Amitriptyline

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, formerly sold under the brand name Elavil among others. It is used mainly to treat major depressive disorder and a range of pain syndromes, including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine and tension headaches. Because its side effects are frequent and prominent, it is generally treated as a second-line therapy for these uses. The most common effects are dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and weight gain, while glaucoma, liver toxicity and abnormal heart rhythms are rare but serious. Blood levels vary widely from one person to another, and the drug interacts with many other medications. Scientists at Merck discovered it in the late 1950s and the US Food and Drug Administration approved it in 1961. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is available as a generic medication.