Details for: PMS-AMITRIPTYLINE
Company: PHARMASCIENCE INC
| DIN | DIN name | Active Ingredient(s) | Strength | Dosage Form | Route of Administration |
|---|
Consumer Information
This information was provided by the drug’s manufacturer when this drug product was approved for sale in Canada. It is designed for consumers and care givers. It is a summary of information about the drug and will not tell you everything about the drug. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the drug.
What the medication is used for
pms-AMITRIPTYLINE is used in adults to treat depression.
What it does
pms-AMITRIPTYLINE is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of medicines known as tricyclic antidepressants. It is not known exactly how pms-AMITRIPTYLINE works. It is thought to increase the concentration of certain chemicals in the brain which can help with the symptoms of depression.
When it should not be used
Do not use pms-AMITRIPTYLINE if:
- are allergic to amitriptyline or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
- have recently experienced a heart attack or heart failure
- have a severe liver disease
- are taking a medicine known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), also used to treat depression
- have taken a MAOI within the last 14 days
What the medicinal ingredient is
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
What the non-medicinal ingredients are
Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Croscarmellose Sodium, Hypromellose,
Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol/Macrogol and Titanium
Dioxide
In addition to the above ingredients the tablets also contain the following non-medicinal
ingredients:
10 mg Tablet: FD&C blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake.
25 mg Tablet: FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Yellow No.5 (Tartrazine) Aluminum
Lake.
50 mg Tablet: Black Iron Oxide, Red Iron Oxide, and Yellow Iron Oxide.
75 mg Tablet: FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake.
100 mg Tablet: FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminium Lake, Red Iron Oxide non-irradiated.
What dosage form it comes in
Tablets: 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg
Warnings and precautions
Serious Warnings and Precautions
- Electrical problems with the heart (QT interval prolongation) - A heart problem called “prolonged QT interval” (which is shown on your electrocardiogram, ECG) and problems with the heart rhythm (rapid or irregular heart beat) have been reported in people taking pms-AMITRIPTYLINE. This can be serious and cause sudden death. If you experience dizziness, fainting, a rapid heart beat or heart palpitations while taking pmsAMITRIPTYLINE get immediate medical help.
- Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression - If you are depressed, you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These thoughts may be increased when first starting antidepressants like pms-AMITRIPTYLINE, since these medicines take time to work. If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself while taking pmsAMITRIPTYLINE get immediate medical help.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take pms-AMITRIPTYLINE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have heart problems such as changes in heart rhythm which are seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG), heart block, or heart disease
- have a slow heart beat (bradycardia)
- have glaucoma or increased pressure in your eyes
- have liver problems.
- have or have had a history of epilepsy, seizures or fits.
- have difficulty passing urine
- have an enlarged prostate
- have thyroid problems or are taking thyroid medication
- have bipolar disorder
- have schizophrenia
- have a blood disease with abnormal particles in the blood called “blood discrasia”
- have problems with your electrolytes including low levels of calcium, potassium or magnesium in your blood
- are dehydrated or suffer from excessive sweating, vomiting or diarrhea, or an eating disorder
- are undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat mental health problems
- are scheduled to have surgery
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. You and your healthcare professional should decide if you should breastfeed or take pms-AMITRIPTYLINE. You should not do both.
- are 65 years of age or older
Driving and Using Machines: pms-AMITRIPTYLINE can affect your ability to drive and operate machinery. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how pms-AMITRIPTYLINE affects you.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
Interactions with this medication
The following may interact with pms-AMITRIPTYLINE:
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) also used to treat depression, such as selegiline and phenelzine
- medicines such as adrenaline, ephedrine, isoprenaline, noradrenaline, phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine which may be found in cough and cold medication and anesthetics used in surgery
- other medicines used to treat depression such as other tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, sertraline, and paroxetine.
- anticholinergenic drugs such as certain medicines used to treat glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease and stomach and gut problems, like atropine and hyoscyamine
- cimetidine, used to treat stomach ulcers
- sedatives used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders
- disulfiram, used to treat alcoholism
- medicines used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health problems, such as primozide, sertindole and haloperidol
- high blood pressure medications such as clonidine and methyldopa
- medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat such as quinidine, propafenone, flecainide, disopyramide, amiodarone and sotalol
- astemizole and terfenadine, used to treat allergies and hayfever
- cisapride, used to treat certain types of indigestion
- methadone, used to treat pain and for detoxification
- diuretics or “water pills” such as furosemide
- thyroid medication
- medicines used to treat bacterial infections such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, tacrolimus and ciprofloxacin.
