Does anyone take Amitriptyline?

[Pinkbutterfly79]

I have been suffering with constant migraines for four months now, anxiety is at an all time high and I am feeling depressed. My GP has prescribed amitriptyline , a low dose initially as it is prescribed for migraines with the possibility of increasing the dose to a level used for anxiety and depression if these don’t ease as the migraines become less frequent.
I haven’t taken anything like this before and was wondering if anyone else takes them? The GP said to take them at night time as they can act as a sedative

They have been good for me. I take 40mg. I have Fibro, they help relax the muscles and reduce nerve pain.

I don't have any side effects from them, though I noticed the sleepiness effect at first.

10mg nightly works for me on migraine it's been an absolute godsend! You may need to be careful with Alcohol though

I used to take them and was on 80mg. I only took them at night as they knocked me out about an hour after taking. I took them for pain and to help me sleep as I was waking in pain. Funnily enough they did nothing for my migraines. Do you know what causes your migraines?

Lots of people say good things about it for migraines on this thread:

Amitriptyline for chronic pain www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3674118-amitriptyline-for-chronic-pain

Yes, been taking it for years. It can make you sleepy so I would say be careful with it, increase the dose slowly and don’t take it if you have a small child in the bed or need to get up super early in the morning. It has helped me to an extent but it’s been far from a miracle cure for me. I’m a veteran migraine sufferer and have gone through peaks and thoughts of them in my life since I hit puberty. I’m sure you’ve had every bit of possible advice thrown at you over the years and am sick of hearing them but my tried and tested day to day tips are; high dose of aspirin with a can of fat coke or a sugary black coffee when the headache starts but before it sets in; white tiger balm in your forehead with a bag of ice on the top of you head and laying in a dark, cold room.

However the thing that’s helped me most is having my diaths pierced. Sounds like absolute bollocks and I was so sceptical but I had got to the point where I was desperate and was having them four times a week. It’s not got rid of them entirely but it’s cut them down to one every two or three months when I’m on my period. I paid a Harley Street specialist to have mine done. I can send you their name if it’s something you’re interested in... only cost just over £150 which was MJ St well spent!

Here is some info on it from the migraine trust www.migrainetrust.org/hot-topic-daith-piercing/

Yes I've taken them for years. They will make you sleep so do take them at bedtime, even a low dose will knock you out. Only other things I noticed were mild dizziness that resolved in a few weeks and a dry mouth.

Thank you, I took the first one last night (10mg) and after about 30 minutes my eyes were closing and my body felt like I was asleep but my mind was still awake (if that makes sense?) but then I fell fast asleep and actually slept all night for the first time in months . I struggled to get up this morning and still feel a bit groggy but hopefully that will settle down.

I have never suffered with migraine before but had something called PRES which is a syndrome that causes the brain to swell leading to seizures, loss of consciousness etc and triggers migraines.

Hi pinkbutterfly, my GP prescribed 10mg Amitriptyline today as I've not been sleeping great after a run of virus's one after another.
Has your sleep improved since you started taking it?