Amitriptyline for sleep not working! Help

[Loulouskiptomylou]

Hello,
I was prescribed 10mg of this for chronic insomnia a couple of weeks ago. It worked like a charm for the first 10 days but has now stopped working. I increased the dose to 20mg (with GP’s permission) but it’s still not working .

Feeling pretty frustrated as I thought I’d cracked it. Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips?

Please don’t advise on sleep hygiene etc as I assure you - I’ll have already tried it!

I started on 10mg and it worked wonderfully for 5 nights and then stopped working. My GP refused to increase the dosage. No idea why! I recently spoke with a specialist who said that I was the 2nd patient of hers who had recently told her that their GP refused to increase their amitriptyline dosage. Interesting to hear that no-one on this thread is having the same issue.

I now use melatonin 10mg for a few nights and then swap to Valerian Root for a month and then back to melatonin or anti-histamines.

How strange.

I know it is an “old fashioned” drug, but it works for me. My GP agrees and there are no plans for me to come off it.

Plus it is the only drug that works for my triennial neuralgia.

I take 30mg a night for pain relief and as a happy side effect am sleeping properly for the first time in many years. I had to build up to 30mg and it's only at this level that it's made me sleep. I'm going to be reluctant to come off it if my sleep deteriorates again.

My problem has never been falling asleep, it's staying asleep (as opposed to waking up for the day at 2am) so I take it at bedtime which is around 11pm. I get up around 7 and feel a bit woozy for half an hour or so but really not too bad.

I take 20mg, for 2 reasons, one as an antidepressant and the other because it helps with chronic pain, I have crohn's which is most active at night, I know when I've forgotten to take it as I wake with stomach pains. The bonus is it helps me to sleep. My doctor did tell me to take it in the early evening about 8pm, that way I won't be so drowsy in the morning. I think it's eased my anxiety and it certainly helps me to sleep.

Thanks all for advice. Persevering with melatonin and 20mg and it’s improving a bit - still some bad nights but overall I feel less exhausted!

@Polmuggle do you mean amitriptyline? It’s safe for breastfeeding

@Loulouskiptomylou

Thanks all for advice. Persevering with melatonin and 20mg and it’s improving a bit - still some bad nights but overall I feel less exhausted!

@Polmuggle do you mean amitriptyline? It’s safe for breastfeeding

Yeah I do. I was told not to and nhs website says it's not recommended. But as long as your doctor knows and is happy then that's fine

Sorry to hijack but has anyone used it for jaw pain/spasms?

@TheBlueBear88

Sorry to hijack but has anyone used it for jaw pain/spasms?

I was prescribed it for a jaw pain/grinding issue that ended up triggering atypical facial pain.

It kept me awake all night and left me feeling doped all day. I couldn’t take it.

Gabapentin has worked brilliantly along with a mouth guard.

Oh gosh that sounds rough @SoSickOfItNow! Glad the gabapentin is working though. Do you mind me asking were your jaw issues one sided or both? And did it affect your ability to eat?

One sided and I can still eat, but it can be sore/sensitive.