Amitriptyline — Nutrient Depletion & Health Patterns

Also known as: Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)

Drug Class: Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)

Tricyclic antidepressant used for depression, chronic pain, migraine prevention, fibromyalgia, IBS, insomnia, and neuropathic pain. At low doses (10–50mg), primarily used for pain and sleep. At therapeutic antidepressant doses (75–150mg), treats major depression. One of the most prescribed medications for chronic pain conditions despite being an older drug class.

Nutrients That Amitriptyline May Deplete

Long-term use of Amitriptyline is associated with lower levels of the following nutrients based on peer-reviewed clinical research. WePattern surfaces these patterns from its clinical Knowledge Graph.

CoQ10
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B12
Melatonin
Magnesium
Vitamin B6

Common Side Effects of Amitriptyline

Drowsiness (used therapeutically at low doses for sleep)
Dry mouth
Constipation
Urinary retention
Blurred vision
Weight gain
Orthostatic hypotension (dizziness on standing — fall risk)
Heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation — cardiac risk at high doses)

Key Drug Interactions — Amitriptyline

Amitriptyline has 9 documented drug-drug interactions in WePattern's Pattern Health Intelligence database. Key interactions include:

MAOIs (potentially fatal — 14-day washout required)
Other serotonergic drugs (serotonin syndrome)
CNS depressants and alcohol (additive sedation)
Anticholinergic drugs (additive dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, confusion)
Blood pressure medications (additive hypotension)
Antihistamines (additive sedation and anticholinergic effects)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Amitriptyline deplete nutrients?

Yes. Amitriptyline has been associated with depletion of CoQ10, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B12, Melatonin, Magnesium, Vitamin B6 based on clinical research. WePattern maps these relationships from peer-reviewed sources.

What nutrients does Amitriptyline deplete?

Amitriptyline is associated with lower levels of: CoQ10, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B12, Melatonin, Magnesium, Vitamin B6. These depletions can develop over weeks to months of regular use.

What are the side effects of Amitriptyline?

Common side effects associated with Amitriptyline include: Drowsiness (used therapeutically at low doses for sleep); Dry mouth; Constipation; Urinary retention; Blurred vision.