rss
Postgrad Med J 2000;76:361-363 doi:10.1136/pmj.76.896.361
  • Adverse drug reaction of the month

Hypersensitivity syndrome caused by amitriptyline administration

  1. Haralampos J Milionis,
  2. Antigone Skopelitou,
  3. Moses S Elisaf
  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, GR 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
  1. Dr Elisaf (e-mail: melisaf{at}cc.uoi.gr)
  • Received 14 June 1999
  • Accepted 8 October 1999

Abstract

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.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.