Product Information
Generic Elavil and its Uses
Generic Elavil is a generic tricyclic antidepressant that is used in the treatment of depression. Elavil is used to elevate the mood of patients with depression. Generic Elavil is also a sedative, and is useful in depressed patients with insomnia, restlessness, and nervousness.
Generic Elavil has also been found to be helpful for treating fibromyalgia and symptoms related to chronic pain.
Working Mechanism of Elavil
When depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of the chemicals noradrenaline and serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. When these chemicals are released from nerve cells they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood.
Generic Elavil works by preventing this re-absorption of noradrenaline and serotonin back into the nerve cells. Therefore, it helps prolong the mood-lightening effect of any released noradrenaline and serotonin. This helps relieve depression. The full benefits of treatment with Elavil may not occur for two to four weeks.
Generic Elavil also blocks receptors in other areas of the body resulting in side effects such as urinary retention. Therefore, Generic Elavil may also be used in the treatment of bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis). When used for this purpose, Elavil should generally only be used for a maximum of three months.
Generic Elavil Dose
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of Elavil unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Excess Dose of Elavil
Elavil in excess dose may show symptoms such as seizures, confusion, drowsiness, agitation, hallucinations, and low blood pressure (dizziness, fatigue, fainting).
Conditions for storage of Elavil
Store Elavil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Potencies of Elavil
Elavil Tablets: Elavil 10 mg, Elavil 25 mg, Elavil 75 mg. Elavil 50 mg SR, Elavil 100 mg & Elavil 150 mg
Food and Drug interactions with Generic Elavil
- Generic Elavil should not be taken with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant. Treatment with Elavil should not be started until 2 weeks after stopping a MAOI.
- Generic Elavil blood levels may be decreased by barbiturates.
- There may be a sudden and marked increase in blood pressure and heart rate when Elavil is taken with medicines causing blood vessel narrowing, such as phenylephrine and adrenaline. These medicines should not be used together. Geneirc Elavil may decrease the blood pressure lowering effect of:
- Bethanidine.
- Debrisoquine.
- Guanethidine.
- Elavil may increase the sedating effects of alcohol.
Contraindications with Generic Elavil Elavil is contraindicated in the following:
- Pregnancy & Breast-feeding
- Children under 7 years of age.
- Congestive heart failure.
- Decreased blood supply to the heart (coronary insufficiency).
- Defect of the heart's electrical message pathways resulting in decreased function of the heart (heart block).
- History of heart attack.
- Hypersensitivity to some other tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
- Irregular heart beats (arrhythmias).
- Mania.
- Severe liver disease.
Precautions with Generic Elavil
Elavil should be used with caution in:
- Blood disorders.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Closed angle glaucoma.
- Decreased liver function.
- Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention).
- Elderly people.
- Enlarged prostate (prostatic hypertrophy).
- History of epilepsy.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Psychotic illness.
- Treatment for severe depression where a convulsion is produced by passing an electric current through the brain (electroconvulsive therapy, ECT).
Adverse effects with Generic Elavil The adverse effects associated with Elavil are:
- Difficulty in passing stools (constipation).
- Blurred vision.
- Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia).
- Difficulty in passing urine (urinary retention).
- Dry mouth.
- Drowsiness.
- Confusion.
- Sweating.
- Blood disorders.
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension).
- Sexual problems.
