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General health

amitriptyline for pain

34 replies

Cocolepew · 25/05/2014 21:09

Any experience? I have a lot of joint and nerve pain, and was considering asking my gp for this.

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Matildathecat · 25/05/2014 21:19

Have a look at the Back thread. Lots of us take it.

It's good for sleep. Bad for feeling a bit fuzzy and finding it hard to wake up. On balance I've chosen to take it for the past two years because I couldn't stand being awake all night in pain.

If you go for it do increase the dose very slowly and give the side effects time to settle because they do settle over time.

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tribpot · 25/05/2014 21:20

Yes, my DH takes it for pain management - I'd agree with Matildathecat.

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Spero · 25/05/2014 21:21

I was prescribed it for phantom pain - took one dose and the side effects were so awful I didn't take it again. Luckily for me the phantom pain resolved. If I had to take it for longer I would want a proper discussion with the GP about the side effects and when I could expect them to resolve.

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LongTimeLurking · 25/05/2014 21:28

It doesn't help everyone but if it does work the results can be quite dramatic, especially if you have problems sleeping.

The downside is the fuzziness. Getting past the first few weeks treatment (when the fuzziness is terrible) is the most difficult in my experience. You really do have to give it a proper go to get past the side effects.

I found it helpful but had to keep increasing the dose over time. Once I got up to 100mg I had put on a bit of weight and it was no longer working well so I tapered off.

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Cocolepew · 25/05/2014 21:45

It's the fuzziness the next day I would be worried about , on the arthritis website it says not to take it after 8pm.
My pain at night isnt too bad atm , I do sleep well, it's during the day is the problem.

My aunt takes it and says its not too bad, but she's 70 and doesn't have to get up for work!

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Spero · 25/05/2014 21:49

I was told to take it after 8pm???

I tried to get up in the night to go to the loo and fell over - I had no balance. The next day my tongue felt like it was three times the size and my mouth was try. This was just on one tablet of 20mgs I think. It would have been very hard to go to work if those were the kind of side effects that continued.

But I guess you won't know how it impacts on you unless you try. Maybe try and plan some time off around the first week of taking it so you can manage the worst side effects, if they come?

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Cocolepew · 25/05/2014 21:55

I've just checked again and it definitely says one or two hours before bedtine but not after 8 Confused.

I'm off for four weeks in the summer I could try it then.

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Spero · 25/05/2014 22:07

This was four years ago so don't necessarily trust my memory!

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PotOfYoghurt · 25/05/2014 22:11

I take it on and off for neuralgia, doesn't really do much pain wise for me personally but it does knock me out so I can sleep.

If it's day time pain relief you're after, have you tried carbamazepine, pregabalin, gabapentin etc?

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Cocolepew · 25/05/2014 22:13

Maybe I should ask about something else then, if Im sleeping ok?
My pain is, due to Lupus, I'm not due to see my rheumatologist until August, so I thought I'd try the GP first.
Thanks for the suggestions pot.

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TheFairyCaravan · 25/05/2014 22:19

I take it. I take 50mg at night. If I don't take it before 8pm I can forget getting up the next day.

I honestly can't tell you anymore if it does help because I take so many other things as well and I have been on it for so long. It helps me fall asleep, but I don't stay asleep all through the night, I haven't done that for along time.

If you sleep well, I second Pot, I would maybe ask for something like Gabapentin or Pre-Gabalin instead.

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susiedaisy · 25/05/2014 22:25

I took it for about 3 years for migraine and low mood. It was ok. Made me tired and hungry but it did it's job for several years then I had to change meds. But I have a couple of friends/family who have taken it for nerve pain in back and shoulder and it's worked well for them. Good luck

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Cocolepew · 25/05/2014 22:28

Thank you everyone Smile

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KurriKurri · 26/05/2014 10:32

I find it works well for my pain (post herpetic neuralgia) but makes me very tired and groggy. I have friends who take gabentin for nerve pain and they say it works well for them.
I think there are various options you could try if one doesn't suit you.

Also maybe worth asking for a referral to a pain clinic, thye might be able to suggest drugs or drug combos that would suit your particular problems.

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2old2beamum · 26/05/2014 15:56

DS very small 15 year old takes 25mgs 2x day he is zonked until 11.00 but prefer this to horrendous screaming with neuropathic pain! He has CP and deaf blind sadly not a stroppy teenager!!

Good luck.

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Cocolepew · 26/05/2014 16:27

Thanks Smile
I was offered it about a year ago, for what we thought was post herpatic pain, but now I think the pain is related to Lupus.
The pain is mostly in my knees and elbows with muscular pain, though that can change in a heartbeart Hmm.
I'll go to the dr and see what they advise if I can ever get an appointment

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calmet · 26/05/2014 16:34

It made a massive difference to my neuralgia. You have to take it for at least a few weeks before it really makes a difference to the pain.

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theelvisyears · 26/05/2014 16:37

I take it for nerve pain after an odd brain condition. At first it really knocked me out and I still feel very tired still in the morning but it does help and I've got used to it. It is an old fashioned anti-depressant I think.

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Weegiemum · 26/05/2014 16:42

I take it for quite nasty nerve pain (I have a peripheral neuropathy called CIDP that has a nasty set of nerve pains in legs/feet/fingers etc).

I take 100mg at night and sleep very well, it doesn't start to hurt until about 5pm next day.

For neuro pain I'd very much recommend it. I was tried on Gabapentin and hated it - Ami has always been my best bet!

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magso · 27/05/2014 16:41

I was told to start on half a 20mg tablet for a week before progressing to a full tablet and the upwards as needed. This was to avoid the worst of the side effects and morning zombie effect.

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Cocolepew · 27/05/2014 17:32

I've managed to get a GPs appointment next friday so I'll go through my options then. Hpefully he will be understanding.
I'm suffering terribly with muscle pain in my legs at the moment and really want it sorted.
I need rubbed out and drew over again Blush

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specialsubject · 27/05/2014 19:40

it doesn't work for everyone (been there) but it may work for you and is worth a try. It can take quite a while to work if it is going to do so.

good luck - and sympathy to all those with chronic pain.

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RahRahRasputin · 27/05/2014 20:10

I tried it for post surgical nerve pain and it did nothing. I was a bit drowsy the first night (I was told to take it at bedtime, no mention of before 8pm) but then no real side effects at all. I woke up fine the next day.

I'm now on gabapentin, it's far more effective, for me, and, touch wood, I've not had any side effects, apart from occasional drowsiness when I increase my dose. I still have a bit of pain sometimes so my GP is increasing the dose every few weeks.

Hopefully the GP will be able to talk you through the various options and the pros and cons, you can always try a few until you find the right one :)

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calmet · 28/05/2014 11:56

Rah - You have to take it for at least a few weeks before you will feel the effects.

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magso · 28/05/2014 14:04

Yes it took a few weeks to help for me too, so its worth not giving up too soon (as well as building up slowly).

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