amitriptyline. .. experiences please

[adv1cen33d3d]

History of depression (was on 40mg citalopram til November when I came off them against medical advice)

Went back to my GP today as I've been feeling uneasy and stressed and like I want to run away.

Had difficulty settling and ultimately sleeping patterns are screwed. I can hardly get up in the morning (leaving dc with dp while I stay in bed til 8am when he goes to work) which can't continue as I'm self employed and have to get up and get on

Gp has given me amitriptyline. .. to take as and when I feel I need them rather than back on citalopram as I felt numb.

Experiences needed please ?

I would not take them, I especially would not take them 'as and when', I found them much harsher than citalopram with unbearable side effects.
Did you ask why these ones and not citalopram at a lower dose or another ssri?
Are you having any sort of therapy along with medication?

No therapy. You wouldn't take them ? Blimey... doctor was quite adamant they would "take the edge off the stress and help sleep"

He's given me 56!

I couldn't get on with them.. they get you to sleep, keep you asleep but trying to get up on a morning I felt like I was dragging my head across the floor..slurring my words for much of the morning.

However you get used to that if you power through and they're really good for nerve pain which I was really liking the sound of.

If you want something for as and when.. what about beta blockers. I find them a much better help than ADs.

I take 25mg nightly to help me sleep and pain from fibromyalgia. I started at 10mg, it makes you drowsy but you get used to it.

Hmmm it doesn't sound like it will do me any good. I have reoccurring sleep paralysis. Wouldn't want to be trapped in that.

Difficulty getting up is already an issue

I tried Amitryptilline for two days for nerve pain initially. Made me feel quite drowsy and disorientated for those days so I stopped them. Wasn't prepared to feel like that any longer.
However I then started Nortriptylline which is similar but the side effects weren't as bad. The first weekend I fell asleep every time I sat down practically but not too bad upright! After that it got better. I'm now on a higher antidepressant dose and have worked out if I take it by 7pm I sleep better but can wake up about 7 rather than struggling to get up later!
Doesn't help my nerve pain though..

They will help sleep because they make you drowsy. If he has given you less than 75mg and directed you to take them 'as and when' they will have absolutely no effect at all on mood. Doses lower than 75mg are used for nerve pain but they are not anti-depressant at these low doses. To be anti-depressant you would also need it every day. Your GP may be thinking he can help a bit with sleep and a bit with mood with one tablet but doesn't know about the doses.

If you felt 'numb' on citalopram then it's likely you weren't fully treated. I suggest you push to see a psychiatrist given you have already not tolerated first line treatment and relapsed quickly on stopping it.

BTW Difficulty falling asleep and difficulty getting started in the morning are barndoor symptoms of depression. You need to be on a daily antidepressant that suits you, not a little dose of something for sleep now and then.

If the depression was treated the sleep problems would resolve by themselves.

Agree with Kundry - I've had it as a sleeping tablet before at 10 mg, sty would make sense to be taken "as and when" for that. I'm now on it for depression (after coming off citalopram last year) and have 50 mg a night, doesn't help me sleep or make me drowsy at that dose. It's used to treat loads of things depending on dose. I know someone who was on it for ibs three times a day! (not sure of dose fit that but was in the 100's)

Ive been given Amitriptyline 10mg yesterday as well.

Bit of a long story but I was on Dosulepin for 9 years before this and they were amazing-really really worked for me. Helped me sleep which was the main cause of my anxiety but they are being withdrawn so have had to come off them.

I finished taking the Dosulepin 2 months ago and have tried to struggle on with nothing but I feel awful. Its all to do with sleep for me...I can't sleep and lie there most of the night. Dr gave me some Zopiclone which Ive been taking as and when but they were making me feel awful so gave me Amitriptyline to try.

I took the first one last night and did sleep but I feel absolutely lousy this morning.

Ive tried Citalopram in the past and felt terrible on it so gave up after a few days.

I'm on 75mg of amytriptylene. Been on several typrs over the years and these ones work well for me. The drowsy I can cope with in comparison to fluoxetine which gave me severe palpitations.

It seems like a weird step - amitriptyline is often given to people because of the side effects, as it leaves you tired and numb. Perfect if you lie awake all night in physical pain.

And i take 10mg, most nights - just enough to get me over the tossing and turning stage. 20mg if I'm very sore, but that leaves me with a horrible hangover, in the mornings, even if I take it earlier in the evening.

Agreeing with others that what you've been given won't treat your depression but seems like a bit of a sledgehammer to walnut dose to help with difficulty getting off to sleep.

I take 20mg a night as a preventative for migraines. I'm suffering from sciatica at the moment and was advised to go up to 30mg for a few days then up to 40mg.
It was horrendous, I could hardly move for two days, so sleepy and tired. I actually had to get someone to help me look after dc.
So I'm back down to 20mg and in pain but at least I am able to look after dc reliably myself.

I was put on these to help combat migraines.

They made me ridiculously tired, and hung over.

Never again.