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AIBU?

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Original poster

To want to know your experiences of amitriptyline?

120 replies

Amitriptyline · 09/05/2022 18:18

A bit nosy I know, I've been prescribed these tablets and pick them up tomorrow so looking for some first hand experiences from anyone who has had them.

10mg at night I believe the dosage is.

I'm a little bit apprehensive about starting them as I'm quite sensitive to meds and I can't really afford to put on any more weight which I know can be a side effect. Eeek.

They are for TMD pain but I'm hoping to get some benefit from them for my depression as I know its a multi use drug.

Thanks!

OP posts:
SometimesSquircles · 09/05/2022 21:01

I took them for nerve pain. I'd definitely recommend that you don't take them too late at night. As many have said, they knock you out a treat. I used to make sure I took them early evening. I'd be sitting on the sofa and suddenly feel this utter sleepiness descend on me and I'd be out like a light before I could get up to bed. If I took them too late I'd be a zombie in the morning. I found them very good for reducing anxiety as my brain couldn't cope with thinking too many thoughts at once on them so it cut down the background worrying my mind does a lot. They gave me a dry mouth. I found I struggled to remember words more often than usual whilst taking them. Generally I loved them though, made me feel very serene.

Gonewalking · 09/05/2022 21:02

@Mummysgogetter....no I don't think so. But am a bit worried now.

Mummysgogetter · 09/05/2022 21:10

@Gonewalking no don’t worry. I’ve heard of plenty of people that take them with codeine/other opioids and GP wouldn’t prescribe together if unsafe. I just wondered what effects @AnxiousSquirrel had had taking the two together as I sometimes take codeine for period pain and if I’ve taken my Amitriptyline as well, I feel quite nauseous

Cherms · 09/05/2022 21:42

I was prescribed them years ago for TMJ pain. Sort of worked but really I needed to solve the source of the pain, which I did with a gum shield type thing. I guess they helped me function whilst the TMJ problem got fixed.

I'm now on 25mg a night for migraines and will be for life. If that's what I need to take to prevent them (and it's worked for 3 years) then that's what's necessary.

My advice is mainly around alcohol. If you drink make sure it's early in the evening so it's worn/wearing off. Amitriptyline and alcohol make for a zombie the next day.

Cherms · 09/05/2022 21:44

I've also recently lost over a stone and am quite happy with my appetite so if you find it affects it it's not forever.

nearlyspringyay · 09/05/2022 21:44

I had a two week course for shingles. Slept so well.

picklemewalnuts · 09/05/2022 21:48

I've not noticed any side effects. Certainly not short temper. I've lost a lot of weight, too. Not without effort, but I don't think the ami has made it harder.

I've taken cocodamol at the same time, when necessary. No I'll effects.

Can't speak as to alcohol as I barely drink.

girafferaffle · 09/05/2022 21:50

I don't have any issues with taking codeine with it. Been prescribed both for well over 15 years too. Think codeine disagrees with people/other drugs fairly often though.

ladygindiva · 09/05/2022 21:50

I love amitryptaline. Given them for insomnia and night tinnitus that was making me frankly suicidal. It gave me back my nights sleep. I have to take 20mg though, 10 did fuck all, so the Dr said increase to 20. Works a treat.

Spidey66 · 09/05/2022 21:58

I took them years back for depression. 10mgs is not a therapeutic dose for depression. I was on 75mgs but it can go up to 150mgs for depression.

They are very sedating. Don't take them during the day, especially if you're driving, and go easy on alcohol. They make you very thirsty.

Not sure what they're like for pain.

freeandfierce · 09/05/2022 22:04

Took them long term for severe back pain alongside tramadol. Gave me relief from constant pain and allowed me a few hours rest. Side effects were worth it for me to be knocked out and get some respite from the pain. Dry mouth and feeling groggy were the worst side effects I suffered but the benefits outweighed this. Try then, they may be just what you need.

MrsRinaDecker · 09/05/2022 22:05

I used them for chronic pain.. they worked for a good while, but eventually became less effective (but I don’t think that’s unusual for pain meds). They did make me groggy the next day, but you can play around with timing the dose. I didn’t notice any real weight gain (or loss when I stopped taking them unfortunately!)

Wishihadanalgorithm · 09/05/2022 22:05

I have amitriptyline for TMJ pain. 10mg per night going up to 30mg if needed. I haven’t really noticed any side effects and they do work well.

BrightonBunny · 09/05/2022 22:09

I took them for nerve pain.

