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Original poster

Anyone taken amitriptyline?

53 replies

getupgonow · 12/08/2019 22:28

I've been given this (10mg) to help me sleep, but I don't like the sound of the side effects (especially weight gain). Anyone else taken it? How have you found it?

OP posts:

cheeseandcrackers77 · 13/08/2019 00:12

I have fibromyalgia and was prescribed 30mg (started at 10mg then 20mg) and honestly I could have taken a Smartie for all the good it did yet my dad was given 10mg for nerve damage and he had to stop taking it as he felt so spaced out.

peardrops1 · 13/08/2019 00:30

I've taken 10mg at night for the past year to help with sleep. Works well, and no weight gain (that I've noticed!). Had a dry mouth the next day for the first few weeks, and it does still dehydrate me a bit (so I make sure to drink plenty of water) - but well worth it for improved sleep.

Sunflowers11 · 13/08/2019 00:30

Take what you have been prescribed instead of fretting over weight gain possible side effects! Your GP gave you it for a reason.

Interested in this thread?

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General health

peardrops1 · 13/08/2019 00:31

Bear in mind as well that 10mg is a v low dose (it's prescribed in much higher doses as an antidepressant).

MuseThalia · 13/08/2019 01:07

I have chronic migraine and I have been on it in the past but it didn't do anything for me. Not sure regarding the side-effects because I take Lamitrogine for epilepsy and I get side effects with that ..including waking up in the night and seeing spiders lol, I have to turn the lights on and strip the bed.. DH loves it (not)

RHTawneyonabus ..I take propranolol (have to take it daily) to keep on top of it and that does help, I also take higher strength ibuprofen if needed. It might be that its not suitable for you but if its not been mentioned to you its worth asking, it's helped with me anyway.

Pipandmum · 13/08/2019 01:14

My daughter takes 20mg for migraines. She thinks it just takes the edge off and no side effects. She’s a teen I’m hoping she’ll grow out of the migraines.
A friend’s mum takes 50mg for depression and has been on it for 15 years and says she couldn’t do without it. No side effects for her either.

ProfessorofPerspective · 13/08/2019 01:30

I took it once for facial nerve pain and it gave me a completely numb tongue and lips. Didn't take it again.

Redshoesandtheblues · 13/08/2019 01:42

Dry mouth and bad dreams.

I moved up to stronger meds. Dreams far worse.

Redshoesandtheblues · 13/08/2019 01:44

Try it. 10mg is nothing. And we all react differently.

Insieme · 13/08/2019 01:54

I take 30mg for nerve pain and it's a life-saver! I had some side effects at the start (tiredness and a dry mouth), but they wore off after a few weeks. It's a brilliant pain killer.

I've been taking it for 8 years. I weigh more now than I did at the beginning, but that's down to my chocolate and doughnut obsession. I honestly don't think the amitriptyline has had much effect on my weight.

Try it, and be prepared to take it for a couple of weeks at least before it has much effect.

RainbowMum11 · 13/08/2019 02:44

I had the hallucinations of spiders and ladybirds - not together,!

ToLiveInPeace · 13/08/2019 05:23

Had it when I was younger with no side effects but no therepeutic effect.

Took it again recently to calm my nervous system after a period of stress and had what's known as a paradoxical reaction - my nervous system went nuts. I developed swallowing/choking problems; widespread tingling, including the feeling of a large spider crawling on my face; and very scary problems with speech/language, as if the connections between my brain and mouth were broken down. It was fucking horrible.

Ten weeks after I stopped taking it, I'm still having some problems, though much reduced. But now I've had to increase my dose of omeprazole and feel worse again, so I may be a special oddball who doesn't get along with drugs.

cheeseandbiscuitss · 13/08/2019 06:56

I took 30 mg the other day for sleep. I already suffer with hallucinations at night (don't take anything) and reading this thread makes me think oh that explains it. It got a lot worse last week. Now I'm back to normal though. Made me groggy too

NoWordForFluffy · 13/08/2019 07:29

I had it for nerve pain when I tore a shoulder tendon so I could sleep.

My sleep did improve (as much as it could; it didn't take all the pain away), but I had bloody weird dreams on it. I had weird dreams when I was pregnant and they were similar to those!

I was up to 30mg after my op and we had to wean me off it, 5mg at a time as I got cracking headaches if I dropped too quickly.

DreamingofSunshine · 13/08/2019 07:39

I'm on 40mg about to go up to 50mg. I've been fine on it, slowly increasing from 10mg.

I'd love to blame my weight gain on it but frankly I've gained weight because I've been eating too much junk.

I take it for nerve pain, fibromyalgia and migraine. It helps me sleep so I can exercise and do physio the next day, plus tiredness triggers my migraines.

StarDanced · 13/08/2019 07:43

I am on 5mg for migraine prevention and it is working wonders. I was really sceptical about it. Have been taking it for 4months and have had no side effects.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/08/2019 07:46

I've been taking 10mg for trapped nerve pain for a few years. No side effects whatsoever.

FVFrog · 13/08/2019 07:48

I take 10mg for migraine prevention. Make sure I take it by 9pm as can make you a bit groggy in the morning if you take it too late. Has transformed my life migraine wise. Other parts of my life completely shit, but migraines are under control!

TemporaryPermanent · 13/08/2019 08:23

Dh took it for back pain combined with anxiety (he was on a cocktail of other stuff for mh issues). Fucking awesome drug.

Bythepath · 13/08/2019 08:30

I have been taking it for a year now to help me sleep and to stop my nightsweats. I love it, have had no problems at all. I was probably waking up 10/12 times a night before. Now i sometimes sleep through or wake up once or twice but can go back to sleep easily. Its been a life changer for me.

ChihuahuaMummy1 · 13/08/2019 08:51

I have it on repeat prescription to help me sleep.I dont take it regularly but 2x10mg tablets help me drop off within half an hr.I feel a bit groggy for 15mins or so next day but that's it.

Original poster

getupgonow · 13/08/2019 14:06

Thanks all! I took it last night and today feel awful, really groggy, I'm had to take the day off and still don't feel right (lunchtime).

Think this is a no from me...

OP posts:

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 13/08/2019 14:10

Yes. No weight gain. Very sedated at first but that side effect did wear off as my body got used to it.

Main side effect for me is dry mouth.

Insieme · 16/08/2019 10:08

Please don't judge it on one day's dose! The side effects wear off after a few days / a couple of weeks, and then you really get the other benefits.

Spidey66 · 16/08/2019 10:14

I was on it years ago for depression (they rarely use it for that now as it's dangerous in overdose) and more recently for medical reasons.

Can't say it affected my weight but I found it sedating and gave me a terrible dry mouth.

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