Beyond depression: Other uses for tricyclic antidepressants

Joanne Schneider; Mary Patterson; Xavier F Jimenez

doi:10.3949/ccjm.86a.19005

Beyond depression: Other uses for tricyclic antidepressants

Cleve Clin J Med. 2019 Dec;86(12):807-814. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.86a.19005.

Authors

Joanne Schneider¹, Mary Patterson¹, Xavier F Jimenez²

Affiliations

¹ Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
² Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic; Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH jimenex2@ccf.org.

PMID: 31821138
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.86a.19005

Abstract

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were originally designed and marketed for treating depression, but over time they have been applied to a variety of conditions, mostly off-label. TCAs can serve as first-line or augmenting drugs for neuropathic pain, headache, migraine, gastrointestinal syndromes, fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, insomnia, and psychiatric conditions other than depression. This article reviews pharmacology, dosing, and safety considerations for these uses.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic* / pharmacology
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic* / therapeutic use
Drug Repositioning / methods*
Humans
Off-Label Use

Substances

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic