Compare Elavil vs. Lamictal
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Improves mood.
Elavil (amitriptyline) regulates mood and treats nerve pain, but has more side effects than alternatives.
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3.3/ 5 average rating with 134 reviewsforElavil
Prevents seizures and stabilizes mood.
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is most useful for treating severe seizure disorders, and for bipolar disorder with more depression symptoms than manic symptoms. Just be careful to increase your dose slowly to avoid skin rash.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 184 reviewsforLamictal
Upsides
- Elavil (amitriptyline) works well to treat nerve pain and is non-habit forming.
- Effective at lowering the frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy or Lennox-Gestaut syndrome. Typically used together with other medications for severe seizure disorders.
- Works best for partial, tonic-clonic, and absence seizures.
- A first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. Effective long-term treatment for stabilizing mood. Prevents both depressive and manic episodes, but the effect is greater for preventing depression.
- Doesn't require routine blood tests.
Downsides
- Elavil (amitriptyline) has more bothersome side effects than other antidepressants.
- Can cause double vision, dizziness, sleepiness, and headache.
- Has the risk of a rare but life-threatening rash.
- Can make hormonal birth control less effective.
- Might be less effective than other medicines for treating manic episodes (acute mania) in people with bipolar disorder.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
- Extended release
- Chewable tablet
- Dissolving tablet
Price
Lowest price
$4.00
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$28.05
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Reviews
134 reviews so far
53%
saidit'sworth it
36%
saiditworked well
25%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Elavil (amitriptyline)?
Leave a review184 reviews so far
66%
saidit'sworth it
58%
saiditworked well
18%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Lamictal (Lamotrigine)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Elavil (amitriptyline) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
36possible side effects
- Dizziness38%
- Headache28%
- Diplopia28%
- Ataxia22%
- Nausea19%
- Blurred vision16%
- Somnolence14%
- Rhinitis14%
- Pharyngitis10%
- Rash10%
- Vomiting9%
- Cough increased8%
- Flu syndrome7%
- Dysmenorrhea7%
- Fever6%
- Diarrhea6%
- Incoordination6%
- Insomnia6%
- Abdominal pain5%
- Dyspepsia5%
- Constipation4%
- Tremor4%
- Depression4%
- Anxiety4%
- Vaginitis4%
- Convulsion3%
- Irritability3%
- Speech disorder3%
- Pruritus3%
- Vision abnormality3%
- Neck pain2%
- Reaction aggravated (seizure exacerbation)2%
- Anorexia2%
- Arthralgia2%
- Concentration disturbance2%
- Amenorrhea2%
Risks and risk factors
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- Age 24 years or younger
- Mania
- History of bipolar disorder
- At risk for bipolar disorder
- Heart problems
- History of cardiovascular disease
- Dizziness and falls
- Age 65 years or older
- Taking medicines to control blood pressure
- Dehydration
- Age 65 years or older
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- History of depression
- Serious skin rash
- People also taking Depakote
- Taking more than the prescribed dose
- Increasing the dose too quickly
- Serious allergic reactions
- Blood disorders
- Meningitis
- Interactions with birth control pills
- Taking birth control pills
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Lamictal (Lamotrigine) suddenly