Amytriptiline

[Freetigerking]

Hi I have been taking amytriptiline for about 9 months now for pins and needles. I was anemic but latest blood tests are fine. My pins and needles have been getting worse. Like little pins going into my skin, very annoying at night. The doctor has told me to take the amytriptiline during the day which I don’t really want to as it will make me sleep. I’m waiting to see a neurologist. Can I ask for another medication or does anyone take amytriptiline during the day? I usually take 75 mg at night.

That's sounds a lot for daytime. I take 10mg at night for migraines, soon to go up to 20mg. I would be asleeo if I took it in the day

Yeah that sounds like a lot. I was told to take 10mg for shoulder problems and only 20mg if I really need it. 20mg knocks me out.

I have nerve pain and I only take 10mg. 75 sounds a lot.

I take 20 mg for nerve pain at night and it makes me pretty sleepy

Sorry I wrote that in a rush. The doctor has told me to take 50 mg at night then in a few weeks take another 25mg during the day. I have depression too.

That's a normal dose for depression but not anything else.

You mention anemia, was that from iron? I get pins and needles (and worsening tinnitus) when my B12 levels go down and I need another injection.

My B12 blood came back normal but with very enlarged red blood cells which are a sign. Standard B12 (as opposed to active B12 tests) can be inaccurate if the issue is with absorption.

My P&N go a couple of days after my injection

DH takes 150mg at night. He could probably take 75mg in the day and stay awake although I don't think he has ever tried.

I'm weaning myself off this horrible drug. I don't think you realise how much it changes you until you start to come off it. I had been putting up with blurry vision and being a slower version of myself with it - thank God I went to see a neurologist who is helping me get off any types of daily medication and treat the migraines with a knock out pill and then work to keep them at bay with vitamins and supplements instead.

I know this isn't the answer for everyone but I'm so much happier for it.

I am on 150mg. I can take that during the day with no tiredness or anything but my partner gets drowsy on 50mg.

Had bloods done this time last year and I was anemic, I was complaining of pins and needles and he put me on 25mg plus iron tablets , the amytriptiline which I took at night. I thought amytriptiline was great as I felt quite relaxed the day after and got a great nights sleep. Roll on a year and pins and needles are worse. Got blood tests done 2 weeks ago and iron levels are fine now and everything else except my kidney function, which was slightly high. whatever that means. That’s when he put the amytriptiline up by 50 mg and refered to see the neurologist to rule things out.

Completely off point but did the bloods check your vitamin B12? Severe deficiency can cause pins & needles. I assume this has been excluded if you're already at the point of seeing a neurologist

B12 and folic acid deficiency here too which caused the pins and needles. I need b2 jags now. Tried 2 weekly but felt awful so now on 10 weekly.

Ask for blood tests for b12 and folate.

It’s a different part of the bowel that absorbed b12 from the bit that absorbed iron, so just coz one is ok doesn’t mean the other is.

Test for sure. He surely can’t refuse that. If he’s tested already ask him what the result was and write it down Google it later to see if that’s low or not. They tell you that you’re within the parameters but the parameters are massively wide. You could be on the low side which may be too low for your body.

I'm taking 30mg for a trapped nerve in my neck to help me sleep. I take it early evening but it doesn't help so much anymore.

To tell you the truth I would rather the doctor took me of these and put me on Prozac for my depression as I can live with the pins and needles but my depression is horrible and I’m so angry and agitated all the time. I tried telling the doctor this but he was telling me amytriptiline would help with my depression. I have to repeat blood tests in two weeks. I know with amytriptiline you can’t take other antidepressants.

I’m sure the doctor said the b12 was good.

This is where I wish the doctor could see me in person as I feel I can’t come across what I want to say over the phone. I do wish things would get back to normal with covid. Thanks for all your kind replies xx

Sorry for jumping on your thread, but I wondered if anyone has experienced side effects like I currently am.

I take 30mg at night and my vision is weird. Sort of blurry when I try and read text on my phone and seems to be worse at night.

Also I can’t stop weeing but it feels uncomfortable like a urine infection.

It does help me sleep and with the pain so I’m reluctant to stop taking it but do the side effects go away after a while?

I’d be happier knowing it would all go away eventually.

OP I took amitriptyline with another antidepressant. I only stopped taking the other one because the pain clinic wanted to raise the dose and wouldn’t do it while I was taking the SSRI. I was on 75mg at the time. I take 150mg now and I’ve accidentally taken it in the morning () and been ok.

I’ve not heard of it being used for pins and needles though, which I think they might have mentioned as I’ve had carpal tunnel surgery twice.

@SunFlowerRose - these are the exact side-effects that I was getting. I don't think it's worth putting up with and in my own experience it was getting worse rather than better. I'm on a reduced dose of 10mg now that I take in the evenings and then I take Magnesium (500mg) and a multivitamin in the morning. I feel so much better on the reduced dose and I use Rizatriptan at the first sign of a migraine.

A really important thing for me with migraines (if it's migraines you're taking it for) was to get up early every day and not change my routine too much at the weekend. Staying in bed makes me feel awful and the sooner I can get up and exercise (walk or workout) the better and I know I'm setting myself up for a good day.

Sorry for the thread hijack OP.

I take mine for TMD which is caused by clenching my jaw when I sleep, am stressed or concentrating.
It’s worked wonders for the pain it’s just the side effects that are horrible.

I really was hoping they’d go away after a while.

The dry mouth is horrid too. I feel like I have horrible breath constantly because of it.

Many if the side effects can be due to a reduction in blood pressure, resting heart rate which us one of the common direct side effects.

@SunFlowerRose

I’ve started taking 30mg of amitriptyline at night and I too have been having weird issues with weeing. Some days it feels like I constantly need a wee, when I don’t! Some days I don’t and I feel OK. I’m taking it for nerve pain but it isn’t helping me so will probably come off it. I haven’t suffered from blurry vision but I understand it can be a symptom. Has you discussed with your GP? The only other thing I’ve had is a really dry mouth and that’s been very unpleasant indeed. It hasn’t made me feel tired, except I do feel a little groggy on waking but that passes very quickly.

Not managed to get a phone call with gp yet but now cannot sleep because it hurts after every wee and continues to hurt for hours after. Nothing I do is helping it.

So I’ve had 5 hours sleep Thursday night and about 4 last night.

Only took one tablet last night in hopes the side effects would be less. And was at the dental hospital yesterday so really needed them to help with pain.

I think I’m just going to stop taking them and hope the bladder thing stops? Has anyone ever done that?

Maybe just taking more painkillers will work out better. But how the fuck do you sleep when your body isn’t letting you?

Feeling all miserable and fed up this morning.

@SunFlowerRose

I’m now coming off them because they’ve made my tinnitus worse this week (ringing ears can be a side effect apparently!). GP told me to reduce by 10mg every 3 days, so I’ll be off them by midweek thankfully. They weren’t helping my pain anyway so I’m not sad to be coming off them.

I really hope you get to speak to your GP soon, bladder issues are just awful! 😕