HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Tricyclic Antidepressants for Chronic Pain
Why It Is Used
These medicines are often used in lower doses when they are used to treat chronic pain than when they are used to treat depression. In low doses, these medicines relieve pain. In higher doses, they have antidepressant effects.
These medicines are reserved for long-term (chronic) pain syndromes. They may be more effective if you also have Reference depression Opens New Window or Reference chronic pain Opens New Window caused by nerve problems such as Reference shingles Opens New Window or Reference diabetic neuropathy Opens New Window. They may help relieve sleeping problems and fatigue caused by chronic pain. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants for use at bedtime because they can cause drowsiness.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
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