Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Amitriptyline

“ AMI but not FEMO increased the objective and subjective effects of EtOH.”

“ Amitriptyline and ethanol showed marked sedative effects, and the results suggest that these two effects may be additive.”

“The combination of amitriptyline and ethanol results in a particularly marked increase in body sway.”

“ Amitriptyline impaired short-term memory span and acquisition, and alcohol enhanced these effects.”

“ Amitriptyline in combination with alcohol increased cumulative choice reaction times, and doxepin in combination with alcohol increased both cumulative choice reaction times and inaccuracy of reactions.”

“It seems as if doxepin and amitriptyline but not nortriptyline or chlorimipramine, in combination with 0.5 gm/kg of alcohol , may be especially dangerous in driving.”

“position in a floor-level cupboard with a depressed level of consciousness after ingesting an overdose of amitriptyline and alcohol the night before.”

“ Ethanol increases free amitriptyline plasma concentrations most dramatically during the period of drug absorption; this is due to a decrease in amitriptyline hepatic clearance, resulting in decreased first-pass extraction.”

“In the presence of ethanol, amitriptyline free plasma concentrations were increased by a logarithmic mean of 204%, 186% and 127% at 1.5, 2, and 2.5 h, respectively, and amitriptyline free AUC0–8h was increased by 48%±13% ( $$\bar x$$ ± SEM) (t=5.21,p<0.01).”

“It has been shown, for example, that in fatal poisonings involving dextropropoxyphene, amitriptyline , pentobarbitone or chlormethiazole, the presence of ethanol causes a decrease in the concentration of the drug at which a given proportion of fatalities”

“Analyses revealed significant effects of amitriptyline and ethanol on the motor reflex and pursuit rotor but not for depth perception tests, and the effects of ethanol appeared to be potentiated by amitriptyline on the pursuit rotor test; this was not true for amoxapine.”

“ Amitriptyline (20 mg/kg) was found to increase ethanol plasma levels to 202, 167 and 132% of control values at 30, 60 and 90 min after ethanol administration, respectively.”

“ Amitriptyline (60 mg/kg) caused death in all mice when combined with 4.0 g/kg ethanol.”

“These findings suggest that in addition to their sedative effect, several antidepressants, particularly amitriptyline , are likely to interact with ethanol by increasing its concentration in plasma.”

“ Amitriptyline significantly inhibited alcohol , aspirin, indomethacin and cold‐restraint stress‐induced ulceration.”