The tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline, is a gold standard in the treatment of neuropathic pain. This double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial assessed the efficacy of amitriptyline to prevent chemotherapy-induced neuropathic symptoms... CONCLUSION: Amitriptyline does not prevent chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of fluvoxamine and amitriptyline in depression. [2009.05]
Although often necessary for obtaining remission following major depressive disorder, combined antidepressant treatment is frequently associated with drug interactions and enhanced adverse drug effects. We investigated pharmacokinetic interactions following combined fluvoxamine and amitriptyline treatment and their impact on therapeutic efficacy and tolerability...

Outcome in delusional depression comparing trimipramine monotherapy with a combination of amitriptyline and haloperidol--a double-blind multicenter trial. [2009.04]
BACKGROUND: Patients with delusional depression are difficult to treat. The atypical antidepressant trimipramine was effective in a previous 4-week open label pilot study in patients with this disorder. The major neurobiological effect of trimipramine is the inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. In delusional depression HPA overactivity is more distinct than in other subtypes of depression. HPA suppression is thought to contribute to the action of trimipramine... CONCLUSION: In all, trimipramine monotherapy appears to be an effective treatment in delusional depression.

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Clinical Trials Related to Elavil (Amitriptyline)

Combining N-of-1 Trials to Assess Fibromyalgia Treatments [Completed]
This study will compare the effectiveness of combination therapy with the drugs amitriptyline and fluoxetine (AM+FL) and amitriptyline (AM) alone in the treatment of people with fibromyalgia. Doctors will treat each study participant with both AM + FL and AM alone for 6 weeks at a time. The study uses a method that combines results from treatment of individual patients to assess overall treatment effectiveness and help individual patients and their physicians with their treatment decisions. This study will also help compare the results of community-based studies (studies involving private doctors) and studies based at clinical research centers.

Anti-Inflammatory Pulmonal Therapy of CF-Patients With Amitriptyline and Placebo [Completed]
Our data indicate that the CFTR-molecule functions as a transporter for sphingosine-1-phosphate and sphingosine or regulates the uptake of these sphingolipids by epithelial cells. The disturbed uptake of sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate over the cell membrane results in an accumulation of ceramide in the cell membrane, which finally triggers a pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic status in the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients. Amitriptyline reduces the cera-mide levels in the lung tissue, normalises the activity of cytokines and prevents constitutive cell death of epithelial cells observed in CFTR-deficient mice. Most important, amitriptyline prevents pulmonary infections of CFTR-deficient mice with P. aeruginosa. These effects of amitriptyline may result in an improved lung function of cystic fibrosis patients.

Study of Medication for Functional Abdominal Pain in Children [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to determine where amitriptyline is effective in the treatment of functional abdominal pain in children.

A Phase II/III Double-Blind Study of Amitriptyline and Mexiletine for Painful Neuropathy in HIV Infection [Completed]
To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of amitriptyline hydrochloride versus mexiletine hydrochloride in reducing pain intensity in patients with HIV-related painful peripheral neuropathy.

No large-scale controlled clinical trials of symptomatic therapy for painful HIV-related neuropathy have been attempted. Both amitriptyline and mexiletine have been useful in the management of painful neuropathies; however, both are associated with certain toxicities. In this comparative study of amitriptyline and mexiletine, benztropine mesylate also will be included as an active placebo to mimic the side effects of the study drugs.

Effects of Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Pain on Driving Performance and Cognition. [Terminated]
The acute and subchronic effects of amitriptyline were compared to placebo in a double-blind crossover randomized study on driving ability and driving-related skills in chronic neuropathic pain patients. It was hypothesized that nocturnally administered 25 mg amitriptyline might affect driving performance negatively after acute, but not after subchronic treatment.

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Based on a total of 14 ratings/reviews, Elavil has an overall score of 7.71. The effectiveness score is 8.57 and the side effect score is 7.43. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. Below are selected reviews: the highest, the median and the lowest rated.
 

Elavil review by 56 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression
Dosage & duration:   25 mg. taken daily for the period of 12 years
Other conditions:   Sleep problems
Other drugs taken:   Erythrom.
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Although this drug was originally prescribed for depression, it helped with sleeplessness. Therefore, I have continued to take it for that alone. While I still on occasion have problems falling asleep, I find I can combine it with Melatonin or Valerian. In 12 years, I haven't had to increase the elavil dosage.
Side effects:   None.
Comments:   One a day, taken about an hour before bedtime.

 

Elavil review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   migraines
Dosage & duration:   50mg taken once daily at night for the period of 15 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I have had severe migraines for over 20 years. Since taking the amitriptyline my migraines have decreased to once or twice every six months! As long as I take the "elavil" and watch for triggers I am now in control of my migraines and not the other way around.
Side effects:   groggy in the morning, slight weight gain, dry mouth
Comments:   I started at 25 mg and that increased to 50 mg.

 

Elavil review by 61 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   insomnia
Dosage & duration:   150 mg taken once for the period of once
Other conditions:   sarcoidosis
Other drugs taken:   lisinopril, theophylline, cartia, premarin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Highly effective for sleeping.
Side effects:   Slept for 3 days. Very disoriented and groggy!
Comments:   not exactly what I had in mind. I wake up during the night at 2 or 3 or 4 am and am unable to go back to sleep, I wanted the ability to sleep through the night. But I did not want to sleep for 3 days! I think maybe the initial dose was too high. I only took one tablet and never took another one.

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Page last updated: 2010-02-04

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