contains the active ingredient amitriptyline hydrochloride
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Please read this leaflet carefully and keep it with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Amitriptyline Alphapharm is used for
Amitriptyline Alphapharm is used to treat depression.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm 10 mg and Amitriptyline Alphapharm 25 mg tablets can be used at any stage in the treatment of depression. However, the highest strength Amitriptyline Alphapharm 50 mg, is approved only for the maintenance treatment of depression (after your symptoms have improved).
Amitriptyline Alphapharm belongs to a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). TCA medicines work by correcting the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called amines, are involved in controlling mood. By correcting this imbalance, TCAs can help relieve the symptoms of depression.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm can also be used to treat bed-wetting, provided that there is no physical cause for the problem (eg. problems with the bladder).
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Amitriptyline Alphapharm has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Amitriptyline Alphapharm for another reason.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm is not approved for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age for the treatment of depression.
The safe use and effectiveness of Amitriptyline Alphapharm in treating the above condition, for this age group, has not been established.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Amitriptyline Alphapharm
When you must not take it
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you are allergic to medicines containing amitriptyline (e.g. Tryptanol) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face or tongue which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing; increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun.
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you have recently had a heart attack.
Taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm could make your condition worse.
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you are taking, or have taken within the last 14 days another medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
Taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm with a MAOI or taking it too soon after stopping a MAOI may cause a serious reaction with a sudden increase in body temperature, extremely high blood pressure and severe convulsions. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to start taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm after stopping the MAOI.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if you are taking, or have been taking a MAOI.
MAOIs are medicines used to treat depression and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Examples of MAOIs are phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), moclobemide (eg. Aurorix, Arima) and selegiline (Eldepryl, Selgene).
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you are taking cisapride (Prepulsid), a medicine used to treat stomach reflux.
Combining Amitriptyline Alphapharm with cisapride may cause serious side effects such as an abnormal heart rhythm.
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you are breastfeeding.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm passes into breast milk and may harm your baby.
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
There have been reports of some babies experiencing complications immediately after delivery. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any other medical conditions, especially the following:
heart or blood vessel problems
liver problems
glaucoma, a condition characterised by an increased pressure in the eye
urinary problems such as difficulty in passing urine
thyroid problems
seizures or fits
any mental illness other than depression, for example schizophrenia.
Tell your doctor if you plan to undergo any type of surgery or if you are undergoing electroshock therapy.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Taking other medicines
Do not take Amitriptyline Alphapharm if you are taking:
cisapride (Prepulsid), a medicine used to treat stomach reflux
any monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as:
phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), moclobemide (eg. Aurorix, Arima), used to treat depression
selegiline (Eldepryl, Selgene), used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Wait at least 14 days after stopping your MAOI before starting Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by Amitriptyline Alphapharm or may affect how well Amitriptyline Alphapharm works. These include:
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a group of medicines used to treat depression and other mental illnesses, such as fluoxetine (eg. Prozac, Lovan), sertraline (eg. Zoloft) and paroxetine (eg. Aropax, Paxtine)
some medicines used to treat high blood pressure
anticholinergics, found in some medicines used to relieve stomach cramps; travel sickness; hayfever and allergies; cough and colds
medicines used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia
quinidine (Kinidin) and flecainide (Tambocor, Flecatab), medicines used to control an irregular heart beat
cimetidine (eg. Tagamet, Magicul), a medicine used to treat reflux and ulcers
sleeping tablets/sedatives, anti-anxiety medicines
medicines for epilepsy
thyroid medicines
disulfiram (eg. Antabuse), a medicine used to deter alcohol consumption
tramadol (eg. Tramal), a medicine used to relieve pain.
Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
How to take Amitriptyline Alphapharm
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the pack, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take
The dose varies from person to person.
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you.
Depression
Amitriptyline Alphapharm is usually started at a low dose and then, if necessary, increased depending on how your symptoms improve and how well you tolerate it.
For depression, the usual starting dose is 75 mg to 150 mg per day in divided doses.
For people being treated in hospital for their depression, the usual starting dose is 100 mg to 200 mg per day.
For the elderly, lower doses are recommended, as Amitriptyline Alphapharm may not be well tolerated in this age group.
Your doctor may then reduce your dose to 50 mg to 100 mg per day when your depressive symptoms have improved, depending on your response to Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Bed-wetting
Keep Amitriptyline Alphapharm out of the reach of children.
Do not give your child more Amitriptyline Alphapharm than what is recommended by your doctor.
The doses recommended for bed-wetting are lower than the doses used to treat depression and usually depend on the person's age and weight.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
When to take it
Amitriptyline Alphapharm can be taken with or without food.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm can be taken as a single dose (eg. at bedtime) or as divided doses (eg. three times a day). Your doctor will advise you.
Take your medicine at about the same time each day.
Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
How long to take it for
Depression
Keep taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm for as long as your doctor recommends.
The length of treatment will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve.
Most medicines for depression take time to work, so do not be discouraged if you do not feel better right away. Some people notice an improvement in their depressive symptoms after 3 or 4 days. However, it may take up to 4 weeks to feel the full benefits of Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Even when you feel well, your doctor may ask you to continue taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm for 3 months or longer to make sure that the benefits last.
