Anyone taking a tricyclic AND an SSRI at the same time?

[NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding]

I'm wondering if this is possible. I will of course see my GP but won't be able to for a while so thought I'd ask. Googling just confused me (brain doesn't really work ATM)

I was on amitryptiline (a tricyclic) for about 18 months, not actually as an AD but at a low dose used as a painkiller (I have a chronic illness). I gradually came off it earlier this year. I am now on sertraline (SSRI) as my depression/anxiety has been bad.

I think the latter is helping a little but the headaches and pain and insomnia have been creeping back so I'm wondering if I should restart the amitryptiline - but concerned about the two interacting in some way.

Any experience of this please

Not now but I have done. I have taken amitryptiline with citralopram. My psych said they work on different receptors. I believe the SSRI works on serotonin and the amitryptiline perhaps on norepinephrine. Don't quote me!

You might want to consider something like Effexor which does both at doses over and above 150mg (more around 225mg). But before you take the SNRI road check out withdrawal (not the ones who get hysterical, there are tons of those, but the normal ones who says it's rough but doable). I am pretty tough with drugs but definitely got a withdrawal from going CT from only 75mg Effexor.

There will be something to suit you, I hope you can see your GP soon.

Am wondering why you stopped taking the amitrypt.......presumably because of the dep/anx. I don't think it's usual to take an SSRI and a tryclic at the same time. The thing is if you are going to be taking a combination of drugs you probably need to be referred to a psychiatrist as GPs tend to just prescribe one AD.

Don't really understand the previous post about different drugs but they work differently on individuals as you probably know, so it's not really much use just trying something that has been beneficial for someone else. MY CPN says people are always asking for something that has helped their friend etc. It's all a bit of a minefield really and the medics have no idea whether something will work until they try it.

Sorry can't be more helpful. Is there anything you can take for the pain/insomnia that isn't an AD.

The reason I stopped the amitryptiline (with dr consent) was because I had no idea if they were really doing anything TBH. I'd been prescribed them for headaches by a neurologist (but my CFS specialist agreed it was good for that too) and really wondered if I was taking them for no reason. I did fine for months but now am having a flare up of my CFS and getting headaches again. It worked better than more regular painkillers like diclofenac and ibuprofen type stuff - so I think maybe I should try it again.

Can't take SSNRIs unfortunately as I have another weird autoimmune condition (it affects my heart rate and when I was on Effexor in my teens it rocketed dangerously)

I don't know, I feel like the sertraline is working a bit as in I don't feel so sad but I just feel really numb. The depression doesn't affect my ability to work but my other physical conditions do, and they are definitely worse ATM, so I need to do something!

Thanks for replies BTW

I did once and it made me rather ill. The doc who prescribed it had misspelled the name of the tricyclics so the med interaction warning didn't come up. You need to be careful that they go together as docs don't always get it right.