Amitriptyline side effects help please

Folara

Hi people

After I saw a Pain Consultant my GP has put me on 10mg of Amitriptyline building up to a maximum of 40mg a day over time, at the Consultants request. I then have to have another medicine added (can't remember the name, sorry) and build that up to the max dosage.

I have been taking the above for 8 days now and the side affects are a nightmare. My breasts (sorry guys) are really sore, I have a constant thirst but worse of all is how absolutely exhausted I feel all day. It doesn't make the pain seem any better either. I'm due to increase the dosage to 20mg in a few days and really don't want too.

Is this normal with these tablets?

Fols x

elnafinn

Hi Fols

Poor you! If you have been taking the ami for 8 days on a 10mg dosage which is very low and you are getting symptoms like that I would have a chat with your gp. If it was me, I would stop them until I received advice. The symptoms you mention are listed as possible side effects. I was taking 25mg in the end for a goodly while and the only symptoms I got were feeling whoosy in the mornings on awakening and a more than normal dry mouth at times. I could live with this.

Elna x

Folara

Thanks Elna. My own GP is really hard to get to see (I'm seeing a different one later today) so I think I will give him a call. These symptoms really are driving me mad.


Fols x

elnafinn

Sorry Fols I slighted amended my posting!

I am relieved that you are able to talk about this with a medic today.

Elna x

JuliaHod12

Hi Fols

I can report a very similar reaction to the low dose.Nomatter how early i took it the evening, I was always wiped out until at least 12 noon the next day and felt exhausted............also blurry eyes..........mad me question the effects and read the leaflet............todiscover I am not allowed to take the ami due to another long standing condition.

I'm off to see the doc later for something else (here's hoping!)

Good luck when you see your doc xx

Julia

mates

Hi Fols,

Yes I feel totally wiped out on Amitriptylene. I know it helps if you let them build up in your system but I too have never got past the out of it feeling. I now won't take them either.

barbara12

Hi
Just to say I agree with Elna..you go and have a word with your GP...the does you are on is very low, I take them and the only side effects are feeling a bit woozy when I get up but it soon goes..
But then again everyone are different when it comes to meds.
Please let us know how you get on xx

Folara

Hi peoples

Spoken to Doc about the side effects and he said these could last up to 6 weeks so I must persevere a bit longer. He has however decided not to increase the dosage next week but wait the 6 weeks beforehand.

Fols x

jenzie06

I've taken Amitrip for over 10 years (scary!) and I find I'm incredibly weary if I take too much. I take it for sleeping purposes not for pain control. I find 10mgs is enough (if I increase to 20mg I'm too weary to cope). If I don't take it then I tend to have a lighter sleep or I'm awake. Either way I keep my husband awake as I tend to move around a lot to find that ever elusive comfy spot.

I hope that the side effects ease quickly.

Jen

bubbadog

Hi Folara, I to have been on Amitriptyline for along time and the fatigue is a common side effect of the drug. I always wake up feeling like I have had a very good night out!! (feeling hung over!) But as others have said it eventually passes in a couple of hours. As much as the side effects are not nice I don't think I would sleep a wink without it.

Folara

Thanks peeps for your replies.

I have to agree that I am at last sleeping a lot better than I ever have since my problems got so bad.

I will stick with it for now and hopefully I will get used to the side effects a bit.

Fols x