amitriptyline.......your thoughts please

waddle

Post subject: amitriptyline.......your thoughts please
Post Posted: 18 Mar 2012 12:59
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Joined: 17 Mar 2012 12:21
Hi i hope you dont mind me enquiring but i have just been given amitriptyline and dont know anyone else who is on it so was wondering what if anyone else is taking it and what they think of it.

im worried about starting it, i know you cant give me the medical advice i was just wondering what experiences you have heard about it in general.

thankyou so much for taking the time to read this post.


was recomended to post this here, have a good day

Folara

Hi waddle

I have recently been put on that too. Starting on a small dose and then gradually increasing to the max of 50mg and then they will add pregabolin (sp?) as well.

There are lots of people on here with great advice, I asked a similar question to you about a week ago.

Personally, it makes me feel completely wiped out. I do sleep well but hate the feeling of grogginess during the day. It does affect some more than others tho. I called my Doc and he told me to persevere a bit longer then see him again to discuss options.

Good luck with it.

Fols x

dreamdaisy

Hello waddle, it's lovely to meet you but as usual I am saddened that yet another person has had to find us. I have not yet partaken of this tablet but I know that those who do often take it quite early in the eveneing, say between 7 and 8pm, so that they drift off at bedtime, sleep well but don't feel too 'groggy' the next morning. Tablets take a while to get into one's system, as I am sure you are aware, hence the early taking. Everyone reacts differently to meds but I hope you do find this one helps you. I wish you well. DD

traluvie

I take 35mg Amitriptyline.
I have been taking, for just over a yr.
I take them around 7, that way i do not feel so groggy in the morning.
I did feel very drowsy and not with it when i first took them but they are a great benefit to me at night, enabling me to have a decent nights sleep.

Hope they work for you

waddle

thank you for your replys i appreciate your time in answering,
i am hoping they will help with the thing everyone calls sleep, something i dont usually experiance much of each night, worried about being zombiefied though as i have children to deal with.

i have been given a script for 10ml to start on for 2weeks then have to increase to 20ml and up again a couple of weeks later. is this usual,

sorry to ask and take up your time but no doubt you all know drs have no time to explain these days.

traluvie

I think they usually increase meds over time so your body can adjust.
I have 2 children too, and i find i am ok now, like i said at first i was a bit dazed, but my body has now adjusted.

Folara

Hi waddle,

That's exactly the same as me. I was incredibly groggy and had sore boobs for the first 10 days but that could have just been me. I started with the 20mg last night and have deliberately taken it easy today, although I don't feel as bad as I did when I first started. I have an appointment with my doc on Friday and the it goes up again and then in another two weeks up again till I get to 50mg. Then they want to add pregabolin.

Sleeping is brilliant. Never realized just how much i missed it. I have adjusted the time I take it and have found 7pm is good time as I can then still be up at 6am to get hubby and son out the door with respective lunches, pe kits etc.

Really hope it helps you too.

amboritic

I am on 10mg.

Take it early, maybe 2 or 3 hours before bed to avoid morning grogginess.

I find that apar from the grogginess in the AM it has helped my upper back amd neck pain.

Both of these pains are associated to spondylosis.

suzygirl

Hi, I take amitryptyline and find it helps the muscles relax and a better sleep. I take it early evening to minimise grogginess. It can cause dry mouth as well.

I hope it works for you. It takes a while for the grogginess to wear off.

JuliaHod12

Hi Waddle
I was prescribed this by GP (10mg) took the first 2 tablets on alternate nights to get used to them........felt awful and zombified the next day and had vision disturbance.
Then read the leaflet................I was not supposed to take them due to another condition i have.
Just make sure you read the leaflets first..........the docs cant know everything :-)
I now have methocarbamol (Robaxin)

I hope they help you xx

barbara12

Hi Waddle
And a warm welcome from me, I started on 10mg of amys...and I am now on 25...but I did go up to 50, but thought I would try and come down a bit.
At first they do leave you a bit tired the day well morning after, but after a couple of weeks that went away
I do them at 6.30 in the evening and go to bed around 10, they really do help.
I do wish you well with everything xx

L1985

I have taken these for the last month and they really helped me to sleep. Only thing is i noticed my memory was REALLY bad. I dont know if it was the tablets or if it was the flare i was having at the time. I have ran out of tablets and my memory has improved but also my other symptoms have died down too thanks to my recent steroid jab.