Bed-wetting
Most children respond to treatment in the first few days. However, continued treatment is usually required to maintain the response until bed-wetting ends.
If you forget to take it
If you take one dose a day (at bedtime):
If you forget to take Amitriptyline Alphapharm before going to bed and wake up late in the night or early in the morning, do not take the missed dose until you have checked with your doctor.
You may have difficulty waking up or experience drowsiness in the morning or during the day, if you take Amitriptyline Alphapharm at these times.
If you take more than one dose a day:
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.
Do not try to make up the dose you missed by taking a double dose.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Amitriptyline Alphapharm, you may feel drowsy, cold, very dizzy or have a fast or irregular heart beat.
You may also have fits, difficulty breathing or lose consciousness.
Keep Amitriptyline Alphapharm out of the reach of children.
Children are much more sensitive than adults to medicines such as Amitriptyline Alphapharm. An accidental overdose is especially dangerous in children.
While you are taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm
Things you must do
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes.
Occasionally, the symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first one to two months of treatment until the full antidepressant effect of the medicine becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur in children, adolescents and young adults under 25 years of age.
Contact your doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment if you or someone you know is showing any of the following warning signs of suicide:
worsening of your depression
thoughts or talk of death or suicide
thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
any recent attempts of self-harm
increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or any other unusual changes in behaviour or mood.
All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
Tell your doctor if you feel the tablets are not helping your condition.
Keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm. Do not stop taking your tablets until you have spoken to your doctor.
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
If you plan to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm a few days before elective surgery.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Things you must not do
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Amitriptyline Alphapharm affects you.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm may reduce your alertness, cause drowsiness or dizziness in some people. If you experience any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
For the same reasons, children should not ride a bike, climb trees or do anything else that could be dangerous if they are drowsy.
Do not stop taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm, or lower the dose, without checking with your doctor. Do not let yourself run out of your medicine over weekends or during holidays.
Stopping Amitriptyline Alphapharm suddenly may make you feel sick (nauseous), have headaches or feel generally unwell.
Your doctor will tell you how to gradually reduce the amount of Amitriptyline Alphapharm you are taking before stopping completely.
Do not use Amitriptyline Alphapharm to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give Amitriptyline Alphapharm to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful drinking alcohol while taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Combining Amitriptyline Alphapharm with alcohol can make you more drowsy or dizzy. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while being treated for depression.
Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting may occur, especially when you get up quickly. Getting up slowly may help.
Tell your doctor or dentist if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm may cause dry mouth. This can be relieved by frequent sips of water, sucking sugarless lollies or chewing sugarless gum. However, continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay and gum disease.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
dry mouth, altered sense of taste
nausea (feeling sick), vomiting
diarrhoea, constipation
blurred vision, difficulty in focussing
drowsiness, tiredness, headache
dizziness, lightheadedness
increased sweating
weight gain or loss
changes in sex drive.
The above list includes the milder side effects of Amitriptyline Alphapharm.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
fast or irregular heart beats
larger breast than normal (in men and women)
tingling or numbness of the hands or feet
uncontrolled movements, including trembling and shaking of the hands and fingers, twisting movements of the body, shuffling walk and stiffness of the arms and legs
difficulty in passing urine
signs of frequent infections such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
unusual bruising or bleeding
feeling anxious, restless or confused
abnormal ideas, hallucinations
sudden switch of mood to one of excitement, overactivity, talkativeness and uninhibited behaviour.
The above side effects are serious and may require medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
skin rash, itching, hives; swelling of the face or tongue; severe sunburn, blistering or swelling of the skin
fainting or collapse
chest pain
seizures or fits.
The above side effects are very serious and may require urgent medical attention or even hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm
Storage
Keep Amitriptyline Alphapharm where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Do not store Amitriptyline Alphapharm or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave Amitriptyline Alphapharm in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Amitriptyline Alphapharm, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Amitriptyline Alphapharm is available in three strengths:
Amitriptyline Alphapharm 10 - round, blue tablet, marked "AP" over "10" on one side and a Greek alpha symbol on the other
Amitriptyline Alphapharm 25 - round, yellow tablet, marked "AP" over a line over "25" on one side and a Greek alpha symbol on the other
Amitriptyline Alphapharm 50 - six-sided, tan coloured tablet, marked "AP" over "50" on one side and a Greek alpha symbol on the other.
Each pack of Amitriptyline Alphapharm contains 50 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Amitriptyline Alphapharm is amitriptyline hydrochloride. Each Amitriptyline Alphapharm tablet contains 10 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg of amitriptyline hydrochloride.
Amitriptyline Alphapharm tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:
lactose
microcrystalline cellulose
disodium edetate
sodium starch glycollate
pregelatinised maize starch
colloidal anhydrous silica
magnesium stearate
purified talc [10 mg and 50 mg only]
Opadry Blue OY-B-30904 (includes colours 133, 171) [10 mg only]
Opadry Yellow OY-LS-32814 (includes colours 104, 110, 132, 171) [25 mg only]
Opadry Buff OY-LS-37200 (includes colours 171, 172) [50 mg only].
Amitriptyline Alphapharm tablets are gluten free.
