Bird · Agapornis roseicollis · typical adult weight 0.04–0.06 kg
Amitriptyline is dosed at 2 mg/kg PO q24h (minimum of 30 days) in lovebirds, per 267. Eugenio CT. Amitriptyline HCl: clinical study for treatment of feather picking. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2003:133-135. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.471 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Amitriptyline is used in lovebirds for Feather damaging behavior, anxiety, phobia (tricyclic antidepressant). Routes documented in lovebirds: PO. A typical adult lovebird weighs 0.04–0.06 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Amitriptyline in lovebirds, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Elavil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2 mg/kg | q24h (minimum of 30 days) | Feather damaging behavior, anxiety, phobia (tricyclic antidepressant) | Moderate | 267. Eugenio CT. Amitriptyline HCl: clinical study for treatment of feather picking. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2003:133-135. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.471 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.32 | 1-9 mg/kg p.o. q12h. Studies suggest higher dose rates generally needed. However, dosing should be |
| 5 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.32 | given the occurrence of severe extrapyramidal signs seen at 5mg/kg a,b |
| 1–5 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.10 | 1-5 mg/kg PO q12- 24h,221 |
| 2 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your lovebird's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. Also has anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and alpha-adrenergic blocking properties.
Allow 2-4 weeks for behavioral effects. Sedation, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation. CONTRAINDICATED with MAOIs. Serotonin syndrome risk with tramadol. Cardiotoxic in overdose.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for lovebirds may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Amitriptyline dose range in lovebirds, with cited source references: PO 2 mg/kg q24h (minimum of 30 days). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Amitriptyline in lovebirds: PO.
Amitriptyline is indicated in lovebirds for: Feather damaging behavior, anxiety, phobia (tricyclic antidepressant).
These are general warnings for Amitriptyline across species; consult the lovebird dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Allow 2-4 weeks for behavioral effects. Sedation, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation. CONTRAINDICATED with MAOIs. Serotonin syndrome risk with tramadol. Cardiotoxic in overdose.
Why a species-specific page? Amitriptyline pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in lovebirds — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| PO |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.10 |
| 2 mg/kg PO q24h |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.