What Is Amitriptyline?

Potential Medication Interactions

Due to the risk of serious potential side effects, amitriptyline should not be used with antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), including selegiline and phenelzine. Taking amitriptyline with MAOIs could lead to seizures and may be fatal. Patients should not take MAOIs until at least two weeks after stopping amitriptyline, and amitriptyline should not be started until at least two weeks have passed after stopping MAOI treatment. Additionally, amitriptyline should never be taken with quinidine. Patients who take amitriptyline with neuroleptic drugs such as risperidone or clozapine or with anticholinergic medicines like diphenhydramine are more likely to experience fevers, particularly during hot weather. Taking amitriptyline with fluoxetine, topiramate, or cimetidine raises the amount of amitriptyline in the body, and this increases the risk of experiencing side effects. Patients who must use both of these medicines at the same time may need to have their doses adjusted.