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Original poster

Amitriptyline for IBS

55 replies

Applecrumble24 · 22/02/2024 22:35

Have had IBS D for 20+ years. Have read a recent study about the benefits of amitriptyline for IBS D.
Have been prescribed 10mg daily. Anyone had any experience with it?

OP posts:
beccahamlet · 22/02/2024 22:40

10 mg is a tiny dose. I take the same dose for a completely different complaint and it works perfectly . I have no side effects.

Soapboxqueen · 22/02/2024 22:43

No experience but I'd he interested to know how you get on.

IBS D for 25 years

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 22/02/2024 22:43

@beccahamlet
Yes, apparently that’s the dose for IBS too.
So no side effects at all? What about if you drink alcohol?

OP posts:
Pigeonqueen · 22/02/2024 22:54

I take it for interstitial cystitis (10mg - I can take up to 50mg, I find 10mg is enough for me) and as a side effect I’ve found it’s really improved my 20 year long battle with IBS (mainly the sudden bouts of diarrhoea I used to have). Definitely works for me. Initially I had some side effects in that I felt a bit sort of hung over the next day and quite tired but that quickly wore off and I don’t have any side effects now. Make sure you take it around 2 hours before you want to sleep, not just before bed as it takes that long to start to make you drowsy and then it will wear off by the next morning.

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 22/02/2024 23:02

@Pigeonqueen
Thank you, that’s interesting

OP posts:
TinkerTiger · 22/02/2024 23:07

I was on 20mg for 6 weeks. I slept very deeply, too deeply. Through several alarms. Luckily my roommate at the time (who also worked with me) woke me Confused

Hopefully you don't experience that on 10.

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 22/02/2024 23:15

Haha @@TinkerTiger
Hope things have improved since then!

OP posts:
beccahamlet · 23/02/2024 07:55

@Applecrumble24 I don't find drinking alcohol has any adverse effects.

Surroundyourselfwiththerightpeople · 23/02/2024 07:58

I am on 10mg daily. Has improved my sleep no end although that’s not why I’m on it.

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 23/02/2024 08:29

beccahamlet · 23/02/2024 07:55

@Applecrumble24 I don't find drinking alcohol has any adverse effects.

That’s good, I have a wedding coming up and didn’t know whether to start it after.

OP posts:
Arcadia · 23/02/2024 08:32

I've been on 10mg for several years now. I do find I can get very drowsy if I mix it with alcohol so if I'm drinking I just take it a bit later that night.
No side effects, other than great sleep!

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 23/02/2024 09:41

Good to know it’s generally well tolerated at that dose.

Anyone tried it for IBS?

OP posts:
Haretodayswantomorrow · 23/02/2024 09:45

I have had it for something else at the low dose and it had the happy side effect of making my IBS go away!

I did however have to come off as had another unintended side effect and my IBS immediately returned.

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 23/02/2024 10:51

@Haretodayswantomorrow
What was the other side effect if you don’t mind me asking?

OP posts:
HowDoWeDoThisPlease · 23/02/2024 11:59

I take it to prevent migraine. I found the first couple of weeks it made me really tired in the mornings. I was taking it at 6-7pm so I was able to be awake and alert enough to get up and go to work the next morning. That did resolve fairly quickly though. I started on 10mg and had a couple of dose increases to get it to a working level. The increases didn’t have any extra effect on me. I also coincidentally found that it improved my IBD symptoms (I was in a flare at the time I started) so that was an added bonus, so hopefully it will slow you down a bit too op. It also gave me an incredibly dry mouth at night for a good few months, so needed to be super vigilant with dental care and keeping my mouth from drying too much. That eventually resolved too. I have a friend who was prescribed it specifically for IBS and it’s really helped her.

On a side note, have you ever had a SeCHAT scan to check for bile acid malabsorption? That can cause or worsen IBS-d.

Iloveshihtzus · 23/02/2024 12:10

This is great to know - I’m going to ask my GO about it. I’ve been researching the use of anti anxiety medications for the treatment of IBS D - as mine is getting worse.

Soccermumamir · 23/02/2024 12:12

I'm on 25mg a day for migraines, also suffer with IBS, but it hasn't helped mine 🤔

Mrsjayy · 23/02/2024 12:15

Applecrumble24 · 22/02/2024 22:43

@beccahamlet
Yes, apparently that’s the dose for IBS too.
So no side effects at all? What about if you drink alcohol?

I used to be on the dose for something else I did drink and I was fine I mean I wasn't getting hammered, also I took it a few hours before bed meant I got a decent sleep .

GinBlossom94 · 23/02/2024 14:36

Look at your gut health, improve this and ibs will improve. What you eat really does make a difference, you need to fix your gut not medicate it

Soapboxqueen · 23/02/2024 14:48

GinBlossom94 · 23/02/2024 14:36

Look at your gut health, improve this and ibs will improve. What you eat really does make a difference, you need to fix your gut not medicate it

This isn't going to be true for everyone.

IBS is a catch-all term so the reasons for the symptoms as well as solutions will vary also.

I've tried many different diets, supplements and medications and nothing has worked.

Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 23/02/2024 15:37

GinBlossom94 · 23/02/2024 14:36

Look at your gut health, improve this and ibs will improve. What you eat really does make a difference, you need to fix your gut not medicate it

Thank you for your input but you clearly know nothing about the complexity of IBS

OP posts:
Original poster
Applecrumble24 · 23/02/2024 15:38

HowDoWeDoThisPlease · 23/02/2024 11:59

I take it to prevent migraine. I found the first couple of weeks it made me really tired in the mornings. I was taking it at 6-7pm so I was able to be awake and alert enough to get up and go to work the next morning. That did resolve fairly quickly though. I started on 10mg and had a couple of dose increases to get it to a working level. The increases didn’t have any extra effect on me. I also coincidentally found that it improved my IBD symptoms (I was in a flare at the time I started) so that was an added bonus, so hopefully it will slow you down a bit too op. It also gave me an incredibly dry mouth at night for a good few months, so needed to be super vigilant with dental care and keeping my mouth from drying too much. That eventually resolved too. I have a friend who was prescribed it specifically for IBS and it’s really helped her.

On a side note, have you ever had a SeCHAT scan to check for bile acid malabsorption? That can cause or worsen IBS-d.

Thank you.
No I have not had BAM test, I will look into it

OP posts:
CuntRYMusicStar · 23/02/2024 16:49

I take it for nerve pain and it completely knocks me out, I can only take it at night and have to make sure I take it early enough so I can wake the next day!

EmpressSoleil · 23/02/2024 16:58

I have IBS and I was prescribed it for depression. It helped with the depression but did zero to improve my IBS. It also gave me very bad hyperpigmentation all over my face and body. It looks hideous. I stopped taking it about 10 years ago now and while my skin has marginally improved from how it was, I don't think I'll ever look the way I used to.

MujeresLibres · 23/02/2024 17:18

I took 25mg for migraines for about 6 months (I think?). I don't have IBS but I do have Crohn's and it didn't change anything. Didn't fix the migraines either, maybe I am completely impervious to it's powers..!