What are the warnings and side effects of amitriptyline?
The most common side effects of amitriptyline include drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, constipation, sedation, and blurred vision. In one study, about 60 percent of the patients reported gaining weight, with an average gain of almost 12 pounds. Alcohol may increase the sedative effects of this drug. Amitriptyline should not be taken by people who are recovering from a recent heart attack. If you have heart disease, you should be extremely cautious because this type of drug is associated with an increased risk of irregular heart rhythms, heart attacks, and strokes. Tricyclic antidepressants are considered a last resort preventative treatment for migraines in pregnant women because of concerns about potential harm to the fetus, and there are some serious risks using drugs of this type for children and young adults. Amitriptyline, along with all antidepressants, has a black-box warning from the FDA, the strongest kind of warning, urging parents to be aware that children and young adult
