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Protriptyline Coupon - Protriptyline 10mg tablet

protriptyline

Generic Vivactil
Used for Depression

Protriptyline is used to treat depression. It's not as commonly used today as other newer antidepressants because it needs to be taken 3 to 4 times per day. In addition, it can cause many side effects including headache, blurry vision, restlessness, and stomach-upset.

Reviewed by:
reviewerRobert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
reviewerKristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on June 4, 2023
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What is Protriptyline?

What is Protriptyline used for?

  • Depression

How Protriptyline works

Protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The exact way it works is unknown. It thought to work by raising the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are important chemicals in your brain involved with regulating mood.

Drug facts

Common BrandsVivactil(brand no longer available)
Drug ClassTricyclic antidepressant
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Side effects of Protriptyline

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.

Common Side Effects

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headache
  • Dry mouth
  • Blurry vision
  • Restlessness and anxiety
  • Tremors, shakiness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Constipation
  • Change in taste
  • Trouble getting or maintaining an erection

Protriptyline serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
  • Heart attack: chest pain, cold sweats, left arm pain, difficulty breathing
  • Stroke: sudden numbness, weakness, confusion, or difficulty talking
  • Serious allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives, itching, fast heartbeat, tightness in the throat, dizziness, swelling in the face or tongue

Source: DailyMed

The following Protriptyline side effects have also been reported

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:

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach pain

agitation or irritability

blurred vision

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in urination

chest pain or discomfort

clay-colored stools

cold sweats

confusion about identity, place, and time

continuing ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noise in the ears

convulsions

cool, pale skin

difficulty with speaking

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

double vision

drooling

false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

feeling of warmth

feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there

feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior

feeling that others can hear your thoughts

fever with or without chills

hearing loss

hostility

hyperventilation

inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles

lack of coordination

lower back or side pain

mood or mental changes

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

muscle trembling or twitching

nightmares

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

panic

pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin

pounding in the ears

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

shakiness and unsteady walk

slurred speech

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stiffness of the limbs

stupor

sweating

swelling of face, ankles, or hands

swollen glands

talking, feeling, and acting with excitement

trouble sleeping

twisting movements of body uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back

unusual behavior

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

weight gain or loss

yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Change in consciousness

clumsiness

disorientation

disturbed concentration

drowsiness to profound coma

enlarged pupils

increased or excessive unconscious or jerking movements

low body temperature

muscle aches or tightness

muscle weakness

severe sleepiness

shivering

trouble breathing

weak or feeble pulse

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:

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramps

bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)

black tongue

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

enlargement or swelling of the breasts

hair loss or thinning of the hair

heartburn

hives or welts

increased in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

increased sensitivity of the eyes to light

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat

peculiar taste

severe sunburn

small red or purple spots on the skin

swelling of the testicles

swelling or inflammation of the mouth

swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands on side of the face or neck

unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts

waking to urinate at night

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.

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Pros and cons of Protriptyline

Pros

  • Can take with or without food
  • Taken by mouth
  • Available as a lower-cost generic

Cons

  • Needs to be taken multiple times a day
  • Should be used with caution in older adults, especially if there's a history of heart problems
  • Can cause withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking it
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Pharmacist tips for Protriptyline

pharmacist
  • You can take protriptyline with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
  • Protriptyline can take 1 to 2 months to work to treat your depression symptoms. You might feel side effects before feeling any benefit. It might take some time to find the dose that works best for you. Make sure to keep taking the medication unless your provider specifically told you to stop taking it.
  • Don't change your dose or stop taking protriptyline without talking to your provider first. Doing so can cause bothersome withdrawal symptoms like nausea, headache, and sleeping problems. Follow your provider's instructions to lower your dose slowly over a period of time to completely stop the medication.
  • Antidepressant medications like protriptyline can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts. Contact your provider right away if you or your loved ones notice any new or worsening changes in your behavior or mood while taking the medication.
  • Protriptyline can cause side effects, such as dizziness and blurry vision, especially when you first start this medication or when your dose is changed. Don't drive or do anything that requires concentration until you know how the medication affects you.
  • Protriptyline can cause your blood sugar to get too high or too low. If you have diabetes, you might need to check and record your blood sugar regularly while using the medication.
  • If you have an upcoming surgery, tell you're provider you're taking protriptyline. They might need to pause your treatment.
  • Make sure to tell your providers about all of the medications you're taking. Don't start any new medications without talking to your provider first. It's important for your providers to make sure all your medications are safe for you because protriptyline can interact with many medications. Some medications include sedatives, opioid pain medications, antihistamines, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These combinations with protriptyline can raise your risk of side effects.
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Common questions about Protriptyline

No, protriptyline is not FDA-approved for migraines. According to the 2021 migraine treatment guidelines by the American Headache Society, other tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline are recommended treatments for migraines. Some experts have looked at the use of [protriptyline for tension-headaches, but more research is needed to understand how well it works for migraines. Talk with your provider if you have questions about protriptyline and migraines.

