Amitriptyline & side effects

[PopcornBits]

I've only been on them a very short while and whilst they've done great at eradicating pain they're pretty terrible at increasing my appetite!
I also had a terrible episode of a water infection which usually I'm able to flush out.

This time it spread to my kidneys, I felt sick, shivery, had pain in my flanks and back. Nurse said that amitriptyline wouldn't of helped as it dries everything up. I've never had a water infection like it.

So firstly should I consider stopping them?
I don't actually know the cause of my pain yet as I've only just been referred to orthopaedics. But we suspect nerve. Is the fact that the amitriptyline is working suggestive of nerve pain too?

I don't want to stop it because the pain can be intense but I also don't want future kidney problems and massive weight gain!!

I take 30mg for nerve pain, and have been on the same dose for about 7 years. It's pretty effective for me. Most of the side effects wore off after the first few months. Occasionally I get a dry mouth, and I probably find it harder to get up in the morning than I used to, but once I'm up I'm fine, not too groggy.

I think I'm going to be on this for life. I do have the occasional drink, but only ever one! More than one and I get very sleepy. I'm a very cheap date!

Thanks guys I'm feeling a lot more reassured that things will settle :)

I hope I don't have to take them forever but I don't actually know what's wrong yet, just that the tablets work.

20mg works wonders for me so I do hope I can stay at that.

Was thinking about you all this morning. Rushed to get regular bloods done, realised when I was about 5 minutes out of house that I'd forgotten my water bottle. Mouth like the bottom of a parrot's cage, as they say!

I've been on 150mg for pain for over 10 years. Not really had any problems with it becoming ineffective. Would recommend salivix pastilles for the dry mouth, but I also drink loads if water.

I think different things suit different people better. I have tried all of them as I have a leg of pain! (nerve damage) and you perhaps just need to try different things until you get to the right one. Gabapentin and Pregabalin (they both work in a similar way - I use pregabalin) have scary sounding side effects, but I have no real problems.

Nortriptyline can be used for nerve pain and I found it effective. It is much more expensive than amitriptyline, which is why the NHS have to prescribe amitriptyline as a first line treatment! The dry mouth is horrid - I use Biotene moisturising toothpaste and mouthwash - I buy it from Boots but you can get it on prescription too.

Thanks I might try the mouthwash you mentioned lyrebird1
The dr has scared me with the side effects of gabapentin, that's apparently my next line of treatment if this doesn't work. But so far so good.

I've just started this for pain. It made me feel like a zombie the next morning and I did the school run leaving the hob on! Does the zombie feeling go when your body gets used to the drug??

What dose are you on out of curiosity?

It should get better addicted. Try taking it a bit earlier at night too.

I've started on 10mg, they said not to take it after 8pm but I think I will try 7.30 tonight.

Will it carry over to give pain relief in the day or just the night?

It should carry over, but takes a few weeks to become fully effective if I remember right. I take mine just after 7 to get up at 5:40. Try and persevere with it if you can!

I take a small dose for IBS pain - I want to thinking about TTC soon and as far as I can tell you should come off them but I'm scared as life was truly miserable before (though I have made massive diet changes to so hard to tell what is what). Anyone in the same boat?

If asking about doses for gabapentin/pregabalin, I take 400mg of pregabalin, which is equivalent to about 2400/2700mg of gabapentin. The usual starting dose is 900mg for neuropathic pain. I was a bit drowsy and dizzy for a couple of days then fine. Certainly better than on amitriptyline, which left me like a zombie! No weight gain either!

Thanks living I will persevere