Pharmacologic Substance
amitriptyline Audio
am·i·trip·ty·line [ am-i-trip-tuh-leen, -lahyn, -lin ]
Brand Names:
Elavil; Limbitrol
Effect:
Decreased Serotonin Degradation; Increased Central Nervous System Norepinephrine Activity
May Treat:
Depressive Disorder; Pain
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; DrugInfo; PDR
Definitions related to amitriptyline:
  • A derivative of dibenzocycloheptadiene and a tricyclic antidepressant. Amitriptyline inhibits the re-uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin by the presynaptic neuronal membrane in the central nervous system (CNS), thereby increasing the synaptic concentration of norepinephrine and serotonin. Due to constant stimulation to these receptors, amitriptyline may produce a downregulation of adrenergic and serotonin receptors, which may contribute to the antidepressant activity.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A drug that is used to treat depression and may be given to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and pain. It is also being studied in an oral or gel form in the treatment of nerve pain caused by chemotherapy. Amitriptyline is a type of tricyclic antidepressant.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Tricyclic antidepressant with anticholinergic and sedative properties. It appears to prevent the re-uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin at nerve terminals, thus potentiating the action of these neurotransmitters. Amitriptyline also appears to antagonize cholinergic and alpha-1 adrenergic responses to bioactive amines.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.