Sadly they made me piss myself!! I have never had bladder problems before or since but I would just leak small amounts of urine which was horrible.

I take duloxetine now which is fabulous.

BlimBosh · 09/05/2022 22:11

Not helpful, but I was prescribed them for migranes. When I read the bumph it said they cause fits - I already have epilepsy so I never took them.

QueenietheCutie · 09/05/2022 22:31

I take them for chronic pain, frozen pelvis from severe endometriosis. I take 20mg (with option to take 30mg if needed) at 7pm everyday, I have an alarm to remind me! Any later than 7pm and I am a zombie the following day. I sleep really well now and am not disturbed by pain at night at all.
I have put on some weight but am unsure if that is the amitriptyline or the hormone meds I also take.
Definitely get a dry mouth from them though.
There are times I have to take opioids with them, codeine or morphine, and haven't suffered any side effects.

HarleyQuinnFan · 09/05/2022 22:34

The side effects are a little unwanted. Strong smelling wee and uti symptoms. Along with vivid dreams.

I also take for TMD and have found my ideal dose at 40mg.

I would increase the dose slowly when advised by your doctor and try really hard not to miss a dose as this messes with the side effects.

I’ve been on this dose now for around 6 months and now no longer need to take painkillers during the day and am able to sleep properly and we’ll at night.

I do have to try and ensure I drink enough during the day as I find that this helps keep the side effects to a minimum.

I would say bare with the tough stuff initially as the results long term and definitely worth it.

notangelinajolie · 09/05/2022 22:35

I was given it for nerve pain while in hospital. I was on a massive cocktail of pain medication including Codeine and Dihydrocodeine but it was Amitriptyline that finally reduced the pain/pressure and subsequent swelling on a nerve that was causing all my pain. I was in so much pain that I didn’t notice feeing drowsy.
Given last thing at night at not at the same time as the other drugs. The added bonus was that it helped me sleep.

It was a miracle drug as far as I’m concerned.

This was over 20 years ago, I’m not on any regular pain medication anymore and I only took Amitriptyline for a few months until I didn’t need it anymore but I have been getting the odd flare up of pain recently and my GP has said he will prescribe it if I need it.
I’m getting to the stage where I think I will take him up on that offer.

PurassicJark · 09/05/2022 22:36

Did nothing for me on the pain front. Made me a little depressed at first. Did nothing else, didn't even help me sleep, I still woke up constantly.

MrsWeatherwax · 09/05/2022 22:37

I was prescribed a low dose of it for TMJ pain several years ago and found it very beneficial. As an aside it also seemed lessen anxiety and hypervigilance behaviours. No side effects at all at 10mg.

In case it's helpful the root cause of my TMJ was eventually resolved with some restorative dentistry I actually had done for cosmetic reasons. After 5 yrs of NhS orthodontics and unsuccesful dental hospital interventions in my teens my under bite and crowding remained dreadful into my 30's with horrendous wear across my upper front teeth. Private dentist reconstructed my front teeth using composite and spent a lot of time building 3d models to create a correctly aligned bite. Applying the composite in this way looked natural, let me smile without shame and the corrected bite had the unintended outcome of eradicating the TMJ entirely. Best 1.5k I ever spent on myself and the composites are still going without repairs nearly 6yrs later.

AlwaysAuntie · 09/05/2022 22:51

Was put on 150mg to cope with migraines.Gained weight, after starting them, although it coincided with my back issues which meant I walked less. Unfortunately they don't help with me going to sleep at a reasonable hour, one doctor was extremely surprised that at the dosage I'm on it has no effect on my sleep.

SpaceJamtart · 09/05/2022 22:55

Didn't help with the pain so GP switched me,
Did give me ridiculous dreams, so vivid and bizarre like an acid trip. Not necessarily unpleasant but really weird at the time, I had lots of lucid dreams and I could remember them in good detail

DuckWithOneWing · 09/05/2022 23:03

I took it for chronic pain but didn't get on with it. It made me drowsy all the time. I switched to gabapentin which has been fantastic.

D0lphine · 09/05/2022 23:04

Mmm yummy

SwimmingIsCool · 09/05/2022 23:21

I used to take them for migraine. To be honest, they didn't help the migraines that much but they did give me great sleep! It was lovely sleeping through the whole night every night, but I did find it hard to get up in the morning.

10mg is a v small dose, you r not likely to suffer too many probs on that dose, but might enjoy a few good night's sleeps! If the pain hasn't subsided after you've been on them a wee while, maybe ask for an increase in dose.