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Amitriptyline

65 replies

Adenforone · 25/07/2025 23:10

If you’re been prescribed this, what is it for? I thought it was a drug for anxiety or depression, but I don’t have those?

OP posts:
Adenforone · 26/07/2025 01:42

Thank you. So it could be for something like TMJ? They think I might have this and I feel it most in my teeth, but some weeks I have minor pain from that, completely manageable without even otc meds, other weeks it’s excruciating for days and days, but the excruciating pain has only happened this year. I’ve had nasal pain for a few years.

I’m sometimes sleeping 18 hours a day, so I don’t have insomnia.

Someone on this thread said I should have known what I’d gone to the doctor for. Fair point. Things sometimes come back through to my GP from specialists referred to via long covid clinic. Since catching covid, my life is mainly healthcare appointments and battling viruses and infections. I struggle to keep on top of either.

I’m concerned because when things started to go downhill (2022), I didn’t know what was going on. I got told it was panic attacks (it wasn’t). I’ve had other comments in letters suggesting anxiety for things diagnosed as POTS or even wearing a mask. Same for depression - e.g. I’m not sleeping or resting that amount of time, or no longer showering daily because I’m depressed - it’s because my body can’t cope with very much anymore, so while it’s “depressing”, it’s not depression. I literally live for the moments I can do some things. Whilst an appointment can exhaust me for days, it’s not because of anxiety, it’s because even the things I want to do and am enjoying, I can’t do for long either. I sometimes get sad after an appointment at the futility - and the impact of that appointment on my family, along with the opportunity cost of not being able to do something else. This is all exacerbated when I see a letter and wonder who they’ve seen (e.g. well managed tooth pain when it’s raging or anxiety because I have to stand up slowly now) - again, depressing, upsetting, but not depression.

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 26/07/2025 01:47

Dh takes 150mg for insomnia

Thisshirtisonfire · 26/07/2025 01:48

It's actually not supposed to be prescribed for anxiety and depression now days although sometimes it still is.. it would be off label.
It's supposed to be used for nerve pain.. muscle relaxation, migraine etc
Can be used for sleep but again that's off label

Acheyelbows · 26/07/2025 02:08

Tried it as a migraine preventative, gave me facial twitches and could barely function so it wasn't for me.

I hope you get some relief soon, maybe it will work for you as lots have said they are taking it successfully for nerve pain.
I experience facial pain as part of my migraine and had horrific dental pain when I had a sinus infection so I can understand how you have described the pain as depressing not being depressed.

SENNeeds2 · 26/07/2025 02:39

it was the original anti depressant but now used for pain- I was given for teeth pain clenching jaw at night

HelpMeGetThrough · 26/07/2025 03:29

For nerve damage after emergency surgery. I take 10mg before bed. It work’s brilliantly for the nerve pain.

MyUmberSeal · 26/07/2025 05:56

I had it for insomnia. Didn’t work, was prescribed zopiclone in the end.
I think it’s prescribed for nerve pain a lot too.

OP, your situation sounds tough 🫶.

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 26/07/2025 06:06

I have it for nerve pain and it helps when symptoms are bad but I only take it very occasionally at the moment (more in winter as it's worse in cold weather). I do also notice it helps me get to sleep quicker too but I wouldn't want to take it every day as it does give me a minor hangover (nothing a coffe can't fix).

terracelane23 · 26/07/2025 06:07

I tried it years ago for migraines. It made me very drowsy at first but then settled.

Whitehorses67 · 26/07/2025 06:08

Nerve pain

Stripeysockspots · 26/07/2025 06:09

I had it for nerve pain but it made me sweaty all day

DinoLil · 26/07/2025 06:34

I take it for nerve pain.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 26/07/2025 06:36

Daijoubudesu · 25/07/2025 23:11

Migraine prevention. Didn't work and felt like a zombie

That was exactly my experience too. Made me so groggy in the morning I hated it.

itsgettingweird · 26/07/2025 06:53

I had it for cluster headaches from GP.

neuro has switched to verapamil and that’s to treat angina and high BP (I have neither!)

Lots of medications treat different things and amatriptyline is great for nerve pain.

Patcherdog · 26/07/2025 08:56

Nerve pain

annonymousse · 26/07/2025 09:23

I take a low dose for migraine prevention and a much higher dose for nerve pain during a bout of shingles.

Purplecatshopaholic · 26/07/2025 09:28

Muscle relaxant, nerve pain - for whiplash after a car accident. Wonderful stuff.

AncientBallerina · 26/07/2025 09:34

I take it for pain too and find that if I take it about 12 hours before I need to get up rather than at bedtime, I am a lot less groggy in the morning.

Piggywaspushed · 26/07/2025 09:48

It's not the go to med for anxiety or depression. It is sometimes prescribed 'off label' for low level anxiety such as sleep anxiety or travel anxiety. Its official use is for nerve pain and is also used for IBS and Chronic Vomiting Syndrome.

Piggywaspushed · 26/07/2025 09:52

I suspect OP that it may have become a GP med for Long Covid symptoms. Sometimes I feel amitriptyline is prescribed to try out low doses to see if they help calm anxieties which go hand in hand with long term sickness and may also therefore treat some symptoms. What dose were you given?

Craftysue · 26/07/2025 09:52

I'm on a low dose - 10mg for Rheumatoid arthritis. I think it's quite common for nerve pain

2025mustbebetter · 26/07/2025 09:53

Prescribed it for arthritis pain. I hated it, did nothing for pain and made me feel weird. I already take anti depressants so I was confused too!

MassiveOvaryaction · 26/07/2025 10:01

It tends to be lower doses for nerve pain/migraine prevention then depression. I've been on it for both nerve stuff and migraine prevention for years but recently it's not been as effective so I need to research alternatives.

Bless you @Adenforone, I'm riding the long covid train too and it's Not Fun. Very early on a lovely lovely locum GP who was the first to suggest it might be such asked me if I was depressed. I made her laugh when I said "No. I'm just really pissed off!".

If you do decide to take it, take it early on in the evening as it may will affect how you feel/perform in the morning Flowers

Mindovermatter45 · 26/07/2025 15:53

As a muscle relaxant/sleep aid due to it's small dose following surgery 2 years ago for a condition that usually comes on for the quite elderly, but I went to surgery in my early 40's, good recovery but came out with it noted as long term use.

Another medical professional said when it gets to 40mg it then becomes an anti d not before.

It stopped working sometime after the surgery though on a small dosage and when in hospital for something else completely, the staff could see it wasn't working but still insisted on giving it I could not sleep throughout the night 2.5 years on. My GP allowed Gapapentin as an alternative for 6 months.

PhilippaGeorgiou · 26/07/2025 15:58

isitmytime · 26/07/2025 01:37

Back pain, IBS and sleep issues. It’s primarily an antidepressant but my GP told me all about it.
The lower doses work well for pain issues the higher for depression (I’m sure thats what I was told)

I had it for nerve pain ... it may or may not work. It didn't for me. Did nothing for me at all.

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