If I remember right, Elavil is one of the tricyclic antidepressants, which have more side effects and are more dangerous than the newer medications in terms of overdose, so, yes, it does make sense that you have to be more careful about it. Once, I tried a tricyclic antidepressant, but it didn't work out because it gave me a bit of orthostatic hypotension. (In layperson's terms, it means the blood rushed to my head whenever I stood up, a feeling I could not tolerate).
I'm glad that Elavil is helping you.
I am taking a tetracyclic antidepressant, mirtazapine, which has been around for years, too. I am not sure if it has been around for as long as Elavil, as I believe, due to my research on psychiatric medication, Elavil was discovered before mirtazapine was, but of course, I could be wrong on that.