How does Elavil work?
In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin and noradrenaline are neurotransmitters and they have various functions that we know of. When serotonin and noradrenaline are released from nerve cells in the brain they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin and noradrenaline released from nerve cells in the brain. Elavil works by preventing serotonin and noradrenaline from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released noradrenaline and serotonin. In this way, Elavil helps relieve depression.
Amitriptyline is part of a group of medications known as tricyclic antidepressants, which work on nerve cells in the brain. The effect of these antidepressants is directly on the levels of two neurotransmitters – serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain, which are responsible for mood. Elavil treatment keeps the levels of these neurotransmitters at required levels to ensure depressive symptoms do not take hold.
