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Myoclonus after taking phenergan and amitryptiline?

3 replies

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 29/07/2015 19:39

I know this is a bit of an unusual one, but I thought I'd give it a try in case anyone else has experience of this.

Back in January, I started taking phenergan (promethazine) for trouble sleeping at my dad's recommendation. You can get it over the counter, but he has been prescribed it nightly for six YEARS (!) and says it has done wonders for him.

I took it maybe once or twice a week for six months. Then one night I experienced really severe spasms in my arms and legs, almost like when a baby 'startles'. I looked it up, and one of the side effects of phenergan is myoclonus (muscle twitches). I stopped taking it immediately, and was fine.

Just under a month later, I was struggling to sleep so took a one-off dose of amitriptyline that I had left over from a while ago. Again, I had the same symptoms. Less severe, but now three weeks later it's still happening (though seems to be getting better slowly).

So it's all a bit worrying. I will go to a GP if it doesn't get better, but I suspect that all s/he will do is refer me to a specialist. I don't really want to go through all that hassle over something relatively mild (though irritating). I also find it hard to believe that taking amitriptyline on one occasion could do permanent damage - at any rate I sincerely hope it hasn't.

So.... anyone? Smile

OP posts:
JazzerciseThis · 30/07/2015 15:04

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JesusInTheCabbageVan · 30/07/2015 20:55

Thanks Jazz, I hadn't realised that. It was quite frightening at first, but after a few nights it settled down and wasn't bad enough to wake me up or keep me awake.

Definitely a big wake up call though. I will think a lot more carefully in future about whether I really need something to help me sleep, rather than just taking something casually.

Thanks also for not pointing out how stupid I was Grin

OP posts:
JazzerciseThis · 31/07/2015 09:04

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