Fybromyalgia in young teens and amitriptyline.

[smartiejake]

I know a bit about fybromyalgia as it is in my family (my cousin has it quite severely and there are quite a few others with achy joints, me included)
My dd (12) has been having lots of headaches and non-specific aches and pains recently and the doctor referred us to a paediatrician who we saw last week. She feels there is a good chance dd has a mild for of this and has asked her to see a counsellor and prescribed amitriptiline. SHe has asked dd to try it for six weeks and then go back to see her.

I have looked up the condition and this is a standard treatment for it but I am a little wary of giving what used to be an antidepressant to a 12 year old (the doctor said it was very safe and non addictive) Anyone out there know anything about this medication/ side effects and fybromyalgia?

I will be keeping an eye on this thread as my mum suffers from fm and I'm begining to suspect I am starting to as well. It's the non-specific aches and pains that is the worst thing.

Sorry I can't help more but have no idea about the medication.

I take the amitryptiline for my Fibro.
I know it is also used for children who ahve bed wetting problems so it should be ok. What dose is she on? I take 20mg, and am ok with this. I upped it last week to 50 as was feeling very low and having panic attacks.
It reacts differently to different people. just be aware that she could be groggy and sleepy for a while. Best to take it at night

Amitriptiline falls in the tri-cyclic group and had less problems with addiction when used for treating depression.

Depression will be treated with a fairly high dose, FMR however like other musculoskeletal conditions will be treated at a low dose for the effect of neural suppression and therefore reducing pain.

My field is adult medicine and dont think Ive ever seen a patient with side effects when used in the correct way (I would imagine they will alter the dose for children). It sounds as though the consultant is being v sensible by only prescribing for 6 weeks and then asking for a review. Presumably if her symptoms fail to respond she/he will discontinue treatment and look at alternative methods.

Hope she is ok and responds to the treatment.

I've been on it for over a year now, and I must admit it doesn't help reduce pain. What it does do though is help me sleep, so I can cope during the day better if I have pain

She has been given a low dose so the paed says. 10mg in a 5ml spoonful

I am pleased it's only for a short while. I am not totally sold on the idea that she actually has fm. The aches and pains could be due to growth, the headaches and emotional stuff to hormones (fairly normal for a 12 year old I would have thought. )Our osteo also thought that the pains and headaches were more than likely due to the fact she has very flat feet (we are seeing a podiatrist in a few weeks)

I was quite expecting the paed to tell me there was nothing to worry about but she came up with fm. Apparently dd has lots of these sore spots on her which indicate the fm. I realised that I have them too but haven't been to the doctor with it since I was 17 when he told me I had rheumatism and to take pain killers.

The sore spots is usually used as a diagnosis.
I used to get a lot of "growing pains" when I was younger, adn a lot of migraines/headaches. I also, in my teens and early twenties got a lot of what I said was unexplained pain. The Dx of Fibro didn't happen u7ntil I was in my thirties

It's the headaches that are driving her mad at the moment.

She seems to have one most of the time. I try not to give her too much calpol and it doesn't seem to work very well anyway, neither does ibruprofen. The "4head" thing seems to work quite well.

My 16 year old DD was prescribed this a few months ago for ME (which has many similarities with Fibromyalgia). It was to help with sleep and leg pain and as you say was a very small dose. We stopped after a few days because she was totally spaced out during the day (it reminded me of when she was on oramorph following bone surgery when she was younger). However, I have heard that it can be very effective, without side effects, for many young people.

Hmmm.Those are the sort of side effects I was afraid of. Will have to look out for that. Have given her the first dose this evening before she went to bed. Will have to look out for that one tomorrow.

The paed said fm can be like ME but dd doesn't have the crippling fatigue I know often comes with ME and FM. Thanks for the info it's the sort of thing I was looking for. How is your dd now. I have known quite a few youngsters with ME and know how crippling it can be.

I don't get the fatigue all the time, even during a flare up.
I hope she gets on ok, I find it irritating, sore, annoying and sometimes dictates my lifestyle, to me a 38 year old. it must be worse for a young girl.

Well she took the medication for the first time last night. Had no difficulty in getting to sleep (usually takes a good hour and a half) and has spent today headache free- the first time this has happened in about 3 months. Said she felt brilliant this morning. Still not sure about her taking it long term though...

My mum has fb, I have aches and pains, always have, so never knew it wasnt the norm until the last couple of years when other bits have started to fall off!!

Asked gp"could it be fb?", "oh no" they say, "you would know if it was ", well thats what Im saying, I know and I am asking!! You did well to get such a good referral at such a young age, well done you.

My mum has the anti deps to help her sleep ( a good 8 yrs), and she is very happy, says she sleeps better and the pain isn't as bad and she finds it easier to keep going when she is rested. Hope dd is ok, and its not going to be too hard for her. Good luck.

I know exactly how you feel when you say "didn't know it wasn't the norm".

I have just always put up with my aches and pains and I suppose they can't be that bad as I can ignore most of them. There are sometimes when they get me down though and now I am wondering whether to see my GP for some help too for when I am really achey.

I cant take amitriptiline as it makes me 'spaced out' the next day, and at the beginning of teh year had awful problems with sleeping (about 2/3 hours a night).

I take Lodine which is a slow release painkiller insted, but I was taking it in the morning, and it would ne worn off by 3 in th emorning which is what was waking me, Dr moved it to the evening and I'm back to sleeping proerly now, pain does come about 2/3 in the afternoon, but find a top up with either codiene if really bad or paracetamol, does till later.

we were told that because it is such a small dose, it is perfectly OK for them to take it longterm, but I do understand your concerns. I think for them to be able to sleep well is worth such a lot, and if your daughter stays more comfortable longer term, you may feel it is worth it from a quality of life point of view. My DD is 16 but at the moment she is probably more dependent on me in lots of ways than she was at 6.

She doesn't seem to be having any side effects- certainly not spaced out during the day and is her usual lively self. Still no headache.

great