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Is There A Risk In Takeing Fluoxetine And Amytriptyline Together?

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Posted on Mon, 10 Feb 2014
Question: I have been taking fluoxetine 40 mg and amytriptyline 20mg daily for about 25 years. I recently had to change PCP's and the new one says that it is not recommended to prescribe the two of them together. I have Major Depressive disorder and must take the medicine long term. I have fibromyalgia and the small dose of amytriptyline was prescribed for that. I have now run out of my amytriptyline and I have pain just about everywhere, neck, legs, back, shoulders. I need the amytriptyline. What is the danger of taking them along with fluoxetine? I am unwilling to use narcotics for the pain and the amytriptyline worked better than anything ever tried for me. Thank you.
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Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Risk of serotonin syndrome! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about these difficulties with you medications and the present pains that you are now experiencing. The danger of taking this two drugs together is the fear of serotonin syndrome which manifest with altered consciousness, confusion, poor muscle coordination, abdominal cramping, shivering, dilation of the pupils, sweating, high blood pressure, and increased heart beat. This is simply a case where too much excitatory hormones are secreted that up everything in the body. Though it is a possible occurrence, your experience over 25years taking both together has not revealed any similar symptoms. Because of the great help you have had over the years with no problems, the recurrence of symptoms related to your fibromyalgia after discontinuation, I will actually suggest that you doctor consider to get this medication going again.You should be educated on the possible risk of these symptoms so that you can become more observant and spot it early for appropriate management if something like this should ever happen. I will suggest that you talk with your doctor again.I can only offer my advice but not make the final decision. I honestly hope he would consider getting you on this drug again or looking for a substitute that would would just as well or even better than this drug to keep you going. Have an honest discussion and see what the final decision comes down to. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information if need be. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, D.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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Is There A Risk In Takeing Fluoxetine And Amytriptyline Together?

Brief Answer: Risk of serotonin syndrome! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about these difficulties with you medications and the present pains that you are now experiencing. The danger of taking this two drugs together is the fear of serotonin syndrome which manifest with altered consciousness, confusion, poor muscle coordination, abdominal cramping, shivering, dilation of the pupils, sweating, high blood pressure, and increased heart beat. This is simply a case where too much excitatory hormones are secreted that up everything in the body. Though it is a possible occurrence, your experience over 25years taking both together has not revealed any similar symptoms. Because of the great help you have had over the years with no problems, the recurrence of symptoms related to your fibromyalgia after discontinuation, I will actually suggest that you doctor consider to get this medication going again.You should be educated on the possible risk of these symptoms so that you can become more observant and spot it early for appropriate management if something like this should ever happen. I will suggest that you talk with your doctor again.I can only offer my advice but not make the final decision. I honestly hope he would consider getting you on this drug again or looking for a substitute that would would just as well or even better than this drug to keep you going. Have an honest discussion and see what the final decision comes down to. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information if need be. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, D.