Amitriptyline - Can anybody help?

[RichTeaAreCrap]

I am suffering from what my GP thinks is MAV ? Migraine Associated Vertigo. I have been on beta blockers for a while now and although they help it hasn?t controlled the dizziness I get. He has now prescribed me Amitriptyline to take with them and is hoping that will help.

I am to start on 10mg at night and slowly build up to 50mg if I can tolerate that.

I am a really nervous about taking them because the GP told me a lot of people don?t stick with them because of the side effects ? apparently they will make me really tired and groggy the next morning, but I should persevere. However, I have a job that is quite full on and I am worried about how I will feel everyday at work ? I can?t afford to be feeling spaced out every morning!

Also, he mentioned weight gain ? this is something else that worries me ? I really don?t want to put weight on.

Has anybody had any experience with taking this drug? I know everyone reacts differently but it would be good to hear if they worked for you and what side effects you suffered with and how long this lasted.

Keep going then maytheodds, you are doing brilliantly.

It sounds like codeine is ok to take then for a lot of you.

dinky....good to hear from someone else with MAV, although sorry you have it. Do you get dizzy with yours? I get dizzy even when I haven't got headache or migraine. So glad to hear it worked for you though, I am actually looking forward to trying something that so many people have had success with.

I was on 125mg. I am ultra ultra sensitive to drug side effects.

I had very few side effects. Superb sleepevery night. Slightly more interested in sugaryfoods (but still managed to lose weight on them) and grumpiness at higher doses. I have been on at least a million different Ad's. This one caused the least side effects of all. Have just been through AD side effect hell with 5 ad's. I kinda miss the old ami but it was no longer working properly as an ad for me

Itmade me spend too much money too

Hello RichTea.

I was on Amitriptyline for a while - about 20mg I think and it was fine. It didn't help with my problem at all but did help me sleep without leaving me groggy. I didn't put of weight.

yes, my initial symptom was dizziness. I was diagnosed with labyrinthitis each time but it then progressed to migraines. I also get dizziness with no headache, eye problems, stiff neck, eye pressure, earache,stomach pain/nausea, although never sick. Each time they just fade away very very gradually over a period of about 6 months. I do still get symptons but they are manageable, not ideal, but manageable. Hope the Ami helps you.

I'm on a 10mg dose and my consultant has said to increase by 10mg/week until I get to 50mg or, "the hangover doesn't wear off". To avoid the groggy feeling in the morning he has said that they should be taken a couple of hours before bed as that is how long the sedative effects take to kick in properly.

DH has been away for a couple of weeks so I'm waiting for his return to start increasing my dose.

I was put on them for migraines. They made me unbelievably tired and I would fall asleep in the day. Eventually I was assessed at a sleep clinic and got a diagnosis so was able to come off them. It has to be your call but tbh I have bad side effects on 99% of meds I have to take.

Bonkers nightmares for the first couple of months, but greatly helped with nerve pain.

dinky that is really encouraging - I have the same symptoms so let's hope they work.

LilRed - good luck with the increase - let me know how you get on with that - my GP has told me to increase in exactly the same way.

Thank you all again for responses - makes me feel a lot better about taking them.

Orangesand lemons - I don't need any more excuses

Well I took my first one last night.....I slept very well! I did feel very spaced out until about lunchtime today though!

Hi there, i see your message is very old but wondered if you have recovered from your vertigo?

Hi justsam - I have sent you a personal message.

Hi

I have just started taking this and I know its a dead thread but I just wanted to know how long I will feel like a zombie for as this is affecting me at work atm and feel sleepy all day???

Well seems like everyone's a bit different but I started on 10mgs for a couple of weeks then increased to 20mgs. That was as far as I got. It did and still does make me sleepy (good for night pain) but the intense drowsiness wore off quite quickly. I have to drag myself awake but then I'm fine.

I would suggest starting your own thread, though.

I take amitryptaline 100mg/night for severe neuropathic pain and twitching in my legs related to CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy- rare neurological disability a bit like MS but not quite!). It doesn't help with my vertigo, balance or loss of position-sense but is great for the twitches, pain and burning and "phantoms" in my legs and feet.

I was initially started on Gabapentin but it turned me into a non-functioning zombie. The Amitryptaline has been fab though I have needed eye drops with my contacts, now I'm used to it I just have early nights and am ok in the morning - I don't drive which helps.

It does take a wee bit of getting used to but I love it - it's helped me sleep and done away with the daytime jabbing pains that made me yelp

Everyone is so different, I can tolerate a high dose of Gabapentin with no problems. Amytriptiline in small doses but tramadol knocks me out. More people's experiences on The Back Story thread.

weegie, commiserations, that all sounds very difficult.

My 12 year old DD is on 50mg of this daily. She seems to be fine on the dose and is waking up as she always has done. Her consultant says that he has girls I her age on 200mg (but he might of said that to make me feel better!) DD takes it for nerve problems

Like Castlecellar DS a small 13 year old takes 25mgm X/2 day for neuropathic pain, he also takes propranolol. It has improved his quality of life 10 fold. Also can have Diazepam if in deep trouble but rarely needs it! He is a bit sleepy in the morning but better than the pain

It has saved my sanity never mind his!!

I have been given this for a facial tic? Its seems to have stopped it like 70% but I still get an urge now and again :-). i have been sleeping on my stomach for the last 6 months and someone said this could have started the Tic and facial pains etc? I think I will start to sleep on my side or back and let this drug do its thing until I'm finished with them.