Why is this medication prescribed?
Protriptyline is used to treat depression. Protriptyline is in a class of medications
called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural
substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance.
How should this medicine be used?
Protriptyline comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken three or four times
a day. Take protriptyline at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on
your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any
part you do not understand. Take protriptyline exactly as directed. Do not take more
or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of protriptyline and gradually
increase your dose. Your doctor may decrease your dose after your condition is
controlled.
Protriptyline controls depression but does not cure it. Continue to take protriptyline
even if you feel well. Do not stop taking protriptyline without talking to your doctor.
If you suddenly stop taking protriptyline, you may experience withdrawal symptoms
such as nausea, headache, and lack of energy.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for
more information.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking protriptyline,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to protriptyline or any other medications.
tell your doctor if you are taking cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.) or
monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan); phenelzine (Nardil),
selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have taken an MAO
inhibitor during the past 14 days. Your doctor will probably tell you that you should not take
protriptyline.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications,
vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to
mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); antihistamines; bupropion
(Wellbutrin); celecoxib (Celebrex); cimetidine (Tagamet); doxorubicin (Adriamycin); guanethidine
(Ismelin); ipratropium (Atrovent); medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, diabetes, irritable bowel
disease, mental illness, motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems;
medications for irregular heartbeat such as flecainide (Tambocor), moricizine (Ethmozine), and
propafenone (Rythmol); methadone (Dolophine); metoclopramide (Reglan); other
antidepressants; quinidine; ranitidine (Zantac); reserpine (Serpasil); ritonavir (Norvir); selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem),
fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); sedatives; sleeping pills; terbinafine
(Lamisil); thyroid medications; tramadol (Ultram); and tranquilizers. Tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you have stopped taking fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) in the past 5 weeks. Your doctor may need
to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack. Your doctor will probably tell you not
to take protriptyline.
tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol; if you are undergoing electroshock
therapy (procedure in which small electric shocks are administered to the brain to treat certain
mental illnesses); or if you have or have ever had an enlarged prostate (a male reproductive
organ), difficulty urinating, mental illness, seizures, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland),
or diabetes.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you
become pregnant while taking protriptyline, call your doctor.
talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking protriptyline if you are 65 years of
age or older. Older adults should not usually take protriptyline because it is not as safe or effective
as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are
taking protriptyline.
you should know that protriptyline may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate
machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing,
sunglasses, and sunscreen. Protriptyline may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
you should know that protriptyline may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when
you get up too quickly from a lying position. This is more common when you first start taking
protriptyline. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few
minutes before standing up.
you should know that protriptyline may cause angle-closure glaucoma (a condition where the
fluid is suddenly blocked and unable to flow out of the eye causing a quick, severe increase in eye
pressure which may lead to a loss of vision). Talk to your doctor about having an eye examination
before you start taking this medication. If you have nausea, eye pain, changes in vision, such as
seeing colored rings around lights, and swelling or redness in or around the eye, call your doctor
or get emergency medical treatment right away.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the
next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not
take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Protriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of
these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
loss of appetite
weight changes
unusual taste in the mouth
stomach pain or cramps
heartburn
dry mouth
constipation
drowsiness
dizziness
nightmares
headaches
frequent urination, especially at night
difficulty urinating
wide pupils
changes in sex drive or ability
breast enlargement in men and women
unsteadiness
ringing in ears
hair loss
flushing
sweating
black tongue
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the
following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately:
slow or difficult speech
weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
crushing chest pain
rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
rash or hives
itching
swelling of the face or tongue
yellowing of the skin or eyes
jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
fainting
difficulty walking
unusual bleeding or bruising
seizures
confusion
hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
believing things that are not true
fever
pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
Protriptyline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual
problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the
Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program
online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
What should I know about storage and disposal of this
medication?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of
children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in
the bathroom).
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many
containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and
inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect
young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the
medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and
reach. http://www.upandaway.org
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets,
children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this
medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is
through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local
garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community.
See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more
information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is
also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed,
had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call
emergency services at 911.
Symptoms of overdose may include the following:
irregular heartbeat
loss of consciousness
fainting
seizures
confusion
problems concentrating
hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
agitation
drowsiness
stiff muscles
vomiting
fever
cold body temperature
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you
have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and
nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products
such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list
with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also
important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
