Limbitrol is a prescription medicine licensed for the treatment of depression that is associated with anxiety. It is a combination drug (consisting of chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline) that helps to stop seizures, cause sleepiness, and reduce anxiety. Limbitrol comes in tablet form and is usually taken one to four times a day. Possible side effects include drowsiness, bloating, dry mouth, and constipation.
Limbitrol is currently made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Generic versions of the drug are made by a few different manufacturers.
Limbitrol is a combination of two different medications: chlordiazepoxide and amitriptyline. It is part of a group of medicines known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines have several different effects on the body, including:
- Stopping seizures
- Reducing anxiety
- Causing sleepiness
- Relaxing muscles
- Impairing short-term memory.
All benzodiazepines can have these effects to some degree, depending on the specific medication and the dosage. They work in the brain by enhancing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that is naturally calming. GABA can slow down or stop certain nerve signals in the brain, and this action helps to relieve the symptoms of anxiety.
Amitriptyline (the other component of Limbitrol) belongs to a class of medications called
tricyclic antidepressants. It is not entirely clear how amitriptyline works. It does affect several chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine. It is thought that perhaps amitriptyline allows these chemicals to stay in the brain longer, which can help with depression symptoms.
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