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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Behavior disorders (anxiety), adjunct for pruritus, neuropathic pain
DogExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Behavior disorders (anxiety), adjunct for pruritus, neuropathic pain — Extra-label — limited efficacy evidence
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Chronic idiopathic cystitis (long-term only), pruritus adjunct, neuropathic pain
CatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Chronic idiopathic cystitis (long-term only), pruritus adjunct, neuropathic pain — Extra-label — short-term treatment shown NOT effective for FLUTD in controlled studies
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens5
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects207
Sedation, anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation) — Most predominant
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hyperexcitability, rarely seizures — Uncommon
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Reduced grooming, weight gain, sedation — Common
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cardiac dysrhythmias, bone marrow suppression (rare, high dose) — Rare
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Urine retention
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Table 1 (p.630), row: Amitriptyline, Adverse Effects column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
- Cat · Table 1 (p.630), row: Amitriptyline, Adverse Effects column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Vomiting32 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')20 reports
- Emesis16 reports
- Diarrhoea10 reports
- Seizure NOS10 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS9 reports
- Pruritus9 reports
- Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)8 reports
- Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP)8 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS8 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS7 reports
- Overdose7 reports
Cat
- Vomiting15 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')8 reports
- Vocalisation7 reports
- Anorexia6 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS5 reports
- Weight loss5 reports
- Ataxia4 reports
- Death4 reports
- Decreased appetite4 reports
- Diarrhoea4 reports
- Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)4 reports
- Inappropriate urination4 reports
Monitoring1
Cardiac evaluation (heart rate/rhythm), CBC/chemistry pre-therapy; liver enzymes for cats (baseline, 1 month, then yearly per some clinicians)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications3
Prior TCA hypersensitivity; concurrent MAO inhibitors (selegiline, amitraz)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
MAOIs, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures
CatDogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Cat · Table 1 (p.630), row: Amitriptyline, Contraindications column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
- Dog · Table 1 (p.630), row: Amitriptyline, Contraindications column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
Precautions4
Seizure disorders (may ↓threshold), thyroid disease, hepatic disease, KCS, glaucoma, cardiac rhythm disorders, diabetes, adrenal tumors — use with caution
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Bitter-tasting tablet, notoriously difficult to dose orally in cats — discuss compounding options with owners upfront.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
For idiopathic feline cystitis, short-course treatment (≤7–10 days) has been shown ineffective in controlled trials — only consider for chronic/recurrent disease under close supervision, not acute flares.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Generally considered less effective than clomipramine for canine compulsive disorders and did not outperform placebo for aggression in controlled study — set realistic expectations.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions5
MAO inhibitors (selegiline, amitraz) — Potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome — avoid concurrent use
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
SSRIs (fluoxetine) — ↑ amitriptyline levels, ↑ serotonin syndrome risk (still often combined clinically with enhanced monitoring)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cimetidine — ↓ TCA metabolism, ↑ toxicity
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Cisapride, quinidine — ↑ QTc prolongation risk
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Sympathomimetics — ↑ arrhythmia/hypertension risk
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Bioavailability — Rapid oral/parenteral absorption; poor transdermal (cat)
CatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Half-life — 6–8h (dog, Plumb's)
DogNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Metabolism — Hepatic → nortriptyline (active)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Isolated reports of limb reduction abnormalities — restrict to cases where benefit clearly outweighs risk. Human FDA category D.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 77–78; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs (Papich), 4th ed., p. 34–35 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references18
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Limited bioconcentration of water-associated pharmaceutical active compounds through short-term exposure in signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Preclinical safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a novel cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride nasal spray.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Amitriptyline use in individuals with KCNQ2/3 gain-of-function variants: A retrospective cohort study.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Predictors of response to low-dose amitriptyline for irritable bowel syndrome and efficacy and tolerability according to subtype: post hoc analyses from the ATLANTIS trial.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- A combined treatment for self-traumatic chronic skin lesions associated with post-surgical neuropathic pain in a domestic cat: a pharmacological and cold atmospheric plasma approach.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Appendix: Drug Dosage Chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629-632.; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.