Modern times and our busy lives may often lead to stressful living. These daily stresses can affect our mental wellbeing – at times, without any forewarnings or warning signs. Mental conditions such as depression and anxieties can hamper our productivity – both at home and while at work. Medications which can reduce the levels of anxieties are known as antidepressants. There are many versions of such drugs; one among them is tricyclic antidepressants. These meds help boost your energy levels and can offer needful relief from tension, sleeplessness, etc. Amitriptyline is a widely prescribed drug in this genre. You need to consult your treating doctor to know about the optimal dosage for treating conditions like anxieties.
Amitriptyline works by altering the presence of neuro-transmitting substances such as norepinephrine, serotonin, etc. Maintaining a right balance of such transmitters is essential for mental wellbeing; this drug helps restore needful levels of these transmitters. Owing to these properties, this medication is also used for treating conditions like anxieties, depression, schizophrenia, being in an agitated state of mind, etc. This drug is however not administered to children. Very limited evidences exist on the safety of this med when administered onto children or younger adults.
What is the right dosage value of amitriptyline?
Dosage levels of amitriptyline are crucial for improving your mental wellbeing. Each person’s medical condition is unique; hence, your dosage levels may vary from another person’s. Regardless of your clinical condition, initial dosages of this drug are always maintained at a bare minimal level. Your doctor may observe how well the drug works on your system. If there are no adverse reactions or allergies, then the dosage levels are increased in a slow and steady fashion. In general, your doses are influenced by the severity of your mental condition, age and body weight.
This drug is known to perform its functions through sedation. Hence, being dizzy, feeling drowsy, blurred eyesight, etc. are common side effects of amitriptyline. In some instances, people who took it also reported being in a confused state of mind, fainting or passing out, tremors and drop in libido / desire to have sexual intercourse. This drug is available in different dosage levels such as 10 milligrams (mg), 25 mg, 75 mg and 150 mg. At dosage levels of 50 mg and more, the drug may contain a small percentage of black iron-oxide as well as oxides of yellow and red iron.
Dosages of amitriptyline for outpatients
In case of those aged above 18 years or more, a dose of 75 mg per day is administered; this is for people who are being treated as outpatients. For added safety, this dose of 75 mg each day is split into two doses in order to avoid risks of overdosing. If desired results are not showing up, doses are increased to 150 mg each day. Your doctor will advise to take the drug before you go to bed. When you take it during sleep hours, risks of drowsiness can be managed through a good night’s sleep.
Doses for inpatients admitted in a hospital setting
People who are admitted as inpatients may need a slightly higher starting dose. Initial doses are usually administered at 100 mg for inpatients needing closer medical attention. For acute spells of depression, an additional dose of 25 milligrams or 50 mg are administered for better results. Always ensure to take increased dosages along with your night meal (dinner) or a few minutes before you go to sleep.
The maximum dose of this drug is usually not more than 150 mg. However, in very remote cases – doses as high as 200 milligrams have been given. In extremely remote instances, dosages of 300 mg have also been administered for treating advanced episodes of anxieties. These doses are mainly restricted to adults aged below 60 years. Also, in case of younger adults or teens, the typical dose is 10 mg twice per day. During night times, the dose is mildly increased to 20 mg. Among elderly adults, the daily maximum dosage value must never exceed 20 mg. This is because – elders and teens are more likely to turn sensitive to high doses of amitriptyline.
Maintenance doses of amitriptyline
Intake of this drug is often prescribed for more than 60 – 90 days to get the best possible results. During this period – soon after your body gets used to initial, lower doses – a maintenance dose is given on a regular basis. The maintenance dose is often retained at 40 milligrams. In some rare cases, maintenance doses may hover at a higher range of 100 mg. People who failed to adhere to the doses on a maintenance mode faced risks of relapse of anxieties, depression and other mental conditions. In general, maintenance dosages are given only during bedtimes to counter risks of excessive sleepiness and drowsiness during daytime hours.
Each person’s body may absorb the active ingredients of this drug in a different manner from another person. Plasma levels remain one standard way to estimate the likely absorption rate of amitriptyline. Among elders, rate of metabolism may have slowed down substantially and it may take more time for intestinal-travel of food consumed. Owing to these factors, plasma-levels are generally found to be high among aged people – i.e., as compared to younger adults. This is one of the reasons why elders or aged patients may need continuous monitoring. The odds of side effects such as blurring of eyesight, drowsiness, dizziness, erratic heartbeats, etc. are high among elderly people.
For better efficacy of amitriptyline, the drug needs to be stored at ideal storage conditions. It is important to maintain the ambient temperature at 22 deg. C (or around 74 deg. Fahrenheit). The storage area needs to be protected from a direct exposure to sunlight or any other sources of excessive light. It is equally essential to keep the storage container tightly sealed and kept away from humidity. You must also keep this drug out of reach of pets and children.
In sum, amitriptyline for anxieties; this drug belongs to a genre of medications known as tricyclic antidepressants. Dosages administered can vary from one individual to another. Dosages are influenced by your age (elders and younger adults need relatively lower doses of 20 mg per day), your mental condition as well as how well your body reacts to the initial doses. You are advised to talk to your treating doctor upon witnessing adverse side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness.
Education: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from New York University. Experience: 5 years of experience writing for physiotherapy and sports medicine blogs, providing expert insights on injury prevention and rehabilitation.
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