# Amitriptyline in Nigeria Amitriptyline has 1 active NAFDAC registration in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 1 registration holder; 3 further listings have lapsed. - Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/amitriptyline/ - Drug class: Tricyclic antidepressant (Mental Health) - Also known as: Amitriptyline hydrochloride, Amitryptylline, Joncine - Prescription required: yes - On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - Last updated: August 2026 ## Price in Nigeria Amitriptyline prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay. ## What is Amitriptyline? Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, one of the oldest classes of antidepressant still in regular use. It increases the levels of noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain by blocking their reuptake, and it also blocks a range of other receptors — which is both why it has so many side effects and why it is useful for so many different problems. In practice, most amitriptyline prescribed today is not for depression. At low doses — 10mg to 25mg at night, far below the antidepressant range — it is one of the most effective treatments available for nerve pain: diabetic neuropathy, pain after shingles, and various chronic pain syndromes. It is also used to prevent migraine and chronic tension headache. Depression itself is now more often treated with SSRIs such as fluoxetine or sertraline, which are much safer in overdose. Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows one active amitriptyline registration, Jonco Pharmaceutical's 25mg Joncine tablet; Manfes's Amitryptylline HCl lapsed in August 2026. It is a cheap, widely known medicine with a thin registered supply — a combination worth being alert to when buying it. ## What is Amitriptyline used for? - Neuropathic pain — diabetic nerve pain and post-herpetic neuralgia after shingles, at low doses - Depression, especially where insomnia is a prominent feature - Migraine prevention - Chronic tension-type headache - Fibromyalgia and some chronic pain syndromes - Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) in children over six, under specialist supervision only ## Dosage Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information. - Adults: For nerve pain and migraine prevention, treatment starts very low — usually 10mg at night — and is increased slowly every week or two toward 25mg to 75mg at night if needed. Taking it two to three hours before bed rather than at bedtime reduces the morning grogginess many people complain about. For depression, doses are considerably higher, typically 50mg to 150mg daily, and should be managed by a doctor. Pain relief can take two weeks to appear and the antidepressant effect four to six weeks — stopping early because 'it isn't working' is the commonest mistake. - Children: Amitriptyline is not used for depression in children and adolescents, where it is both ineffective and unsafe. Its only established paediatric use is for bedwetting in children over six, at low doses, for short periods, and under specialist supervision — a use that has largely given way to safer alternatives. Amitriptyline is dangerous to small children in overdose, and packs must be kept well out of reach. - Elderly: Older adults are much more sensitive to amitriptyline's effects on the heart, blood pressure, bladder and memory. Doses start at 10mg or lower and rise slowly. In older people it raises the risk of falls, confusion and urinary retention, and many guidelines now advise avoiding it where a safer option exists. Amitriptyline is DANGEROUS IN OVERDOSE — far more so than modern antidepressants — and can cause fatal heart rhythm disturbance. This is not a medicine to keep a large stock of, and it must be stored out of the reach of children. Do not stop it abruptly after long use: taper it, or you may get headache, nausea, restlessness and sleep disturbance. And be aware that most people prescribed it in Nigeria are taking it for pain, not depression — being given an 'antidepressant' for nerve pain is normal and not a comment on your mental health. ## Side effects Common: Drowsiness and morning grogginess — often the reason people stop; Dry mouth, sometimes marked; Constipation; Blurred vision; Dizziness on standing, and weight gain. Serious (seek medical help immediately): Heart rhythm disturbance, particularly at higher doses or in overdose; Urinary retention — an inability to pass urine, more likely in older men with prostate enlargement; Acute angle-closure glaucoma — sudden eye pain with blurred vision and halos; Confusion, agitation or hallucinations, especially in older adults; Suicidal thoughts, particularly in the first weeks and in people under 25; Serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic drugs. When to see a doctor: Seek urgent care for palpitations or a racing, irregular heartbeat, fainting, an inability to pass urine, or sudden eye pain with blurred vision. Contact your doctor about new or worsening thoughts of self-harm, marked confusion, or a persistent fast pulse. Any suspected overdose is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital attention, even if the person seems well — amitriptyline overdose can deteriorate suddenly. ## Warnings Do not take if: Recent heart attack, or significant heart rhythm or conduction disorders; Use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or within 14 days of stopping one; Severe liver disease; Untreated narrow-angle glaucoma; Mania, or bipolar disorder without mood-stabilising cover. Interactions: MAOIs — a dangerous and potentially fatal combination; Tramadol — increased risk of seizures and serotonin syndrome; a common and important pairing to avoid in pain clinics; SSRIs such as fluoxetine and sertraline — raise amitriptyline levels and add serotonin risk; Other sedating medicines and alcohol — additive drowsiness; Drugs that prolong the QT interval, including some antimalarials and antipsychotics — added heart rhythm risk; Carbamazepine — lowers amitriptyline levels, sometimes making it ineffective. Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Amitriptyline is not first choice in pregnancy, and the decision to use it depends on how severe the condition being treated is and what alternatives exist. It is not known to be a major cause of birth defects, but babies exposed near delivery can show withdrawal symptoms. It passes into breast milk in small amounts and is often regarded as one of the more acceptable tricyclics during breastfeeding, with the infant watched for sedation and poor feeding. Discuss any planned pregnancy with your doctor rather than stopping the medicine yourself. ## Brands in Nigeria Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Amitryptylline HCl Tablets (Manfes Pharmaceutical Company Limited, made in India); Joncine Tablets (Jonco Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, made in India). Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/amitriptyline/brands/ ## How to verify it is genuine 1. Check the NAFDAC number on the pack — Joncine carries A4-6551 and Manfes's Amitryptylline HCl carries B4-3798 in our copy of the register. 2. Only two amitriptyline products hold active registrations in our copy, so a brand you cannot find in the register warrants questions before you pay. 3. Confirm the number with our NAFDAC checker. 4. Note the strength carefully. Amitriptyline is prescribed at very different doses for pain (10–25mg) and depression (50–150mg), and taking a 25mg tablet when you were prescribed 10mg is a real and common error. 5. Buy from a registered pharmacy and keep the medicine out of reach of children — overdose is dangerous and small quantities matter in a child. Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/ ## FAQs ### Why was I given an antidepressant for nerve pain? Because at low doses amitriptyline is one of the most effective nerve-pain treatments there is, and this use has nothing to do with depression. Nerve pain — from diabetes, from shingles, from an injured nerve — does not respond well to ordinary painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen, but it does respond to drugs that change how pain signals travel. The dose used for pain is usually 10mg to 25mg, far below the antidepressant range. Being prescribed it is not a suggestion that your pain is imaginary. ### How long does amitriptyline take to work? For nerve pain, expect two weeks before you notice much and up to six weeks for the full effect — and the dose usually needs building up gradually in that time. For depression, four to six weeks is typical. The drowsiness, on the other hand, starts on the first night, which is why many people conclude it is not working and stop before it has had a chance. If you are struggling with the side effects while waiting, tell your doctor rather than abandoning the course. ### Can I take amitriptyline with tramadol? This combination needs a doctor's judgement and is often avoided. Both drugs affect serotonin and both lower the seizure threshold, so together they raise the risk of serotonin syndrome and of seizures. It is a common pairing to encounter because both are used for pain, sometimes prescribed by different clinicians who do not know about each other. Always tell whoever prescribes a painkiller that you take amitriptyline. ### Does amitriptyline help you sleep? It causes drowsiness, and for people whose pain or depression is wrecking their sleep, that is often a welcome part of the effect — it is one reason it is given at night. But it is not a sleeping tablet and should not be taken purely for insomnia. The sedation can spill into the next morning, which is why taking the dose two to three hours before bed rather than at bedtime often works better. If grogginess persists, the dose or timing can usually be adjusted. ### Is amitriptyline addictive? No — it does not cause craving or dependence in the way that opioids or benzodiazepines do. But your body does adapt to it, so stopping suddenly after months of use can cause headache, nausea, restlessness, sweating and disturbed sleep. That is a discontinuation reaction, not addiction, and it is avoided by tapering the dose down over a few weeks with your doctor's guidance rather than stopping all at once. ### How much is amitriptyline in Nigeria? Amitriptyline is one of the cheaper prescription medicines on the market — it is an old, off-patent drug and the registered products are Indian-made generics. That said, only two products hold active NAFDAC registrations in our copy of the register, so availability is not guaranteed everywhere. Check the price section of this page for current sampled figures. ## Sources - NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria) - WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - British National Formulary (BNF) - Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)