taking amatripaline - are there side effects

brownowl
brownowl Member Posts: 6
edited 24. Jan 2010, 16:16 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi people, i wonder if they are anybody out there who can tell me if there are side effects with this medication i went to see the rhemotologist last week and he has given me these tablets to help me get through the night with no pain but i have S,V,T, which are bad palpertations i dont think the doctor read what other medication i am on as it was a locom at the surgury do you think its ok to start the new pills i am a bit worried as the paper said not for people with heart arythmia,
p.s. the dose is 10 to 20mg a night to start with .

brownowl1 xx

Comments

  • bluebeard
    bluebeard Member Posts: 260
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I take amitriptyline , but not for pain , for sleep

    50mg about 8pm

    by 10 I am falling asleep

    and have a good ten hours on it

    get a dry mouth but thats not too bad
  • countessheather
    countessheather Member Posts: 114
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Blue Beard, this is one of the tablets that has LOTS of side effects. They prescibe this first to EVERYONE as its sooo cheep in comparison, like Amoxcillin. But just like that, I belive that it is `over prescribed' without thinking, on auto-pilot! But it did'nt do a thing for my lack of sleep and just made my IBS worse by giving me almost constant diahorrea! You seem like a sensable person and if in doubt, don't take. Go back to your GP and explain to them your concerns and ask for something else - there are others out there. And your specialist has proberly already suggested something to your GP incase. :D Heatherxx
  • paulch
    paulch Member Posts: 103
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    :) Hi i take amitriptyline 20mg at night for sleep and pain from my stroke, no real side effects now but at first got muzzy head and dry mouth but that goes away after 3-4 weeks
  • fester
    fester Member Posts: 98
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Had to stop taking this as it did'nt work for me plus i felt like a zombie most of the time.
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I took amitrip for over 10yrs 10-20mg per night only stopped due to pregnancy. The only side effects I had were feeling a space cadet if I drove early the next day and I'd taken more than 20mg.

    I took it to help me sleep and it worked. If it does the same for you with either no side effects or minimal than I'd recommend it as not sleeping is so so much worse (my lack of sleep after 6 months of not taking it is horrid).

    It was when I stopped it that I had the trouble as after 10yrs I was unknowingly addicted. I wasn't given any advice from the hospital and I suffered withdrawal symptoms - not nice - but could have been avoided if properly advised. But don't let it scare you off, every drug is addictive if you take it for years!
  • bluebeard
    bluebeard Member Posts: 260
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Blue Beard, this is one of the tablets that has LOTS of side effects. They prescibe this first to EVERYONE as its sooo cheep in comparison, like Amoxcillin. But just like that, I belive that it is `over prescribed' without thinking, on auto-pilot! But it did'nt do a thing for my lack of sleep and just made my IBS worse by giving me almost constant diahorrea! You seem like a sensable person and if in doubt, don't take. Go back to your GP and explain to them your concerns and ask for something else - there are others out there. And your specialist has proberly already suggested something to your GP incase. :D Heatherxx

    I totally agree , I find it ok ...it makes me drowsy a bit ...but others it really affects them
  • zechariah
    zechariah Member Posts: 222
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I came off of them because they made me so drowsy in the mornings!

    i now take Nortriptyline and have found it much better!
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I take 20mgs at night, for the fiirst week of so I felt tired and 'out of it' in the morning, but now I'm fine and my body has ajusted, although they still help me to sleep. Its like all things though, I'm sure some people can't take them or find something that works better for them, as our bodies are all different, although it would be much easier if they all worked the same way!
    Love Sue xxx :wink:
  • brownowl
    brownowl Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    woodbon wrote:
    I take 20mgs at night, for the fiirst week of so I felt tired and 'out of it' in the morning, but now I'm fine and my body has ajusted, although they still help me to sleep. Its like all things though, I'm sure some people can't take them or find something that works better for them, as our bodies are all different, although it would be much easier if they all worked the same way!
    Love Sue xxx :wink:

    thanks for all your replys, i think i will go back to my gp as i have other medical conditions that just might trigger a relaps if i take this tablet i will ask if there is something else on the market that can just help me to drop off to sleep without laying there two hours trying to get comfy and overcome the pain in my back and hips and i work in a finance department for the nhs and i have to have my head clear first thing on a morning , as it has been said this is the first tablet the hospital has offered me and probley the cheapest.

    thanks again helen xxx :lol: