Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Tricyclic Antidepressants: Indications, Side Effects & Cautions

    Uploaded by

    Student
    11 views1 page
    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like amitriptyline and imipramine are used to treat depression, enuresis, OCD, panic disorder, chronic pain, and hypochondriasis with an affective component. They work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and sometimes dopamine. Common side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, and tachycardia due to anticholinergic, adrenergic, and antihistaminergic effects. While TCAs are well-established and inexpensive, they also carry risks of toxicity in overdose and interacting dangerously with MAOIs to cause serotonin syndrome

    Original Description:

    notes

    Original Title

    Tricyclic Antidepressants

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like amitriptyline and imipramine are used to treat depression, enuresis, OCD, panic disorder, chronic pain, and hypochondriasis with an affective component. They work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and sometimes dopamine. Common side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, and tachycardia due to anticholinergic, adrenergic, and antihistaminergic effects. While TCAs are well-established and inexpensive, they also carry risks of toxicity in overdose and interacting dangerously with MAOIs to cause serotonin syndrome

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    11 views1 page

    Tricyclic Antidepressants: Indications, Side Effects & Cautions

    Uploaded by

    Student
    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) like amitriptyline and imipramine are used to treat depression, enuresis, OCD, panic disorder, chronic pain, and hypochondriasis with an affective component. They work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and sometimes dopamine. Common side effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, and tachycardia due to anticholinergic, adrenergic, and antihistaminergic effects. While TCAs are well-established and inexpensive, they also carry risks of toxicity in overdose and interacting dangerously with MAOIs to cause serotonin syndrome

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 1

    Dr Diane Mullins, RCSI Tutor in Psychiatry, St Itas Hospital, Portrane

    Indications for and side effects of tricyclic antidepressants


    Examples
    Amitriptyline
    Imipramine
    Clomipramine
    Nortriptyline
    Dothiepin
    Lofepramine

    Indications
    Depression
    TCAs generally take 3-4 weeks before the onset of desirable effects
    Use for at least 6-9 months for first episode depression or 2 years for recurrent
    depression
    Acute treatment of depression: 55-70% response rate
    Enuresis (Imipramine)
    OCD (Clomipramine)
    Panic disorder (Imipramine)
    Chronic pain (Amitriptyline)
    Hypochondriasis with affective component

    Common mode of action and side effects


    Serotonin/noradrenaline (and dopamine) reuptake inhibition antidepressant
    effect
    Anticholinergic (antimuscarinic-M1) dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation,
    urinary retention, drowsiness, confusion/memory problem (particularly in the
    elderly), palpitations/tachycardia
    Adrenergic antagonism (1) drowsiness, postural hypotension, tachycardia,
    sexual dysfunction
    5HT2 antagonism anxiolytic, sexual dysfunction, impotence, anorgasmia,
    delayed ejaculation, drowsiness/sedation
    Antihistaminergic (H1) drowsiness/sedation, weight gain

    Advantages
    Well-established efficacy
    Low cost

    Disadvantages
    Toxicity in overdose
    May be less well tolerated that SSRIs
    All TCAs may slow cardiac conduction and lower seizure threshold

    Cautions
    People with thoughts of suicide
    Cardiovascular, liver, renal disease, endocrine disorders
    Urinary retention/prostatic hypertrophy
    Glaucoma
    Epilepsy

    Problematic interaction
    With MAOIsserotonin syndrome

    You might also like