What is Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Amitriptyline is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Amitriptyline affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.

Chlordiazepoxide is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peens). Chlordiazepoxide affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety.

Amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide is used to treat depression and anxiety.

Amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to amitriptyline (Elavil) or chlordiazepoxide (Librium), or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax).

Do not use this medication if you have recently had a heart attack.

Do not use amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide if you have taken an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney or liver disease
• heart disease, or a history of heart attack or stroke
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• bipolar disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia or other mental illness
• a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior
• history of drug or alcohol addiction
• a thyroid disorder
• glaucoma; or
• problems with urination

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Chlordiazepoxide can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide without your doctor’s consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication.

Amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Drowsiness caused by chlordiazepoxide may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Other serious side effects include:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heart rate, chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• hallucinations, or seizures (convulsions), feeling light-headed, fainting
• easy bruising or bleeding
• jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
• urinating less than usual or not at all

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• feeling dizzy, drowsy, or tired
• blurred vision, trouble concentrating
• dry mouth, unusual or unpleasant taste
• loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation
• weight changes
• strange dreams or nightmares
• breast or testicle swelling in men; or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide Interactions

What other drugs affect Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Before taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you have used an “SSRI” antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft).

Before taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide, tell your doctor if you are currently using cimetidine (Tagamet), guanethidine (Ismelin), or a heart rhythm medicine such as flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rhythmol), or quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute). You may not be able to use amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There are many other medicines that can interact with amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Do not drink alcohol while taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.

Amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide Dosage

How should I take Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

It may take up to 4 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not stop using amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Chlordiazepoxide may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Chlordiazepoxide should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Store amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Benzodiazepines are drugs of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I overdose on Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, extreme drowsiness, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, vomiting, feeling hot or cold, sweating, muscle stiffness, feeling like you might pass out, or seizure (convulsions).

What happens if I miss a dose of Amitriptyline Chlordiazepoxide?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com