Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide

Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide is a combination prescription medications used to treat moderate to severe depression and anxiety. 

• Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide are available under various brand names: Limbitrol, Limbitrol DS

Common side effects of Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• constipation,
• bloating.

Serious side effects of Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• slow or paused breathing,
• mood or behavior changes, 
• anxiety, 
• panic attacks, 
• trouble sleeping,
• feel impulsive, 
• irritable, 
• agitated, 
• hostile, 
• aggressive, 
• restless, 
• hyperactive (mentally or physically),
• thoughts about suicide or hurting oneself,
• severe constipation;
• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder;
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in the chest;
• a light-headed feeling; or
• little or no urination.

Rare side effects of Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Tablet: Schedule IV

• 5 mg/12.5 mg
• 10 mg/25 mg

Depression with Anxiety

Adult and geriatric dosage

• 1 tablet (5-10 mg Chlordiazepoxide/12.5-25 mg amitriptyline) orally three/four times daily; may increase to 6 tablets if necessary; 2 tablets reported to be effective in some patients.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide have severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • disopyramide
  • dronedarone
  • ibutilide
  • indapamide
  • iobenguane I 123
  • isocarboxazid
  • pentamidine
  • phenelzine
  • pimozide
  • procainamide
  • procarbazine
  • quinidine
  • safinamide
  • selegiline
  • sotalol
  • tranylcypromine
• Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide have serious interactions with at least 148 other  drugs.
• Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide have moderate interactions with at least 476 other drugs.
• Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide have minor interactions with at least 121 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the rxlist Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• allergic reaction to amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide
• if you recently had a heart attack;
• if you are allergic to any antidepressant like amitriptyline (clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trimipramine); or
• if you are allergic to Valium or other medicines like Chlordiazepoxide (alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, triazolam, Xanax, Ativan, Tranxene, and others).

Effects of drug abuse

• Addiction, 
• Overdose, or
• Death

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide?”

Cautions

• This medicine can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing.
• MISUSE OF AMITRIPTYLINE AND Chlordiazepoxide CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
• You should not use this medicine if you have recently had a heart attack, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days (such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine).
• Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor..
• Do not use amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
• Tell your doctor if you have used an "SSRI" antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone..

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide may harm an unborn baby. Avoid taking this medicine during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• If you use amitriptyline and Chlordiazepoxide while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks.
• Lactation
  • It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.