Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline is a combination medication containing chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline. It treats depression related to anxiety, but it's not a first-choice treatment option.
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline is a combination of two medications that affect your mood.
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Combining chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline with certain pain medications called opioids can cause a life-threatening interaction that may cause you to be extremely sleepy or stop breathing. It's very important not to combine chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline with opioids unless you're under close supervision of a healthcare provider. Get emergency help if you feel like you are having trouble breathing or can't wake up very easily after taking chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline. Educate those around you to keep an eye out for these side effects as well.
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline is a controlled medication because there's a high risk for abuse and misuse. Your body can also become dependent on the medication, even if you're taking it exactly as directed. Taking chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline short term can lower these risks. If you have been taking it for a long time, talk to your provider before stopping. Stopping the medication suddenly can lead to serious medical problems, including seizures.
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Watch for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment or when your dose changes. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you notice any unusual changes in your mood or behavior while taking this medication.
Sometimes depression can be the first sign of bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline doesn't treat bipolar and can cause a manic phase. Your provider will screen you for bipolar disorder before starting chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline. Let them know your full medical history and if anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder.
Many antidepressants, including chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline, can cause eye-related side effects. This can cause eye pain in people who have underlying conditions, such as glaucoma. Let your provider know if you have a history of eye problems and if the medication starts causing vision changes or discomfort.
Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline contains a tricyclic antidepressant, which can cause heart problems, including irregular heart rhythms, heart attack, or stroke. It's more likely to happen if you take higher doses of chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline and if you have a history of heart conditions.
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Blurred vision or other changes in vision
confusion
difficulty in urinating
dizziness or lightheadedness
fainting
irregular heartbeat
irritability
mental depression
nervousness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
shakiness
talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
trouble in sleeping
Incidence not known
Actions that are out of control
chest pain or discomfort
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
false or unusual sense of well-being
fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
inability to have or keep an erection
increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased interest in sexual intercourse
increased sensitivity to sunlight
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back or neck
redness or other discoloration of skin
severe sunburn
shakiness and unsteady walk
skin rash
sore throat and fever
sweating
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in males
swelling of the testicles
swelling or inflammation of the mouth
unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts
unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Disorientation
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
headache
loss of consciousness
mood or other mental changes
seizures
trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
You can start to feel the effects of chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline within the first week of starting the medication. Mood symptoms that usually get better first include insomnia (trouble sleeping), feeling guilty or worthless, anxiety, and anorexia (loss of appetite).
Yes, chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline contains chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine that can be addictive. This is one of the reasons why chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline isn't a first-choice treatment option.
Avoid alcohol while you're taking chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline. The combination can make you very tired and has the potential to cause serious breathing problems, which can be fatal.
No, chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline isn't a sleeping pill. It can help you sleep if your insomnia is caused by your anxiety and depression. However, if you're looking for a sleeping medication, there might be better options.
Weight gain isn't common with chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline. Still, some people experience weight gain or weight loss with medications that work like amitriptyline. So weight gain might be possible.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Chlordiazepoxide/amitriptyline will not be safe for you to take.