Just wondered if anyone else had memory problems on them?

Due back at the doc,s this week so going to ask for some more as cant sleep or mayb if there is anything similiar to try.

I also have small children but i could still get up in the morning. I did feel really tired but again not sure if that was the flare up again

Good luck

Lulu x x x x

waddle

thank you so much for your replys everyone ive found them reasuring and will give them ago starting tomorrow. have a busy day tomorrow so dont want to be more tired/foggy than usual. i wish you all well and once again thank you xx

vwkamper

Hi,

I was on it but then i had the dry mouth and at night i ended up with restless leg syndrome and the longer i took it the worse it got so it wasn't good for me. I had no problem's with the drowsiness if anything it was the reverse.

Everyone is different so give it time.

vwkamper.

boo2kitty

Hi waddle, i have been on them for years and i take 25mg at night. They do help me sleep. I have them for IBS and a trapped nerve in my neck, i have no problems and i would be lost without them, hope they work for you and like the other said take them early then you dont get that groggy feeling in the morning. Its like anything, not all medication suits everyone its finding what does work for you, good luck xx

hileena111

Hi Waddle
Welcome from me as well.
Do read the leaflet first please....I was prescribed them and there was something at the back of my mind saying theses are contraindicated to something else you have or take. I read the leaflet before taking them....something I rarely do
Like Julia I discovered I shouldnt be taking them becase of epilepsy I have {which is well controlled so I dont want to rock the boat}
I rang the docs and they said no they aren't contraindicated....hang on and I'll check....Oh yes you shouldnt be taking them was the next response.
Good luck with them
Love
Hileena

waddle

I just wanted to say thank you for all your replies you have been very helpful. i havent started them yet as ive had a throat infection so want to wait for that to clear before i start them in case i have any side effects. im a bit odd with meds, there are lots i dont get on with.

i will let you know how i get on, x

lynnmick

Hi there,

I was prescribed amitriptyline 25mg by my gp for my neck pain, but as yet ive been too scared to take them. Just wondering if you have to take them every night or can you miss nights, just worried that they can become addictive. Can anyone give me some info please i would be very grateful.

Poppyg1rl

Hi,
I'm on 80mg amitriptyline and can honestly say it helps, im currently taking oramorph and need oxygen as ive got PA in my ribs and a scarred lung, two seperate issues but in the same place..lucky me eh :roll:
I've been on amitriptyline since July last year, initially starting at 10 and sadly as my condition has worsened the amitriptyline levels have had to be 'upped' for me to get any sleep and a break from the pain. As I understand it amitriptyline is not habit forming, although a controlled increase or decrease is advised through your healthcare professional. I would say to anyone worried about it, talk to your dr,Rheumy nurse or Rheumy, I'm sure they'll be able to put your mind at rest, after all they are prescribing these drugs because they are needed, they should greatly improve pain levels and (definately in my case) enable a better nights sleep
If you would like any more info on amitrip do please feel free to pm me.
Hope I've helped, take care and a hug ((())) X

woodbon

Hi, I take it and have done for quite a while now. I find that it really does help me sleep better. The first couple of weeks I felt very sleepy and 'out of it' even though I'd only been given a small dose to start with, 10mgs. I slowley worked it up to 40mgs and at each increase, I thought I'd have to give it up it made me so tired, but each time it soon went off.
Good luck, I hope it works for you, if you decide to try it, but we are all different and react differently to medication. It's your choice, don't let anyone talk you into taking something you don't want.
Love Sue xxx

lynnmick

thanks for those comments, to be honest i think that i am going to have to try them out, as my neck as been very painful for about 2 weeks now ( i have rheumatoid arthritis in it ) and the naproxen is not working, and co codamol upsets my stomach, and tramodol makes me sick lol. Thanks again for your help
Lynn