TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Summary Screen

What are Tricyclics?

Tricyclic antidepressants are a group of medicines used to treat depression, and some other illnesses. They include amitriptyline (Lentizol, Tryptizol), amoxapine (Asendis), clomipramine (Anafranil), dothiepin (Prothiaden), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), lofepramine (Gamanil), nortriptyline (Allegron), protryptyline (Concordin), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Most of them have been available for many years.

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Their effects

Tricyclics treat depression as well as another group of antidepressants, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They also work as well as the psychological treatment cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).

Each of these treatments has an improvement rate of 50-60%.

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Their side-effects

Common side-effects include blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth. These side-effects generally subside over days or weeks. Tricyclics are slightly less well tolerated overall than SSRIs. Patients may suffer from withdrawal side-effects if they suddenly stop taking tricyclics.

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Important notes

  • Tricyclics are highly dangerous in overdose.
  • Tricyclics should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or some other medicines, or with alcohol.
  • Tricyclics are not addictive.