amitriptyline vs nabilone
Side-by-side comparison of amitriptyline and nabilone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
CONCOMITANT DRUG CLINICAL EFFECT(S) Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents Additive hypertension, tachycardia, possibly cardiotoxicity Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents Additive or super-additive tachycardia, drowsiness Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants Additive tachycardia, hypertension, drowsiness Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants Additive drowsiness and CNS depression Disulfiram A reversible hypomanic reaction was...
Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor your heart and blood pressure closely while you are using this combination.
Elavil
Cesamet
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression. It may take up to 30 days to feel the full effect.
Cesamet contains nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid. It helps reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other medicines don't work.
Amitriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression. It works best for a type of depression called endogenous depression. This is depression that comes from within, rather than being caused by outside events.
Cesamet is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. You should only use it if other anti-nausea medicines have not worked for you. This medicine can change your mental state, so someone should watch over you when you first start taking it and when your dose changes.
Amitriptyline belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals help improve your mood.
Cesamet is a synthetic cannabinoid, similar to the active ingredient in marijuana. It works by affecting the parts of your brain that control nausea and vomiting. This helps to reduce these side effects of chemotherapy.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Weakness
- • Fatigue
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Vertigo (feeling dizzy)
- • Dry mouth
- • Euphoria (feeling "high")
- • Ataxia (loss of coordination)
- Pain 1,564
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,434
- Head pain 1,380
- Tiredness 1,369
- Shortness of breath 1,340
- Pain 473
- Muscle and joint stiffness 285
- Trouble sleeping 265
- Rheumatoid arthritis 265
- Drug allergy 254
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Your doctor should closely monitor you for worsening depression or unusual changes in behavior. Amitriptyline is not approved for use in children.
Cesamet can change your mental state. It has a high potential for abuse. Your doctor should watch you for signs of overuse or misuse, especially if you have a history of substance abuse or mental illness.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if amitriptyline will harm your unborn baby. Amitriptyline can pass into breast milk.
The effects of Cesamet during pregnancy and breastfeeding are not well known. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This amitriptyline vs nabilone Comparison
amitriptyline is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while nabilone sits within the Cannabinoid Antiemetic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amitriptyline has 7,087 submissions while nabilone has 1,542. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to using these drugs together can cause a combined increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, along with extra sleepiness.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amitriptyline and nabilone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.