Recreational amitriptyline abuse

Abstract

Amitriptyline is a potent anticholinergics, rarely used as a drug of abuse. Two cases of amitriptyline dependency lasting for almost twelve months were described. According to the patients the abuse with amitriptyline guarantee them safety not to be uncovered by parents and doctors who systematically checked their urine with typical narcotic tests.

Case report: Two patients with a history of abuse with amphetamine and clonazepam were admitted to the Clinic because of intoxication with amitriptyline. They denied the suicidal attempt and explained that they used amitriptyline in a dosage of 100 to 200 mg per day as a drug of abuse. On the day of admission one of the patients had increased the dosage up to 600 mg which caused an acute intoxication.

Conclusion: Antidepressants should be treated as a drugs with possible abuse ability.