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Brand names - Vivactil.
Medication type - Tricyclic antidepressant.
Common side effects - Drowsiness or
dizziness, headache, dry mouth or unpleasant taste, fatigue, heightened
sensitivity to light, weight gain, increased appetite, nausea, excitability.
Rare side effects - Heartburn or indigestion,
sleeping difficulty, diarrhoea, increased sweating, vomiting.
Serious side effects - Confusion, heartbeat
irregularities, hallucinations, seizures, extreme fatigue or drowsiness,
blurred or altered vision, breathing difficulty, constipation, staring
and absence of facial expression, impaired concentration, difficult
urination, fever, extreme and persistent restlessness, loss of coordination
and balance, difficulty swallowing or speaking, dilated pupils,
eye pain, fainting. Also trembling, shaking, weakness, and stiffness
in the extremities; shuffling gait. Call your doctor immediately.
Uses - To relieve the symptoms of major
depression.
Other notes - Can take 1-6 weeks to
start working. To lessen stomach upset, take with food, unless your
doctor instructs otherwise. Increase intake of fiber and fluids.
Avoid alcohol. Adequate human studies have not been done. Consult
your doctor for specific advice. Protriptyline passes into breast
milk; do not use it while nursing. This is a potentially dangerous
drug, especially if taken in excess. Tricyclic antidepressants should
not be within easy reach of suicidal patients. If dry mouth occurs,
use candy or sugarless gum for relief.
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