- medicines used to treat malaria such as quinine, halofantrine and chloroquine
- medicines used to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole
- domperidone used to treat nausea and vomiting and increase milk supply in breastfeeding mothers
- medicines used to treat nausea and vomiting in cancer patients such as ondansetron medicines used to treat cancer such as sunitinib and vorinostat
- medicines used to treat breathing problems like asthma and COPD such as salmeterol
Proper use of this medication
How to take pms-AMITRIPTYLINE:
- Always take pms-AMITRIPTYLINE exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. Check with your healthcare professional if you are not sure.
- Swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not chew them.
Usual Dose
The recommended initial dose is 75 mg daily in three divided doses of 25 mg.
Depending on how you respond, your doctor may gradually increase your dose.
Maximum daily dose : 150 mg a day.
Overdose
Missed Dose
If you forget to take pms-AMITRIPTYLINE, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
Side effects and what to do about them
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking pms-AMITRIPTYLINE. If
you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting
- stomach pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- fatigue
- restlessness
- headache
- dry mouth, sore mouth
- unpleasant taste in the mouth
- black tongue
- itching
- changes in weight (loss or gain)
- weakness
- increased sweating
| Symptom / effect | Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist only if severe | Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist in all cases | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental health problems: confusion, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, excitement, nightmares, problems with attention, anxiety | ✔ | ||
| Nervous system problems: shaking, numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, clumsiness and lack of coordination, loss of balance, uncontrolled twitching or jerking, slurred speech, ringing in the ears, coma | ✔ | ||
| Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: very high fever, irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, muscle stiffness, altered mental state | ✔ | ||
| Difficulty passing urine | ✔ | ||
| Glaucoma: increased pressure in the eye, blurred vision, eye pain | ✔ | ||
| Electrical problems with the heart (QT interval prolongation): dizziness, fainting, fast heartbeat, palpitations | ✔ | ||
| Heart attack: chest pain, tightness or pressure that may spread to your neck, jaw or back, nausea, indigestion, shortness of breath, cold sweat, fatigue, dizziness | ✔ | ||
| Stroke: sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking, blurred vision, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance | ✔ | ||
| High blood pressure: headache, fatigue, vision problems | ✔ | ||
| Heart problems (enlarged heart, heart disease): weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath especially during exercise, lightheadedness, chest pain, palpitations, fainting, swelling in your feet, ankles and legs | ✔ | ||
| Bone marrow depression: easy bruising, bleeding, nose bleeds, bleeding gums, red spots on the skin, fever and chills, rash, extreme fatigue, pale skin and lips | ✔ | ||
| Increased sensitivity of the skin to sun | ✔ | ||
| Allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips and tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing. | ✔ | ||
| Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | ✔ | ||
| Reproductive problems: swelling of testicles, impotence in men, increase in breast tissue (in men and women), change in sex drive | ✔ | ||
| Increased or decreased blood sugar: frequent urination, thirst, hunger, shakiness, sweating and chills, irritability, confusion, dizziness | ✔ | ||
| Unusual hair loss or thinning | ✔ | ||
| Mania: elevated or irritated mood, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts | ✔ | ||
| Serotonin syndrome: a combination of most or all of the following: confusion, restlessness, sweating, shaking, shivering, hallucinations, sudden jerking of the muscles, fast heartbeat | ✔ | ||
| Seizures or fits | ✔ | ||
| New or worsened emotional or behavioural problems: feeling angry, aggressive, worried, agitated, hostile or impulsive, feeling violent or suicidal, thoughts of hurting yourself or other people, feeling like you are not yourself or that you are less inhibited | ✔ |
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.
How to store
Store between 15°C and 30°C. Keep in a tightly closed container.
Keep out of reach and sight of children
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following three ways:
- Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
- Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
- Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
- Mail to:
Canada Vigilance Program
Health Canada
Postal Locator 0701E
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.
NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
More information
If you want more information about pms-AMITRIPTYLINE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full prescribing information that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the manufacturer’s website (www.pharmascience.com), or by calling 1-888-550-6060.
This leaflet was prepared by Pharmascience Inc., Montréal, Québec, H4P 2T4
Last revised: April 25, 2019