Chlordiazepoxide/Amitriptyline (By mouth)
klor-dye-az-e-POX-ide, am-i-TRIP-ti-leen hye-droe-KLOR-ide
Treats depression that is associated with anxiety. This medicine is a combination of a benzodiazepine and a tricyclic antidepressant.
Drug classes
Tricyclic Antidepressant/Benzodiazepine Combination (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline combination is used to treat mental depression that occurs with anxiety or nervous tension.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
This medicine can be habit-forming. You should not use more than the prescribed amount or for a longer time than your doctor has ordered.
Drink extra fluids so you will urinate more often and help prevent kidney problems.
If a dose is missed:
Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are using cimetidine (Tagamet®), guanethidine (Ismelin®), medicine for a heart rhythm problem (such as quinidine, flecainide, propafenone, Quinaglute®, Tambocor®, or Rythmol®), a phenothiazine medicine (such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine, thioridazine, Compazine®, Mellaril®, Phenergan®, or Thorazine®), or other medicines to treat depression (such as fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, Prozac®, Zoloft®, or Paxil®).
Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to chlordiazepoxide, amitriptyline, a benzodiazepine (such as Xanax®, Klonopin®, Tranxene®, Serax®, or Ativan®), or a tricyclic antidepressant (such as Elavil®, Sinequan®, or Tofranil®). You should not use this medicine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (such as Nardil®, Marplan®, Parnate®, or Eldepryl®) within the past 14 days. You should also not take this medicine if you have just had a heart attack.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, difficulty with urination, seizure disorders, an overactive thyroid, liver disease, kidney disease, or heart disease.
For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor or your child’s doctor right away if you or your child start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourselves. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you or your child, especially if they are new or are getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you or your child have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you or your child have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you, your child, or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have surgery or medical tests.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, or mood or mental changes.
Change in how much or how often you urinate, or problems with urination.
Changes in behavior, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
Chest pain or shortness of breath.
Extreme tiredness, or difficulty standing.
Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat.
Lightheadedness or fainting.
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
Numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body.
Severe confusion, or seeing or hearing things that are not there.
Sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, balance, or walking.
Trouble sleeping or unusual dreams.
Twitching, spasm, or muscle movements you cannot control.
Unusual bleeding or bruising.
Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Breast swelling or discharge in women.
Changes in menstrual periods.
Changes in vision.
Dizziness or drowsiness.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach.
Problems having sex.
Stuffy or runny nose.
Swelling of the breast or testicles in men.
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Limbitrol, Limbitrol DS
There may be other brand names for this medicine.