Can anyone discuss 'Low dose amitriptyline' with me?

[KatyMac]

It's been suggested as a method of pain management and controlling IBS; any thoughts?

I take it for migraine and nerve pain

It works for me and I don't get any poor side effects but I know people struggle with sleep issues and tiredness the following day

I started of with 10mg and worked up to 40 which is an effective dose for me

That's interesting - thanks for that

My dd is on it for nerve pain. Starts at 10 mg and increased 5mg every 10 days. Now on 30mg. Hard to tell if it's helping but respect the doc who prescribed it so giving it a go

I started on 10mg for migraine and I'm now up to 50mg. It works - I get one migraine a month at most but it does make me very tired so I need to ensure I get 8/9 hours sleep a night.

It also makes me crave sugar and I get that horrible shaky hunger most days. I've put on half a stone because of it.

gp gave me 10mg of this to try last week for nerve back pain. it made me feel awful. I took it before bed and the next day I was like a zombie, no energy, everytime I sat down I fell asleep so I couldn't take it again ad I have three boys at home who are not safe alone

I take 2 tablets before bed for back pain, it helps me sleep a bit better, it does make it harder for me to get up in the mornings but once I'm up I'm fine (no side effects).

It's worth a try and persevering with it I think as it's very good at what it does.

I tried though.. it got me to sleep, kept me asleep but getting up for work I felt as though I was dragging my head across the floor.. slurring my words when speaking to my boss. I'm sure he thought I was drunk. So couldn't get on with them but they are really worth a try.

My dp takes it for IBS, he takes it before bed and also takes a low dose of Fluoxetine in the morning too. It has helped but not eased it enough to stop it affecting his everyday life. He was given it as a trial, the next step is a referral to a gastro.

I think I'm concerned about the sleepiness of it - I already have chronic fatigue syndrome

My GP warned me I might be prescribed it by my Gastro Consultant

I honestly think its worth giving it a go for 3-4 weeks before giving up on it

It's been life changing for me

The hangover effects really do pass unless you are very sensitive. It really does have to be taken for several weeks to get over this and also build blood levels to a therapeutic level.

It works quite well for me and gets me through previously miserable nights.

I took it for chronic joint pain and it really helped me sleep. The first few days were a very weird experience but if you stick with it, you will get the benefit.

I think my GP warned me as I'm a bit fed up with my many & varied symptoms being diagnosed as depression

So it might be worth a try?

I take it (with other meds) for Fibro. 10mg knocked me out and if I took it later than 6pm, I was a zombie the next day but taking it at 6 or earlier meant I was asleep all evening. I now take 5mg at 6-6.30pm and I can stay awake in the evenings, sleep better and am not so tired the next day.

To take 5mg, I bought a pill splitter as apparently 10mg is the smallest pill size produced.

It takes a few days or even weeks to adapt to and feel more normal - I think because it is an anti-depressant, but one that has a good effect in pain modification.

For some people it becomes side-effect free very quickly, others don't seem to get on with it, but maybe need a lower dose.

It has transformed the life of my colleague with RSI type pain and a prolapsed disc.

If it isn't working or the side effects are too strong, talk to your GP

I have used in the past for nerve pain. It took a bit of trial and error to take it at the right time to avoid the groggy feeling the next morning. However, it worked well and when my body got used to it I had no side effects.

I am on 10mg/day and the plan was for me to push it up to 30mg over a month or so. I have never got past 10mg but that is fine actually. Side effects only a bit groggy in the mornings. I was worried about eating more (having seen people talk about that as a side effect before starting) but has made no difference to my weight at all. I simply sleep better and my joint are not as painful during the night.

Definitely sounds worth a try

I was prescribed 10mg to help me sleep when I was taking steroids - it really helped.

My DS 14 years and small for his age takes 25mgs twice a day for neuropathic pain for the last 2 years it has transformed his life albeit a bit sluggish in the mornings.

I already sleep about 10-12 hours

It doesn't actually make me sleep - just relaxes me enough to get to sleep & stay that way. No grogginess in the mornings either.

I had 10mg for a couple of months a while back for a minor neck injury. I adapted quite quickly to it.

Apparently I'm not am ideal candidate for it; there is a significant possibility I might stay asleep all day

I tried it and failed and then I was given some advice that changed my life, well gave me the ability to sleep through the night.

Keep going with it for 2 weeks at least. After the first few days you might feel like you have the flu, be like a zombie etc, but keep going.

After the 2 weeks I was back to normal in the day but sleeping at night.