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Is It Safe To Take Sertraline And Amitriptyline For Severe GAD And Depression?

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Posted on Sat, 28 Dec 2013
Question: I suffer with depression and severe GAD. Three months ago, I was prescribed Sertraline, 25mg 2x daily (I take both before bed)...Lately...I've been much more aggressive/agitated and the sertraline is no longer having a therapeutic affect and I've been having to take my prescribed benzodiazepines (Valium) daily. Today, I went to see a nurse practitioner, she prescribed me Amitriptyline, 50 MG. I've heard that mixing these two can be XXXXXXX How to I transition safely from the Sertraline to the Amitriptyline?
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Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (3 hours later)
Brief Answer: Please, be very cautious using both. Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. Using these two drugs together increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. This is a condition which manifests with sedation, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention) and/or excessive serotonergic activity (e.g., CNS irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, myoclonus, ataxia, abdominal cramping, hyperpyrexia, shivering, pupillary dilation, diaphoresis, hypertension, and tachycardia, etc. When ever this combination is used, the blood levels of amytriptylline need to be monitored closely to make sure they stay in the intended therapeutic range. It would be of prime importance that you get your doctor on board so that this can be monitored closely. I will not advice that you stop the sertraline entirely for a while before bringing amytryptiline on board because it will actually mean you are going without medication. This would be bad for your over all health. Rather, monitoring the levels and symptoms of this toxicity would be better than stopping all together. I hope you find this helpful. Thank you for using our services and please do feel free to ask for clarifications if need be. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Is It Safe To Take Sertraline And Amitriptyline For Severe GAD And Depression?

Brief Answer: Please, be very cautious using both. Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. Using these two drugs together increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. This is a condition which manifests with sedation, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention) and/or excessive serotonergic activity (e.g., CNS irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, myoclonus, ataxia, abdominal cramping, hyperpyrexia, shivering, pupillary dilation, diaphoresis, hypertension, and tachycardia, etc. When ever this combination is used, the blood levels of amytriptylline need to be monitored closely to make sure they stay in the intended therapeutic range. It would be of prime importance that you get your doctor on board so that this can be monitored closely. I will not advice that you stop the sertraline entirely for a while before bringing amytryptiline on board because it will actually mean you are going without medication. This would be bad for your over all health. Rather, monitoring the levels and symptoms of this toxicity would be better than stopping all together. I hope you find this helpful. Thank you for using our services and please do feel free to ask for clarifications if need be. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD