Amitriptyline is a prescription antidepressant medication, while calcium carbonate is primarily used as a calcium supplement and as an antacid. Amitriptyline does not have an interaction with calcium carbonate, but taking calcium carbonate with a specific combination medication that contains amitryptyline may cause problems. Consult your doctor before you add any supplements to your health regimen if you also take amitriptyline.
Amitriptyline Uses
Amitriptyline is helpful for patients suffering from depression, for preventing migraine headaches, for improving symptoms of eating disorders, and for relieving chronic nerve pain that sometimes occurs after a shingles infection. Amitriptyline is available as an individual medication or in combination products for greater effectiveness or for treating more than one health problem. One of these combination products combines amitriptyline with chlordiazepoxide and is available as the brand Limbitrol.
Limbitrol
Prescribed on its own, the benzodiazepine drug chlordiazepoxide is used to relieve anxiety and to control agitation connected with alcohol withdrawal. The combination of amitriptyline and chlordiazepoxide in Limbitrol helps patients with depression who also experience anxiety or nervous tension. While amitriptyline does not interact with calcium carbonate, chlordiazepoxide has a minor interaction with this supplement.
Interaction
Research indicates that calcium carbonate and some other antacids can delay gastrointestinal absorption of chlordiazepoxide and some other benzodiazepines, according to Drugs.com. This generally does not affect the overall absorption, however. Calcium carbonate also can decrease the peak plasma concentration of chlordiazepoxide. While calcium carbonate does not affect the actions of amitriptyline, it could delay or lessen the effectiveness of the chlordiazepoxide in Limbitrol. The reason for this interaction between calcium carbonate and chlordiazepoxide is not known.
Considerations
Although amitriptyline does not interact with calcium carbonate, it does interact with numerous other substances. To avoid negative effects, tell your doctor about any other drugs or supplements you take. Some examples of substances that may interact with amitriptyline include monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antihistamines, diet pills, medications for irregular heartbeats, thyroid medications and other antidepressants.
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