Certainly, the Amitriptyline is used as a sleeping aid in the treatment of patients suffering from sleep disorders caused due to depression, anxiety etc. It is prescribed by doctor over decades to individuals experiencing sleeplessness. Moreover, it is one of the affordable sleep remedies and less costly which does not cause addiction, and habit forming like other medications.
This medicine helps in treating many chronic conditions. For instance, migraines, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, depression, and others. It is known as a tricyclic antidepressant that is available under many brand medications like Entrip, Elavil, Trepiline and Endep. This medication can only be obtained with a prescription from your healthcare expert.
The drug is not approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat insomnia, but it is prescribed as off-label because of its antihistamine and anticholinergic effects which has led to perceived effectiveness to individuals suffering from lack of sleep as well.
Drug Action: This drug regulates sleep by increasing certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. There are two stages REM (rapid eye movement) and SWS (slow wave sleep) which plays an important role in falling asleep faster.
Available Forms: The Amitriptyline can be obtained in the form of tablets with different strengths such as 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 150 mg. Additionally, it is sold in liquid form with a strength of 50 mg or 5 ml as well.
Efficacy of Amitriptyline: This medication may make you feel drowsy after consuming, or it might take a few weeks for the drug’s effects to work better enough to offer relief in your sleep schedule. It stays in the body for 12 to 24 hours.
Individual Response: Observing better quality of sleep in patient’s response to this drug, it has given medical professionals more comfort in prescribing Amitriptyline because it continues to be one of the most recommended drugs to persons having difficulty in sleeping.
Although, it is advised to pay close attention to the threatening side effects and complications it has, as the FDA issued this drug as black-box warning for treating insomnia.