Adverse drug reaction of the month
Hypersensitivity syndrome caused by amitriptyline administration
Haralampos J Milionis, Antigone Skopelitou, Moses S Elisaf
Department of
Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, GR 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
Correspondence to: Dr Elisaf (e-mail: melisaf{at}cc.uoi.gr)
Submitted 14 June 1999;
Accepted 8 October 1999
Adverse cutaneous manifestations are among the most common side
effects associated with psychotropic drugs. Skin reactions due to
amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant agent) include rashes and
hypersensitivity reactions (for example, urticaria and
photosensitivity) as well as hyperpigmentation. Hypersensitivity syndrome is a specific severe idiosyncratic reaction causing skin, liver, joint, and haematological abnormalities, which usually resolve
after the discontinuation of the implicated drug. A case of a 24 year
old woman who experienced hypersensitivity syndrome three weeks after
the initiation of amitriptyline is reported.
Keywords: tricyclic antidepressant drugs; amitriptyline; adverse cutaneous reactions; hypersensitivity syndrome
© 2000 by The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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