Amitriptyline Pregnancy Category. This class constitutes the most common pharmacologic treatment for depression. As this eMedTV page explains the drug caused birth defects in animal studies.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of amitriptyline in the elderly. Chronic maternal use of the drug throughout pregnancy can cause neonatal withdrawal. No data available on use of this drug in pregnant women to inform a drug-related risk.
However amitriptyline can be used with caution in pregnancy if it is felt that there are no appropriate effective alternatives and the risks of coming off the medication outweigh any risk of remaining on it during pregnancy.
Amitriptyline during pregnancy there are no reports associated with low doses used for pain management and migraine. The American Academy of Pediatrics classified nortriptyline among agents for which the effects on nursing infants are unknown but might be of concern 16. Switch to oral drug as soon as possible. Initially 100 mgday PO in divided doses.