amitriptyline.

[hashtagwhatever]

I have some inflammatory thing going on according to the rheumatologist. Which results in lots of joint pain.

But also real painful pins and needles plus burning sensations in my hands and feet. For this I was prescribed amitriptyline, I am due to take the first dose tonight.

Anyone take this for similar? Any side effects ect I should be wary of. Thanks

[LongTimeLurking]

It can make you feel very tired and spaced out as well as causing dry mouth and constipation. You are best off taking it about 12 hours before you need to get up again, IYSWIM.

[hashtagwhatever]

Thanks lurking

Does it usually kick in quickly then? So say if I took it around 9 would I be asleep not long after.

[ozymandiusking]

What dosage is it? you will probably feel sleepy about an hour and a half after taking it. It does vary with different people, and as you get used to taking it.
It is very effective so do stck with it.

[Matildathecat]

I take mine at bedtime and get sleepy very quickly. I sleep well an do struggle to wake up a bit but once I'm awake I'm fine. The side effects of hangover feeling next day do subside and frankly you have to persevere to get the best out of amytriptiline. That's why you start on a low dose and increase very slowly. The therapeutic effects take a while to build up so give it a few weeks. I was started on 10mgs with the option of building up to 50 mgs a day. I never got past 20mg! Often I take only 10.

If after a few weeks it really isn't suiting you there are alternatives but don't give up too soon. I've been taking it two years now.

[Makingchanges]

Don't take it for pain but for migraine. Was warned about the sleepiness and as a teacher and having to get up early, I take it around 8.30pm, however, I only found I was drowsy for the first few weeks (Could fall asleep easily after taking it) got up fine the next morning though.

[Makingchanges]

I was first put on 10mg, now on 20mg - Didn't notice any differences with the increase.

[ElectricalBanana]

I take 10mg at night for nerve pain. Have done for a few years.

No problems with it but it did make me very tired at first!

[weegiemum]

I take it for nerve pain at 100mg/night (it's a high dose but works for me as I was a zombie on Gabapentin). Works brilliantly, but yes, do expect sleepiness, especially for the first couple of weeks.

[hashtagwhatever]

Thanks all good to know it does work.

Starting at 10mg first two weeks then gp said she would like to up the dose.

[Sandthorn]

I took it for a trapped nerve for about six months. Worked pretty well, and had a mild antidepressant effect: not strictly necessary, but not entirely unwelcome. Previously tried gabapentin for the same, which as incredibly effective, but with the minor incovenience of making me hallucinate

[QOD]

I take it at 6 for nerve pain, 10mg but sometimes I take 20 if feeling particularly bad. I feel like I've been run over by a bus in the morning but I dunno if that's that tablets, or the arthritis!

[OneSkinnyChip]

Avoid drinking with it - I'm pretty sure alcohol and amitriptyline are a bad combo. It also might be worth you looking into dietary causes of inflammation? My friend made a lot of dietary changes (the usual stuff - wholefoods, reducing meat and sugar) and found it really helped her joint pains and reduced her inflammation in blood tests.

[spanky2]

Doctor said to take an hour before bed to stop me feeling sick all day. I take it for migraine, 50mg. I drink a couple of glasses of wine in the evening at the weekend and I feel okay.

[rumtumtugger]

Think you're not supposed to have grapefruit with it due to interactions (or am I talking out of my arse?)

[2old2beamum]

DS 15 takes 25mgs X 2 day, he has cerebral palsy and he is deaf/blind.
Before taking Amitriptyline his life was dire crying and spasming has been taking it for 3 years his life has been transformed. He is very sleepy in the morning until 10.00 then stays awake until midnight.

[LeapingOverTheWall]

I'm taking this for arm and facial numbness/tingling (no pain) as well as pregabalin. 10mg meant I fell asleep the next afternoon between 3 and 5, but after increasing to 20mg, that's been fine. No change to the numbness and tingling though .

[hashtagwhatever]

Good to know mostly it works well.

Does it have a muscle relaxant in it?. I took it about an hour ago and feel weighted (if that makes sense) totally relaxed.

[hashtagwhatever]

Still wide awake here though

[QOD]

I sleep well, wake at 1:30am and go off again. Most weird

My consultant told me not to read the leaflet as it's all about it being anti anxiety, so therefore I don't know I'm not supposed to drink it !

[BristolRover]

I had 5mg for joint pain for a while. It made me sleep like the dead and it was hard to wake up but that eases after a few weeks. My brother is on 300mg (!) for anxiety / depression and still can't sleep so you clearly get used to that aspect.

[Pollaidh]

It takes about 2-3 hours to kick in for me. I'm on a very low dose - 20 to 30 mg a night. I tend to then sleep like the dead, although pain does wake me sometimes.

Can leave you feeling groggy if you have to wake early/during the night, also dry mouth. Fine after a cup of tea. I drink a little alcohol with it sometimes, but no more than say 2 glasses of wine. Any more than that and I don't take the tablet, then don't sleep, so it's not worth it. I also take 30 to 60mg of codeine with paracetamol for pain, and the amitriptyline and codeine interact to make it more sedating I think.

I started on 10 mg about 3 yrs ago, and you do get used to the dose.

I've been prescribed gapapentin too, but haven't taken it.