Amitriptyline for Post-Pregnancy Blues

[flawless29]

Hi everyone,
I've been feeling down for a few months now. I'm a new mom to a wonderful one-year-old, my first baby. I've managed to see my GP on a couple of occasions. She's been very supportive, but unfortunately, our appointments have been quite brief on both visits, limiting the time for in-depth discussion.

At my last appointment, she suggested trying Amitriptyline and provided some information to read about it. Honestly, I'm already exhausted, and my libido has been low since getting pregnant and continues even after stopping breastfeeding a few months ago. My partner and I barely find any time for ourselves.

I'm really worried that Amitriptyline might worsen my libido issues, which would be difficult for both me and my husband. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Did Amitriptyline help with your mood, and did it have any impact on your relationship?

I took a low dose of amitriptiline for long term pain management a few years ago, i took it at 8pm and it made me feel quite groggy and it was quite difficult for me to get up in the mornings so this would be my concern with a little one to look after, especially if they are still waking up in the night. Of course you may be able to tolerate it better than me or have less side effects than I did though.

Low libido after having a baby is also quite normal from my experience and from talking to my girlfriends who have had children. With other health issues on top, either mental or physical it's understandable to have low libido also. Just keep communicating with your partner and in time you may get it all back. I really hope he is supportive of you.

I took Amitriptyline for tension headaches, not for depression, and felt really weird on it. I experienced dry mouth and dizziness. As far as libido is concerned, it definitely suppressed my sex drive

I took low dose amitriptyline for mild PND. It made me 'blank' : no emotion, no feelings, no thinking, no sexual desire, just numb. I hope your partner is understanding and supportive ... keep open and honest communication going, is the important thing.

Does it have to be amitriptyline? Could you go back and express your concerns and ask for what other options you have?

I have taken it for neuropathic pain in the past and it was fine. But when I experienced depression after a trauma (and probably the hanging on of PND), I started on a low dose of sertraline. It made a real difference almost immediately.

I took it for a year. I did have some mild side effects (restless legs at night), but nothing more than that. It made a massive difference to my quality of life and was able to just get me up and out of that slump. I came off it after about 18 months with no problems and I've been fine ever since (that was probably 2 years ago).

I do think it's worth trying antidepressants. I was very resistant to the idea, but actually I'm glad now that I gave them a go. I didn't need them long term and I had no issues coming off them.

I would second the suggestion of sertraline rather than Amitriptyline. It’s well known that amitriptyline is likely to cause drowsiness so unless there’s a particular reason not to take sertraline probably worth asking your GP about that. I’ve recently started taking sertraline for anxiety and it’s been quite honestly life-changing with very minor side effects. I wish I’d done it years ago.

When I first visited the GP about my depression, she seemed to take it lightly, suggesting it would improve on its own. However, during m a follow up I asked the same question, she acknowledged the issue and suggested medication. You mentioned that sertraline might be better than amitriptyline, so I'm considering discussing this further with her. I've been wondering if there are alternatives to medication worth exploring. Can they refer me for therapy under NHS ?