Elavil
Nocturnal Enuresis, Insomnia, Migraine + 22 more
Treatment
25 FDA approvals
20 Active Studies for Elavil
Treatment for
Nocturnal Enuresis
What is Elavil
Amitriptyline
The Generic name of this drug
Treatment Summary
Amitriptyline hydrochloride, often referred to as Elavil, is a medication used to treat depression and chronic pain. It is a type of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) and was approved by the FDA in 1977. It was originally manufactured by Sandoz.
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
is the brand name
Elavil Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
Amitriptyline
1977
433
Approved as Treatment by the FDA
Amitriptyline, commonly known as Amitriptyline Hydrochloride, is approved by the FDA for 25 uses including Moderate Depression and prophylaxis of migraine headaches .
Moderate Depression
Used to treat Moderate Depression in combination with Perphenazine
prophylaxis of migraine headaches
Depression Acute
Tension Headache
Nocturnal Enuresis
Severe Depression
Used to treat Severe Depression in combination with Perphenazine
Neuropathic Pain
Migraine Disorders
moderate Anxiety
Used to treat moderate Anxiety in combination with Perphenazine
Neuropathic Pain
Anxiety
Used to treat severe Anxiety in combination with Perphenazine
Tension-Type Headache
Chronic Physical Illness
Used to treat Chronic Physical Illness in combination with Perphenazine
Mental Depression
Used to treat Moderate Depression in combination with Perphenazine
Depression
severe agitation
Used to treat severe agitation in combination with Perphenazine
Must Have Failed First-Line Therapy
Depression
Migraine
Schizophrenia
Depression
Used to treat Severe Depression in combination with Perphenazine
moderate Agitation
Used to treat moderate Agitation in combination with Perphenazine
Nocturnal Enuresis
Anxiety
Used to treat moderate to severe anxiety in combination with Chlordiazepoxide
Depression
Effectiveness
How Elavil Affects Patients
Amitriptyline is a medication used to treat pain and depression. It is known to reduce post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic pain, and other chronic non-malignant pain in up to 2/3 of patients. It may also be used to treat fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline has strong anticholinergic effects and can cause changes to the heart's electrical activity, as well as orthostatic hypotension and tachycardia (rapid heart rate) in some elderly patients. It can also cause increased glucose levels, and lower the convulsive threshold, meaning it can increase the risk of seizures
How Elavil works in the body
The way that amitriptyline works is not yet fully understood. It is thought to increase the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, which are important in regulating mood. This drug is thought to counterbalance any deficiencies in these neurotransmitters and improve depressive symptoms. It is not clear if the pain-relieving effect of amitriptyline is related to its mood-altering activities or due to an unrelated action.
When to interrupt dosage
The measure of Elavil is subject to the diagnosed condition, including moderate Agitation, extreme agitation and Anxiety. The dosage also differs as per the means of delivery (e.g. Tablet, film coated - Oral or Syrup) featured in the table beneath.
Condition
Dosage
Administration
Nocturnal Enuresis
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Tension-Type Headache
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Diabetic Neuropathy
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Migraine
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Schizophrenia
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Bulimia Nervosa
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
moderate Anxiety
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Depression
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Depression
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Must Have Failed First-Line Therapy
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Anorexia Nervosa
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Chronic Physical Illness
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
severe agitation
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Anxiety
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Depression
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Neuropathic Pain
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Insomnia
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Anxiety
25.0 mg, , 50.0 mg, 100.0 mg, 10.0 mg, 75.0 mg, 150.0 mg, 12.5 mg, 15.0 mg, 14.0 mg, 27.98 mg, 1.0 mg/mg, 4.0 mg/mg, 2.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Kit - Topical, Topical, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Syrup - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral
Warnings
Elavil Contraindications
Condition
Risk Level
Notes
Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions
Do Not Combine
Amitriptyline may interact with Pulse Frequency
Myocardial Infarction
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
There are 20 known major drug interactions with Elavil.
Common Elavil Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Acepromazine
Major
Amitriptyline may increase the orthostatic hypotensive, hypotensive, and antihypertensive activities of Acepromazine.
Aclidinium
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Amitriptyline is combined with Aclidinium.
Alfuzosin
Major
Amitriptyline may increase the hypotensive activities of Alfuzosin.
Amoxapine
Major
Amitriptyline may increase the orthostatic hypotensive, hypotensive, and antihypertensive activities of Amoxapine.
Anagrelide
Major
The risk or severity of QTc prolongation can be increased when Amitriptyline is combined with Anagrelide.
Elavil Toxicity & Overdose Risk
Toxicity Data: If a child swallows 4167 micrograms of amitriptyline per kilogram of body weight, or an adult swallows 714 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (intermittently), or an adult swallows 10 milligrams per kilogram, it can result in severe toxicity. Symptoms of overdose include low blood pressure, confusion, seizures, dilated pupils and other eye issues, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, hallucinations, weakened heart function, rapid or irregular heartbeat, low body temperature, stupor, and unresponsiveness or coma.
Elavil Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Elavil?
1230 active studies are currently being conducted to assess the utility of Elavil in treating Depression, Bulimia Nervosa and Migraine Headaches.
Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Depression
213 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3, Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 1, Early Phase 1
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
63 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 1, Phase 2
Migraine Disorders
1 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3
Schizophrenia
98 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3, Not Applicable, Early Phase 1, Phase 4, Phase 1, Phase 2
Insomnia
0 Actively Recruiting
Anxiety
0 Actively Recruiting
Depression
305 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 2, Early Phase 1, Phase 4, Phase 3
Anorexia Nervosa
0 Actively Recruiting
moderate Anxiety
0 Actively Recruiting
Insomnia
14 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 1
Diabetic Neuropathy
5 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 2
Depression
0 Actively Recruiting
Bulimia Nervosa
0 Actively Recruiting
severe agitation
0 Actively Recruiting
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
5 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2, Early Phase 1
Depression
1 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Chronic Physical Illness
1 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Mental Depression
3 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
moderate Agitation
0 Actively Recruiting
Neuropathic Pain
4 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 2
Elavil Reviews: What are patients saying about Elavil?
5
Patient Review
4/9/2015
Elavil for Migraine Prevention
4.7
Patient Review
1/20/2015
Elavil for Disorder characterized by Stiff, Tender & Painful Muscles
4.7
Patient Review
10/2/2017
Elavil for Migraine Prevention
4.7
Patient Review
3/28/2022
Elavil for Migraine Prevention
4
Patient Review
5/4/2016
Elavil for Depression
3.7
Patient Review
10/5/2015
Elavil for Migraine Prevention
3.7
Patient Review
8/12/2015
Elavil for Disorder characterized by Stiff, Tender & Painful Muscles
3
Patient Review
1/5/2022
Elavil for Migraine Prevention
2.3
Patient Review
8/12/2016
Elavil for Neuropathic Pain
2
Patient Review
5/26/2015
Elavil for Disorder characterized by Stiff, Tender & Painful Muscles
1
Patient Review
8/30/2015
Elavil for Neuropathic Pain
Patient Q&A Section about elavil
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.
Is Elavil a sedative?
"Amitriptyline is a drug that can be used to treat insomnia, even though it is not primarily a sleeping pill. This is because it can have a sedative effect."
Answered by AI
Why did they discontinue Elavil?
"Elavil was discontinued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 due to the severe side effects people experienced while using the medication."
Answered by AI