Table of contents:
- Choice of drug
- Tricyclic antidepressants: trade names
- Active ingredient: Amitriptyline
- Active ingredient: Clomipramine
- Active ingredient: Desipramine
- Active ingredient: Doxepin
- Active ingredient: Imipramine
- Active ingredient: Trimipramine maleate
- Active ingredient: Nortriptyline
- Active ingredient: Imipramine Pamoate
- Active ingredient: Protriptyline
- Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants
- 1. Anticholinergic side effects
- 2. Cardiovascular side effects
- 3. Side effects on the central nervous system
- 4. Other side effects
- Tricyclic antidepressants overdose
- Tricyclic antidepressant treatment discontinuation
Antidepressants are part of the most common prescribed drugs in our country. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are named for their chemical structure, which includes as a base two rings joined by another central one, giving a three-dimensional structure. They are part of cyclic antidepressants, made up of tricyclic antidepressants (three rings) and tetracyclic (four rings). ADTs are, together with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), the oldest antidepressants and continue to play a relevant role in current clinical practice, however they have been very limited.
If you are interested in learning about ADTs, in this Psychology-Online article, we will explain tricyclic antidepressants: what they are for, names and side effects.
You may also be interested in: Fluoxetine: side effects the first days Index
Original text
- Panic attack with or without agoraphobia
- Phobias
- Somatoform disorders and chronic pain, for example, in the case of fibromyalgia treatment
- Primary enuresis
- Subtype of depression
- Age
- Gender
- Health condition
- Side effects
- Security
- Price
- Trade name: Elavil
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: tablets: 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg. or injectable: 10 mg / ml.
- Trade name: Anafranil
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 100-250
- Method of administration: capsules: 25, 50 and 75 mg.
- Trade name: Norpramin
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: tablets: 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg.
- Trade name: Sinequan
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: capsules: 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg. or oral solution: 10mg / ml.
- Trade name: Tofranil
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: tablets: 10, 25 and 50 mg.
- Trade name: Surmontil
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: capsules: 25, 50 and 100 mg.
- Trade name: Aventyl, Pamelor
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 50-150
- Method of administration: capsules: 10, 25, 50 and 75 mg. or oral solution: 10mg / 5ml.
- Trade name: Tofranil-PM
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 150-300
- Method of administration: capsules: 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg.
- Trade name: Vivactil
- Therapeutic dose (mg / day): 15-60
- Method of administration: tablets: 5 and 10 mg.
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Delayed onset of urination
- Esophageal reflux
- Confusion
- Difficulties for visual accommodation
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Palpitations
- Hypertension
- Tremor
- Sedation
- Activation
- Myoclonic contractions
- Convulsions
- Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Sweating
- Weight gain
- Sexual dysfunction, such as impotence and decreased libido
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gastrointestinal symptoms and an upset stomach
- Colic
- Sweating
- Headache
- Pain in the neck
- Fe Bravo, M. (2002). Psychopharmacology for psychologists . Madrid: Synthesis.
- Schatzberg, A., Cole, J & DeBattista, C. (2005). Manual of clinical psychopharmacology . Barcelona: ArsMedica.
- Stahl, S. (2002). Essential psychopharmacology: neuroscientific bases and clinical applications . Barcelona: Ariel Neuroscience.
Choice of drug
How can we choose the right antidepressant? Even keeping in mind the specific indications of certain disorders that are treated with antidepressant drugs, specifically with ADT, it is difficult to select the most appropriate one, due to the large number of antidepressants available on the market. However, drug side effects tend to be generally the main factor in drug choice. Furthermore, the variables of each drug must be adjusted to the variables of each patient profile. The variables that must be taken into account for the correspondence between the drug and the patient are the following:
Regarding the patient, it will be taken into account:
Regarding the drug, it will be taken into account:
Tricyclic antidepressants: trade names
ADTs are named based on their active ingredient, however, they all have a trade name. Next, the active principle, the commercial name, the therapeutic dose and the different forms of administration of each drug will be presented for each drug.
Active ingredient: Amitriptyline
Active ingredient: Clomipramine
Active ingredient: Desipramine
Active ingredient: Doxepin
Active ingredient: Imipramine
Active ingredient: Trimipramine maleate
Active ingredient: Nortriptyline
Active ingredient: Imipramine Pamoate
Active ingredient: Protriptyline
Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants
Today ADTs are considered second or third choice drugs due to the difficulty in adjusting the time interval in which said medication is administered and determining the dose to be given, as well as its toxicity implications. In addition, although tricyclic antidepressants generally have a lower price than other antidepressants, their benefit-cost ratio is not so good, since it tends to be necessary to increase the number of consultations during treatment with this drug, more tests of laboratory than normal and it is estimated a greater intoxication due to overdose and a higher rate of interruption of its administration due to the side effects it generates.
The administration of ADT can have various side effects that can be grouped into four broad categories: anticholinergic, cardiovascular, central nervous system and others. The side effects of tricyclic antidepressants are as follows:
1. Anticholinergic side effects
2. Cardiovascular side effects
3. Side effects on the central nervous system
4. Other side effects
The most frequent being drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and difficulty in accommodating vision. It should be noted that alcohol consumption is contraindicated due to the strong potentiation of the drug that it entails.
In order to prevent side effects, it is very important to administer slowly and progressively. In addition, some of the side effects can be alleviated by reducing the administered dose.
Tricyclic antidepressants overdose
In an overdose of ADTs the person may present mental confusion, delusions and loss of consciousness. In addition, overdose of these drugs can cause death, causing a reduction in heart rate and arrhythmias that can put a person's life in danger.
Tricyclic antidepressant treatment discontinuation
To make a correct withdrawal of the drug or reduce its dose prudently, it should be done in a staggered manner, reducing 25 or 50 mg every 2 or 3 days, to avoid rebound symptoms of anticholinergic side effects that can occur if it is withdrawn abruptly.. The most common symptoms in abrupt withdrawal of tricyclic antidepressants are the following:
Therefore, it is very important not to make mistakes when taking antidepressants.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Tricyclic Antidepressants: what they are for, names and side effects, we recommend that you enter our category of Psychopharmaceuticals.
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