While protriptyline is FDA-approved for treating depression, it's not commonly used today as much. It's an older medication that can affect many parts of your body and cause a lot of unpleasant side effects, like sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth, and changes in vision. It also has a risk of worsening difficulty urinating, glaucoma, or seizures. Newer antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs) tend to have more tolerable side effects; these medications are typically considered first before protriptyline for depression.

You might start to notice the benefits of protriptyline within one week of starting this medication. But it can take about 1 to 2 months for you to feel the maximum effects in treating depression. Keep in mind not everyone responds to medications in the same way. If you're not sure if protriptyline is working for you, talk to your provider. Don't stop taking protriptyline suddenly because doing so can cause withdrawal symptoms (e.g., movement, sleeping, or stomach problems). Let your provider know if your mood doesn't get better after a few weeks. They might need to adjust your dose or consider a different medication for you.

It's recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while taking because it can worsen tiredness and dizziness as well as worsen your depression symptoms.

Protriptyline hasn't been well-studied in human pregnancy, so it's not clear whether or not this medication is safe to take during pregnancy. talk with your provider about the risks and benefits of using protriptyline before starting this medication.

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Risks and warnings for Protriptyline

Protriptyline 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.

Worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, and unusual behavior

  • Risk factors: Age under 24 years old | History of depression or other mental health conditions

Black Box Warning Taking protriptyline can make your depression worse and cause you to have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself. The risk is highest if you're 24 years of age or younger, during the first few weeks of taking the medication, and when your dose changes. If you or anyone around you notice that you have suicidal thoughts or unusual behavior (e.g., anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, feeling angry or irritated, restlessness) while taking protriptyline, get medical help right away.

Not for use alone in bipolar disorder

Depression can be the first sign of bipolar disorder. If you're at risk for bipolar disorder, taking antidepressants like protriptyline by themselves can trigger a bipolar manic episode. Before starting protriptyline, your provider will check to see if you have or are at risk for bipolar disorder. Protriptyline isn't used to treat bipolar depression. Talk to your provider right away if you or your loved ones notice unusual changes in your behavior, such as racing thoughts, restlessness, getting easily distracted, or unusual talkativeness.

Higher risk of falls

  • Risk factors: Age 65 years or older | Low blood pressure | Taking medications that lower blood pressure | History of medical conditions that can lower blood pressure

Protriptyline can make you feel tired. It can also lower your blood pressure, which can make you feel dizzy or lose your balance. These can all lead to accidental falls. When standing from a sitting or lying position, make sure to get up slowly and hold onto something. If you still feel dizzy after a couple weeks or experience a fall while taking protriptyline, contact your provider. They might recommend that you switch to a different medication.

Risk of heart problems, heart attack, or stroke

  • Risk factors: History of heart problems | Taking high doses of protriptyline

Though rare, it's possible for protriptyline to affect your heart rhythm and cause a fast or irregular heart beat. In addition, some people taking medications like protriptyline have had a heart attack or stroke during treatment. If you have any heart problems or had a stroke before, talk to your provider before starting protriptyline to see if this medication is right for you.

Seizures

  • Risk factors: History of seizures | Taking high doses of protriptyline

Protriptyline might raise your risk of seizures, especially when used at higher doses. If you've had a seizure before, discuss with your provider to see if protriptyline is right for you.

Glaucoma

  • Risk factors: History of angle-closure glaucoma

Protriptyline can lead to or worsen angle-closure glaucoma. You might need to see your optometrist regularly and get eye exams to check your eyes and make sure your vision isn't worsening. Contact your provider if you notice changes in your vision after starting protriptyline.

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Protriptyline dosage

The average cost for 90 tablets of 10mg of Protriptyline is $128.10 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 75.15% off the average retail price of $515.47.
tabletTablet
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
10mg90 tablets$128.10$1.42
5mg90 tablets$134.41$1.49

Typical dosage for Protriptyline

  • The typical dose ranges from 15 mg to 40 mg by mouth per day, split into 3 or 4 doses throughout the day. The maximum dose is 60 mg per day.

Your dose might be lower if you're an older adult.

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Interactions between Protriptyline and other drugs

Protriptyline may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Protriptyline. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

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.

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How much does Protriptyline cost?

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Protriptyline contraindications

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 Protriptyline will not be safe for you to take.

  • Currently taking or have taken a MAOI within the last 14 days
  • Recent heart attack
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What are alternatives to Protriptyline?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Protriptyline. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Protriptyline
Used for:
  • Depression
$128.10Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
  • Depression
$4.00Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
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  • Bedwetting in children (imipramine hydrochloride only)
$7.38Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
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Protriptyline images

White Round 54 694 - Protriptyline Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
This medicine is White, Round Tablet Imprinted With "54 694".White Round 54 694 - Protriptyline Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
Yellow Round 7 And Logo - Protriptyline Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet
This medicine is Yellow, Round Tablet Imprinted With "Logo" And "7".Yellow Round 7 And Logo - Protriptyline Hydrochloride 10mg Tablet

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References

Best studies we found

Ailani, J., et al. (2021). The American Headache Society Consensus statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

Cohen, G. L. (2002). Protriptyline, chronic tension-type headaches, and weight loss in women. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

Garner, E. M., et al. (1993). Tricyclic antidepressant withdrawal syndrome. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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