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Original poster

Anyone feel terrible straight away on amitriptyline?

42 replies

littlescratch · 03/03/2021 19:24

I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia by a rheumatologist, and he suggested a low dose of amitriptyline for chronic pain. The GP prescibed me 10mg per night and I took the first pill last night.

I woke up this morning feeling completely wiped, couldn't help falling asleep on the sofa for hours and have been feeling like a zombie all day. I wasn't expecting this as I was told 10mg was a low dose. I know it's early days but I feel terrible. I can't work like this.

Anyone else had this and what did you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
littlescratch · 04/03/2021 19:13

Thanks for all this advice everyone. Last night I took it earlier, about half 7. I don’t feel as bad today but still pretty out of it. I had a dr appointment first thing to discuss it, and she said that I shouldn’t be feeling like this on 10mg and maybe I’d had a reaction to it. She told me to stop but maybe try again in a few days once it had washed out. Fatigue is quite a major part of my fibromyalgia and actually bothers me more than the pain, and she said maybe it’s just not suitable for me. I would rather go back to managing how I was before rather than wondering if the fatigue is caused by the medication or just my condition.

OP posts:
Realitea · 04/03/2021 20:31

If fatigue is a problem is it because of the pain or because you’re not sleeping well? Or is it just generally always there?

WaterGarden · 04/03/2021 20:44

I was on 10mg for over 2 years. (Occasionally took 20 mg if needed.)
I found it fine. It relaxed me and helped with sleep. I didn't feel zonked, so it might not suit you and might be worth trying something else

redpandaalert · 04/03/2021 23:29

I tried it again recently as always have up due to zombie feeling gave it 8 weeks and all my pain went and for the first time I in years woke feeling like I’vd slept. But I couldn’t function - no memory. Struggled to do my work. Couldnt multi task and I has no motivation to do anything also made me feel hot and I developed piles (did the first time I tried them) such a pity. I have EDS/fibro. Can’t function with the drugs nor without them. Gabapentin made me feel very dizzy and I had hallucinations.

I would take a week off work - sick or hold to get used to the drugs and give it a few weeks

picklemewalnuts · 05/03/2021 10:00

Red, how long did you give it to see if your memory came back? I ask because I'm a bit dopey, some years on. I'm not sure if it's the Fibro or the drugs- but it's much better than it was without the drugs.

Before meds, I'd stopped playing board games because of the mental effort involved, but I can play again now.

So I won't be stopping, but for me I think it's the Fibro not the medication.

igotdemons · 06/03/2021 22:51

I recently took amitriptyline for 6 weeks for nerve pain, started on 10mg and worked my way up to 30mg. The dry mouth never went away, which was bloody awful. My tongue was very painful, felt like it was constantly burnt. I felt groggy on waking but that passed quickly. Never slept so well, I usually wake up for a wee during the night as I drink a lot of water but didn’t wake up at all when I was taking it. Didn’t help the nerve pain though and after increasing to 30mg my tinnitus suddenly got noticeably worse so I came off it.

I’ve now been prescribed gabapentin but I’m worrying about taking it as the side effects look horrific! 😣

Cisonostatibellagiorni · 06/03/2021 22:54

I was a zombie on it (low dose). I tried it for a month and was useless for pretty much all of it. Got moved to gabapentin which has its own...interesting side effects, but better than life as a zombie!

Cisonostatibellagiorni · 06/03/2021 22:59

@igotdemons

I recently took amitriptyline for 6 weeks for nerve pain, started on 10mg and worked my way up to 30mg. The dry mouth never went away, which was bloody awful. My tongue was very painful, felt like it was constantly burnt. I felt groggy on waking but that passed quickly. Never slept so well, I usually wake up for a wee during the night as I drink a lot of water but didn’t wake up at all when I was taking it. Didn’t help the nerve pain though and after increasing to 30mg my tinnitus suddenly got noticeably worse so I came off it.

I’ve now been prescribed gabapentin but I’m worrying about taking it as the side effects look horrific! 😣

I found the first week on gabapentin the worst, like being sea sick, but that passed after the first week. The side effect that really stuck though was slurred speech. It wasn't terrible but would just happen in patches. Unfortunately it's stuck even though I've been off gabapentin for about 3 years now Confused. I used to get terrible tremors on it too but thankfully they didn't stay around!

But saying all that, I took it for about 6 years and was so much happier on it. I also found coming off it pretty easy though some people struggle. It was the only thing that touched my pain so it was worth it for the side effects (though if the sea sickness in the first week had carried on, it wouldn't!)

MuggleStudiesResearchProject · 06/03/2021 23:27

I've tried to take it twice for migraine but could never get over 10mg. After about five to six weeks the side effects hadn't lessened at all (I zonked out 30 minutes after taking it then felt tired and dreadful the next day too), so I gave up on it. Same the second time around. Plus it didn't help my symptoms, although it was a short trial in that respect. I think some of us are extra susceptible to the side effects.

Bunnyfuller · 06/03/2021 23:51

I take it as near 5pm as I can. It does give amazing rest, which is a blessed relief from constant pain.

LunaHeather · 06/03/2021 23:53

I hope you find something better

I also can't take this, it was terrible for me. I know people who got used to it but I couldn't.

CryMeAnAquifer · 07/03/2021 00:13

Have been reading with interest... Just upped my dose from 10mg to 20g after 2.5 weeks for TMJ disorder... I just feel so empty and unmotivated. Keep forgetting what I walked into a room to do. And hungry. I’m hoping it passes and it starts to kick in on the pain soon...

igotdemons · 07/03/2021 01:06

@Cisonostatibellagiorni

Thanks for sharing your experience with gabapentin. I didn’t think about any possible side effects lasting after stopping it though! 😮😮😮 I’m sorry that you’ve continued to experience slurred speech. My pain is related to herniated discs, which I’m going to be starting physio for next week, so I am wondering whether to just try that first before the gabapentin as what I’ve read on here has really put me off! 😣

Dizzywizz · 08/03/2021 20:29

It just knocked me out too. Try nortriptyline - works as well for the pain but fewer side effects. Worked well for me the first time and I took it for a few years, although when I went back on it it made me feel really paranoid so I had to stop. I take duloxetine pregablin and baclofen now - that’s for depression and nerve pain from ms, and baclofen for spacticity

Realitea · 08/03/2021 21:21

@CryMeAnAquifer gosh yes! The hunger! That’s definitely a side effect

roxey79 · 27/10/2024 21:20

4 weeks in i still feel terrible it hasn't got any better still extreme tiredness zombie feeling i am now going back for something else.

WaterGarden · 28/10/2024 01:02

roxey79 · 27/10/2024 21:20

4 weeks in i still feel terrible it hasn't got any better still extreme tiredness zombie feeling i am now going back for something else.

How many mg are you on? I find it ok but it does seem to affect some people like that, so good idea to try something else

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