This is a less common but serious side effect of the widely-prescribed drug taken by millions of Brits see more...
Additional serious side effects requiring a call to 111 include if:
- Your heartbeat becomes fast or irregular
- You have constant headaches, you feel sick (nausea) and weak, and you get frequent muscle cramps – together, these can be a sign of low sodium levels in your blood. In severe cases low sodium levels can lead to a fit or seizure
- You have constipation that lasts a long time, a swollen stomach, a high temperature and you're being sick (vomiting) – these can be signs of intestine problems
- You have problems peeing which are causing stomach ache, or you cannot pee at all
- You have a high temperature with shivering or chills and sore throat that lasts a long time, or you're bleeding or bruising more easily than usual – these can be signs that the medicine has affected your blood or bone marrow
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Common side effects
The NHS states: "Some of the common side effects of amitriptyline will gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.
"These common side effects happen in more than one in 100 people." These include:
- Constipation
- Feeling dizzy
- Dry mouth
- Feeling sleepy
- Difficulty peeing
- Headaches
The NHS advises: "Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away."
