What Is Amitriptyline?

Amitriptyline is a prescription antidepressant that belongs to a category known as tricyclic antidepressants. First developed in the 1960s, this medicine is used to treat major depression, and it is also prescribed in low doses to manage conditions that cause chronic pain. Amitriptyline can be taken as a tablet or liquid. It is normally taken daily, and doctors often recommend patients take it in the early evening hours or one to two hours before bedtime to reduce the potential side effect of morning sleepiness.