I have been taking Amitriptyline (20mg) on and off for several months to help me sleep but not recently. I started on Citalopram (20mg) a week ago and my sleep has been worse. Is it ok to take the Citalopram a.m. and Amitriptyline p.m. does anyone know?
Is is ok to take Citalopram and Amitriptyline?
Question posted by Delila on 23 March 2010
Last updated on 26 October 2016
Answers
Concerned63
12 April 2013
This combination of drugs is potentially lethal. Both drugs affect QT intervals and can be fatal in combination. If you're on this combination, go back to your doctor and if they say it's alright, go to a pharmacist where this combination should be red flagged as lethal on their computer. Do not be fobbed off by health care professionals. Refer them to 'Letter to GPs' re dosage of Citalopram of October 2011 which also warns against combining with the class of drugs to which amitriptyline belongs. My husband suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while he was on this combination of drugs.
I hope this helps
tdenice
27 Oct 2016
That's what I'm worried about. I am on so many medications, and afraid that the combinations are causing other aliments. For over 6 months now i have suffered from serve headaches which starts in the back of my neck across the top of my head and behind my rt eye. With that i have tingling numbing feeling in my face. I have been on 40 mg of celexa for years and yesterday my pcp placed me on 10 mg of elavil. I am also on Risperdal and two HBP medications
bnagoh
25 June 2010
I dont see any serious problems with them, I take amytriptiline and it has helped me to sleep greatly.But since you are having problems you must see your Doctor as soon as possible. If you look in the very helpful list up above in the blue part Drugs A to Z it says that you again must see your Doctor. It sounds like you may just need a dosage adjustment or stop one. Talk to your Doctor and tell him what you wrote down here. Be very specific and describe all the symptoms, if your Doctor rushes you tell him to stop and LISTEN! Or get Another Doctor that will listen. You are important. You must think that way to survive. I Know I am repeating myself but I had a long fight with myself and medical people especially in the last 5 years due to a car accident not my fault but that doesn't matter one whit now cause now I am permanently disabled. I get to look forward to excruciating pain for the rest of my life and if You take control now and fight that hard but good fight for yourself and find a Doctor that will LISTEN if this one seems to rush you. But yes if he takes the time listens to all your complaints he should have the answer for the right combo of meds or none if you do not need them. I am sorry for being a little talkative and repeating myself but Doctors are for making us better not worse.
Delila
27 June 2010
Thank you i appreciate your response! I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you are doing OK? I am now on 40mg Citalopram and i've asked my Dr for more sleeping tablets (she previously prescribed me Zopiclone), but she refuses to give me more due to a concern of addiction. I would happily take the Amitryptyline I have if i was sure it was relatively safe? Do you know?
bnagoh
28 June 2010
I am Taking a few things but I am on amitripyline 10 mgs a night and I notice a nice difference. I dont care about addiction anymore. In pain management they stress dependancy not addiction. I mean why suffer if there is something to help... Thank you for your kind answer and the best you also B
bnagoh
28 June 2010
I am Taking a few things but I am on amitripyline 10 mgs a night and I notice a nice difference. It is very subtle. I dont care about addiction anymore. In pain management they stress dependancy not addiction. I mean why suffer if there is something to help... Thank you for your kind answer and the best to you also B
babyfrank
30 Aug 2012
ive been on citalopram 10 mg (anti-depressant) once in the am and zolpidem 10 mg at night (for sleep), they work ok together. however i went to a new doctor for another reason this wk and had to report what i was on and he up and changed my zolipem to amitruptylin 25 mg, i started taking it last nt and didnt sleep at all, even took me forever to fall asleep. I know they say medicines take awhile to work, but who can go with out sleep like that for even one night. I woke up at 330am wide awake so i took my zolpidem to get me back to sleep. Should i keep doing what i was already doing or try the new one the doctor gave me. I really dont know why he changed me, other than he dont prescribe a control substance.
Delila
31 Aug 2012
Hi, i would guess that your doctor has changed your prescription because the Zolpidem can be habit forming, and is worried about addiction. Since posting this question i have been on Amitriptyline continuously and they are so helpful in getting me to sleep. I went up to 50mg and combined with Seroquel (which i take for BPD) i sleep so much better than i used to. I have managed to reduce the Amitriptyline recently and still sleep well. I know how frustrating it is to not be able to sleep! Even for one night, as you said. But give the Amitriptyline a go, they won't work instantly but they have the potential to be your new best friend! Make sure your bedroom is dark and sound proof, don't drink caffeine after mid afternoon, take your night medication an hour before sleep and try to read before falling asleep. Make sure you are not too hot. All these things will help. Good luck : )
ampike
10 Jan 2013
i take 50mgs of amytriptiline and 20mg of citalopram. i usd to be on 25mg amy and 40mg of cit. my doc says its fine. as i take my cit on a morning and my amy at night time. but i would go back to docs and ask again it maybe just a bit of adjustment of your doses. hope this helps.
Related topics
depression, insomnia, sleep disorders, amitriptyline, citalopram, withdrawal, addiction, sleep, anxiety and stress
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