amitriptyline for nerve pain - what are the side effects/how do you manage them? be honest!

[Pavlovthecat]

I have just been prescribed 25mg daily for ongoing sciatic pain (although she was very honest in saying it might also lift my mood slightly and make me feel more able to cope with pain too which is a good side effect!).

She said that side effects on such a low dose should be minimal but look out for constipation, dry mouth and blurred vision.

I have also read numerous other common effects and wondered which ones are the most re-occurring/what am I most likely to experience on this dose, and how do you manage them?

Thanks

Have a fucking (for your goady, triumphal zombie thread revival) Paza

I have a chronic, lifelong, somewhat degenerative condition which is known only to respond in a limited way to manipulation. I'll take the OK night's sleep afforded to me by a tiny 10mg amitriptyline over night's lying awake in pain, TYVM.

Initially I got lots and felt bad, but I was given the following advice, "Take them for 2 weeks solid, don't miss a day, the first week you will fell worse every day, the second you start to feel better" and it worked.

Paza14

So you had a single injury that needed physio, which you were given on a sheet by the NHS, but paid £125 for 3 sessions.

Do you realise most people on here do daily physio? That it is not a single injury but a chronic condition.

Take that pain in your shoulder and imagine it in every joint of your body. Now add to that an ugly painful, skin cracking condition, then add to thatthe iris of your eye swelling to the point it sticks to the lens.

Got that? OK now ass it 10 years broken sleep, daily falls and vomiting.

And then you might have some idea why someone would want to take meds long term.

Oh and as for Don't muck around with tablets for nerve damage you didn't have nerve damage, you had pain from a nerve, and that's, well, pain.

I have been prescribed 10mg Amitriptyline for dental pain but heard you gain weight with these Tablets and I am an Anorexic so very weight conscious so in two minds about taking them. Obviously if it helps the pain then that out weighs the other problem but has anyone experienced weight gain on these. Thanks

I gained a substantial amount of weight within the first 2 months. In retrospect I should have addressed this immediately, but I was having some serious issues at the time, and the pain relief/sleep felt more important. I've never had a weight problem in my life. I stopped the tablets and the weight is rapidly falling off. I look like my old self again. So my advice would be to try the drugs, but watch the scale carefully so you can discontinue if you start to gain.

Do try them though, because not everyone experiences this, and the benefits are substantial.

And, like I said, the weight gain rapidly reversed itself so it's worth a try to see if you get on with them.

Also, is your doctor aware you are anorexic? Maybe s/he can help reassure you that if you gain weight it can be addressed by switching medications. Mine helped me once I talked about my fears.

Thanks I will give them a try see if it helps the pain.

I take amitriptyline for IBS and to help with my low moods resulting from the IBS! I also noticed dry mouth but it fades and is not that bad. A little more tired but I also have a 9 month old. I'm now on 50mg a day having worked up from 10. I am a bit better but it's not helped that much so a bit disappointed to be honest.

I’m taking amitriptyline for nerve pain 10 mg but would like to put it up to 20 mg but I have afib and dr says it can effect your heart rate so I’m only on a low dose I am wondering if there is anyone out there with afib and is also on 20 mg or higher and how it has been for you thanks