Protriptyline may increase the hazards of concurrent electroshock therapy. Similarly, when possible, the drug should be discontinued several days before surgery. Protriptyline may impair the mental and physical abilities necessary to drive an automobile or operate dangerous machinery. Rapidly stopping protriptyline may cause withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, headache, and a sickly feeling. The most common side effects of protriptyline include rapid heartbeat, fainting when getting up quickly, sedation, blurred vision, disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, muscle spasms, seizures, dry mouth, constipation, difficulty urinating, and sensitivity to bright light or sunlight.
Protriptyline crosses the placenta.
There have been reports of birth defects when the drug was taken during the first three months of pregnancy and severe side effects in newborns whose mothers took the drug during delivery. Pregnant women are encouraged to discuss the benefits and potential risks of protriptyline with their physician before deciding to use the drug. HIV can be passed from a woman to her child through breast milk. Protriptyline is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential toxicity of the drug for newborns, women are encouraged to consider alternatives to breast-feeding while taking it.