What Is Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Used For?

Drug Information on Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline

How Does Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Work?

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline is a combination drug consisting of, as the name implies, chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline. Amitriptyline belongs to a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It is not entirely clear how it works. The drug does affect several chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. It is thought that perhaps amitriptyline allows these chemicals to stay in the brain longer, which can help with depression symptoms.

Chlordiazepoxide (the other component of the combination drug) is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:

Stopping seizures
Reducing anxiety
Causing sleepiness
Relaxing muscles
Impairing short-term memory.

All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dosage. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain, and this action helps to relieve the symptoms of anxiety.

Is Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Used in Children?

Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline is not approved to be used in children or adolescents. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children. As with all antidepressants, chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline may possibly increase the risk of suicide in children and adolescents.

Is Chlordiazepoxide and Amitriptyline Used for Off-Label Reasons?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline for treating a condition other than depression associated with anxiety. Currently, there are no universally accepted off-label uses for chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline.

Pages:

Previous 1 2