Amitriptyline for insomnia

[MichelleC69]

Hi all,

I've been on HRT for 6 months now having been diagnosed as menopausal at the age of 49. It's helping with all of my symptoms except the insomnia. I rarely sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time, walking frequently in the night and often at 5am and then unable to get back to sleep.

When I went back to the doctor's yesterday she has prescribed amitriptyline to use occasionally if I feel like I need a good night's sleep. The trouble is I'd really like a good night's sleep every night and I don't want to become dependent on them.

Has anyone else used them for this purpose?

Michelle

I'd not have been pleased because amitryp is going to be another one of those severely controlled drugs soon. I'd go back and ask for my HRT to be increased or changed.

pootyisabadcat for what reason is it going to be severely controlled?

I am on HRT and like you the only symptom it didn’t help with was my insomnia. I was prescribed 10mg Amitriptyline for nerve pain following an injury and am delighted to report am sleeping 8 hours solid. Need a coffe by my bed to wake up but then good to go.

The only negative is constipation.

Oh, there's this big move by the NHS to stop prescribing them, Another, and also pregabalin and gabapentin and a whole load of drugs usually used to treat chronic pain. There've been a couple of threads on here about it.

No drug is without side effects. I have suffered awful insomnia with menopause but drugs are not the answer in my experience rxisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/amitriptyline-neurotoxicity.pdf

Sage leaf is amazing, especially for hot flashes. A long walk in day light in good for insomnia. Sometimes chamomile tea helps. But in my honest experience, drugs are a mugs game in every way.

pooty do you have any more information please?

I have searched but can't find anything.

Thank you.

@Grace212 perhaps pooty was meaning this ?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3528295-Any-Pharmacists-or-GPs-who-can-explain-what-this-means-please

As far as I can see pregabalin and gabapentin are being reclassified, but can't find anything on amitriptyline www.gov.uk/government/news/pregabalin-and-gabapentin-to-be-controlled-as-class-c-drugs

From what I can see, those 2 drugs will still be prescribed, but with more restrictions

Thanks pootyisabadcat; I’m on a six month course privately prescribed but that’s a big shame. I have never, ever slept so well in my life. Amitriptyline may not be addictive but I will miss it when I have to stop.

I’ve been on 10mg a night since new year and I think it really helps. I take when I remember, sometimes 8pm and sometimes 10pm. I usually sleep all night now. It helps my headaches loads and I’m less anxious too. I always said I would never take a pill but it really helps. Doc said I should have no problem stopping as it’s such a low dose. But it’s really helped me a lot, I have never felt groggy next day.

I have insomnia during my PMS week
Is yours constant? It very hard to function without sleep
I use piriton occasionally and it helps but I hate the groggy feeling. I stay off screens when I wake, I read or make lists. Usually I fall back to sleep an hour before the clock goes off.

Good luck with the meds

@whoops75 it's pretty much constant unfortunately. I take anti-histamines every day for allergies and they don't have any impact on my sleep. But the Amitriptyline is working thankfully.

. I take anti-histamines every day for allergies and they don't have any impact on my sleep.

they won't if they are the newest non drowsy types. You'd need the first generation old ones like Piriton.

You should increase your HRT dose first. That is medical advice before adding in anything else. Not sure why your dr doesn't offer that- estrogen affects the brain- if you are not getting enough it may be why you are not sleeping.

Insomnia is not always hormones related even if it starts during the menopause hence why hrt doesn't always work.

I'm my case, it is stressed related. The menopause has meant that I don't cope with the stress as well as used too, but ultimately, the circumstances that bring it on would have affected my sleep even 10 years ago.

When the stress is removed, I sleep better and when it's worse, it's horrendous. Cbt is definitely what reduces it when the stress is at its worse. Hrt made no difference to it at all, as matter of fact was even a bit worse and that even after I increased the dose.

Ami is used as an AD at 75mgs or over a day.
Below that it is a pain/ nerve suppressant.
Also used for chronic silent migraine.

It's worth noting that is also dehydrates- you might get a dry mouth, eyes and constipation.

So last night I went to bed before 10 because I was utterly exhausted. Didn't take anything to help me sleep. Tossed and turned all night, eventually drifting off probably around 4ish for a couple of hours. Feel like I can't function today. Am meant to be working (from home) but I can't concentrate on anything. Feel utterly crap and desperate for this to end.

I'm on it for sleep now and have been for 6months since birth of my daughter 10mg but I was on it as an antidepressant about 7 years ago and I was on 75mg..... and that was horrendous.... horrible lucid dreams and felt like I was wading through jelly all day.

It's working really well for me now as a sleeping aid at 10mg (i take 1 every 3 or 4 days). I personally think it works much better in this capacity, even though it's not technically supposed to be prescribed this way.... it always does get prescribed this way though as its known to work for sleep issues.... I got prescribed it this time for sleep issues caused by pnd as it's one of the safer drugs to use whilst breastfeeding.

I bulk bought melatonin in the US that works pretty well, I think a dr can prescribe in the U.K. if you are menopausal (no idea why it's so controlled here). I'm the same re sleep without it but also have found cutting all caffeine (including chocolate) not eating after 6pm and going to bed later (after 11) helps even without it.

anniehm Do you mind me asking what dose of Melatonin you take at night, as I tried this also but found it didn’t work even half as well as the Amitriptyline.