amitriptyline for pain

[Cocolepew]

Any experience? I have a lot of joint and nerve pain, and was considering asking my gp for this.

[Starrr123]

@IsabelleAdjani Hi! I saw your post about tn. Just wondering did the amatriptyline work? If so how long did it take for it to work? X
I hope this gets to youx

[TheFuzz]

As everyone mentiones, the problems with these drugs is they make you feel 'foggy' or 'muzzy'. When I explained to my GP and specialist that these drugs interfere with your ability to think straight, and how was I supposed to hold down a job, they just shrugged.

I'd not recommend them if you need to drive in the morning, or indeed need to go to a job. I very nearly ended up on a disiplinary when taking Ami after 3 months I wasn't thinking straight. I went cold turkey on the tablets but was violently sick, so took about another month to come off them.

[RahRahRasputin]

I did take it for several months, and increased the dose, but I only had drowsiness the first night.

[Pollaidh]

It's quite good, but doesn't do much for sharp referred pain I've found. Best is in helping you to sleep, always a problem with pain. Take it no later than 9 (I wasn't told this for ages), as it takes a couple of hours to kick in properly and it can leave you feeling too muzzy in the morning (driving difficult/dangerous).

I've recently been put on gabapentin although not taken it yet.

[Cocolepew]

I'd love to not dream, I have very vivid dreams every night.

[textbook]

I took amitriptiline for 3 years for interstitial cystitis. It did make me v hungry and groggy, and I've struggled to lose weight. However, I've just switched to nortriptiline (a newer similar drug) and I've been able to half my dose to 10mg with better results, less fuggy head in the morning and appetite back to normal. I would recommend!

[sideshowbob2]

i had bells palsy in 2009 and was given amitriptyline for post pain in my face, but it is a highly additive drug and i took me 3 times to come off it completely and the the only reason i am off it now is because i am starting ivf treatment, but it is the best thing i did, as it stops you from dreaming and also stops natural sleep patterns, at the time i needed it as the pain in my face was severe but if there's something else you can take i would recommend it!

[IsabelleAdjani]

I have just been put on amitriptyline for trigeminal neuralgia, after several trips to the dentist who couldn't find anything wrong, went to the doctor who diagnosed this and put me on ami, have been on it for a week and the pain is better but not gone (am taking 30mg a night) - how long should it take to kick in? It is totally knocking me out at night and the next day feel drained and really really tired. Also, does it make you gain weight? I have just got back to my pre-DD weight (after 5.5 years :)) so much as I dont want to be in pain dont want to put it back on either!

[TheFuzz]

Didn't work with me. Tried Ami twice and is just made me fuzzy and unable to concentrait - not good when you have a job that requires mental concentration. Tried Gabapentin and that was horrid. It's the 'fuzzy effect' it gives you.

Might be OK if you aren't working/not required to think clearly but there are too many side effects to outweigh the pain benefit (which I found didn't relieve the pain).

GP's do like to dole this shite out to folk. I'd rather take the pain than be 'off my head'. The side effects lists are long and not nice.

[magso]

Yes it took a few weeks to help for me too, so its worth not giving up too soon (as well as building up slowly).

[calmet]

Rah - You have to take it for at least a few weeks before you will feel the effects.

[RahRahRasputin]

I tried it for post surgical nerve pain and it did nothing. I was a bit drowsy the first night (I was told to take it at bedtime, no mention of before 8pm) but then no real side effects at all. I woke up fine the next day.

I'm now on gabapentin, it's far more effective, for me, and, touch wood, I've not had any side effects, apart from occasional drowsiness when I increase my dose. I still have a bit of pain sometimes so my GP is increasing the dose every few weeks.

Hopefully the GP will be able to talk you through the various options and the pros and cons, you can always try a few until you find the right one :)

[specialsubject]

it doesn't work for everyone (been there) but it may work for you and is worth a try. It can take quite a while to work if it is going to do so.

good luck - and sympathy to all those with chronic pain.

[Cocolepew]

I've managed to get a GPs appointment next friday so I'll go through my options then. Hpefully he will be understanding.
I'm suffering terribly with muscle pain in my legs at the moment and really want it sorted.
I need rubbed out and drew over again

[magso]

I was told to start on half a 20mg tablet for a week before progressing to a full tablet and the upwards as needed. This was to avoid the worst of the side effects and morning zombie effect.

[Weegiemum]

I take it for quite nasty nerve pain (I have a peripheral neuropathy called CIDP that has a nasty set of nerve pains in legs/feet/fingers etc).

I take 100mg at night and sleep very well, it doesn't start to hurt until about 5pm next day.

For neuro pain I'd very much recommend it. I was tried on Gabapentin and hated it - Ami has always been my best bet!

[theelvisyears]

I take it for nerve pain after an odd brain condition. At first it really knocked me out and I still feel very tired still in the morning but it does help and I've got used to it. It is an old fashioned anti-depressant I think.

[calmet]

It made a massive difference to my neuralgia. You have to take it for at least a few weeks before it really makes a difference to the pain.

[Cocolepew]

Thanks
I was offered it about a year ago, for what we thought was post herpatic pain, but now I think the pain is related to Lupus.
The pain is mostly in my knees and elbows with muscular pain, though that can change in a heartbeart .
I'll go to the dr and see what they advise if I can ever get an appointment

[2old2beamum]

DS very small 15 year old takes 25mgs 2x day he is zonked until 11.00 but prefer this to horrendous screaming with neuropathic pain! He has CP and deaf blind sadly not a stroppy teenager!!

Good luck.

[KurriKurri]

I find it works well for my pain (post herpetic neuralgia) but makes me very tired and groggy. I have friends who take gabentin for nerve pain and they say it works well for them.
I think there are various options you could try if one doesn't suit you.

Also maybe worth asking for a referral to a pain clinic, thye might be able to suggest drugs or drug combos that would suit your particular problems.

[Cocolepew]

Thank you everyone

[susiedaisy]

I took it for about 3 years for migraine and low mood. It was ok. Made me tired and hungry but it did it's job for several years then I had to change meds. But I have a couple of friends/family who have taken it for nerve pain in back and shoulder and it's worked well for them. Good luck

[TheFairyCaravan]

I take it. I take 50mg at night. If I don't take it before 8pm I can forget getting up the next day.

I honestly can't tell you anymore if it does help because I take so many other things as well and I have been on it for so long. It helps me fall asleep, but I don't stay asleep all through the night, I haven't done that for along time.

If you sleep well, I second Pot, I would maybe ask for something like Gabapentin or Pre-Gabalin instead.

[Cocolepew]

Maybe I should ask about something else then, if Im sleeping ok?
My pain is, due to Lupus, I'm not due to see my rheumatologist until August, so I thought I'd try the GP first.
Thanks for the suggestions pot.