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Tricyclic Antidepressants

Also called: TCAs

- Summary
- About tricyclic antidepressants
- Types and differences
- Conditions treated
- Conditions of concern
- Potential side effects
- Drug or other interactions
- Lifestyle considerations
- Pregnancy use issues
- Symptoms of overdose
- Child use issues
- Elderly use issues
- Questions for your doctor

Reviewed By:
Steven A. King, M.D.
Tahir Tellioglu, M.D., APA, AAAP

Summary

Tricyclic antidepressants are a type of medication chiefly used to treat clinical depression. However, they may also be used to treat other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bedwetting (enuresis) and some chronic pain conditions.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, tricyclic antidepressants were the first choice of medications used to treat depression. However, they can have significant side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)  and may cause life-threatening consequences including hallucinations, seizures and coma, when taken in high dosage levels. As a result, many physicians prescribe alternative antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that are less likely to trigger such undesirable effects. Today, tricyclics are most often used in individuals who have failed to respond to other types of antidepressants.

Certain medications, such as central nervous system (CNS) depressants, may interact poorly with tricyclic antidepressants. Patients with certain conditions (e.g., heart disease) may not be good candidates for using tricyclic antidepressants. In addition, pregnant women, children and the elderly must use extra caution when taking tricyclic antidepressants.

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Review Date: 04-18-2007
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