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 | Can I drink alcohol while taking a tricyclic antidepressant? |
|  Amitriptyline (brand name Elavil), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor) are medicines called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). In general, it's recommended that you avoid alcohol while taking TCAs. Drinking alcohol while taking a TCA can increase the chance or severity of side effects such as drowsiness, slow reflexes, and clouded judgment. This can be dangerous when driving a car or operating other machinery.Additionally, if If you are taking one of these medicines for depression, keep in mind that alcohol alone can may make you feel depressed. In this way, alcohol can interfere with the actions of your TCA to treat depression. Sources: Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.Hansten, P.D., J.R. Horn. Drug Interactions Analysis and Management, Applied Therapeutics, 2001. Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.Medline Plus. Medline, 2007.This answer prepared 1/17/2001.This information updated 1/10/2007. |
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