Anyone on sertraline (or other SSRI) and amitriptyline?

[chester18]

Have been on 10mg amitriptyline for a few years for neck and back pain and feel it helps with this and sleep. Went to the doctor two weeks ago due to anxiety which has been getting worse and she started me on sertraline. Said I would have to come off amitriptyline as it interacts with most of the SSRI's. She also said there had been some studies linking amitriptyline to memory problems. Now having really poor sleep which I'm not sure is due to the sertraline or not having the amitriptyline. Anyone else had this issue?

My Brother is currently having a hellish time on Sertraline, it has made his anxiety worse and he is hardly sleeping at all as he feels wired all of the time.

Why did they not just raise your dose of Amitriptyline rather than bring another drug into it? Its a powerful antidepressant on its own and does work for anxiety. It could serve a dual purpose if you can tolerate it in higher doses rather than you ending up in a sleep or sertraline situation.

She said there were some studies showing higher risks of dementia with amitriptyline although I've had a look at the research and don't think it's a huge risk.

I agree with you there, I dont think there was actually any conclusive evidence confirming the link. I take it for depression and I do find that if I need to stop taking it for any reason, I sleep badly.

I was on 40mg of amitriptyline for anxiety. It was wonderful for sleep and not feeling too groggy the next day. A new psychiatrist has replaced it with 50mg of sertraline after tapering down the amitriptyline. No way did he want me on both. He was concerned about amitriptyline causing heart issues. Nothing about the issues your dr raised.
I am taking the sertraline first thing in the morning as I seemed to experience patterns of insomnia.The beneficial effects take a while to kick in. Now on week 5 and feeling more mellow-possibly less up and down. Several people have commented that I seem more relaxed.