Amitriptyline 10mg: Good Afternoon... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Amitriptyline 10mg

pwoody profile image
39 Replies

Good Afternoon. Has anybody been prescribed the above drug whilst on AF medication. I have just been prescribed it for burning feet and restless legs by my GP and collected this from the pharmacy today, and on reading the DO NOT TAKE SECTION, it says not if you have any heart rhythm problems. I rang the pharmacist who was very helpful but not too sure and said to speak to my GP which I will do on Monday. I take Digoxin, Bisoprolol, Apaxiban and Amlodipine. Any feedback from yourselves would be very helpful. Thank you all.

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pwoody
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39 Replies
meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

Amitriptyline was suggested to me for nerve pain but I won't take it due to heart rhythm side effects. Best to speak with your cardiac medic if you have one or GP if not. Best wishes.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to meadfoot

Thank you meadfoot, I will speak with my GP on Monday.

Yes I was prescribed this when I had very bad knee pain. It didn't affect my AF and neither did it do anything for my pain !!

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Thank you Yatsura. Either way it doesn't sound a very useful drug. Will speak with GP on Monday and hopefully will be prescribed something else.

in reply to pwoody

I was prescribed it for an old arm injury and after two weeks my doctor suggested I swallowed it and did not strap it onto my elbow................................Very ineffective drug which originally was used by depression patients to lower mood

fallingtopieces profile image
fallingtopieces

I was prescribed it for arthritic aches and SI joint pain but I googled it first and decided not to take it.

Magnesium should cure your restless legs.

I haven’t had restless legs since taking it. You will need a decent dose though.

Pat

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to fallingtopieces

Thank you so much for your reply which I will take on board.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply to pwoody

B complex vitamins might help the nerve pain.

in reply to Auriculaire

(Sorry Auriculaire; meant to reply to pwoody. My computer( skills are woefully lacking. Just noticed my error and don't have the energy to erase and retype.,

Esp B12. If your doctor tests your B12and says it's fine, it's within normal limits, or another vague, non-specific response., ask for specific numbers and the ranges your lab used. Then post here and you will most likely get a lot of good info.

B12 has been known to help nerve pain in general but it has to be at the higher end of the lab range. Every lab has their own ranges which often differ so important to post yours. Many doctors dismiss this.

I also belong to the ThyroidUK forum here on HealthUnlocked. Certain vitamin levels (incl B12 and Bcomplex) play a large part in regaining thyroid health. And deficiencies are common.

Even if a thyroid situation is not a problem it might be worth checking out all the valuable B12 info on that site.

Since it is so important for nerve health, it stands to reason that a deficiency can cause problems elsewhere in our bodies.

You can join the site temporarily to access the info. The Pernicious Anemia site is also a good educator re Vit B 12.

I've learned helpful info about this and other things from posters that I never knew as a nurse. And I also found helpful info many of my doctors didn't know or thought to share with me if they did.

For pwoody.

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

Yes I was on it for a number of months for postherpetic neuralgia following shingles. None of my medical team, including my EP, had any issue with the drug and they all said 10mg is a very small dose.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Kaz747

Thank you for your reply, good to hear you had no issues taking the drug. I will have to decide whether to take it or not.

I was prescribed it for arthritic pain ( in right shoulder) to enable me to sleep at night. It didn't help at all. Did give me diahorrea and because of this I stopped it. Did NOT aggravate my AF one bit.

John

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Thank you for your reply, will have to give it some thought re taking it.

Here’s an old thread which might help

healthunlocked.com/afassoci....

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Thank you very much for the info. I think I will speak to my GP on Monday to see what he says.

Love100cats profile image
Love100cats

I was prescribed 10 mgs following shingles but both my g.p. and h.f. nurses want me to continue to stop anxiety and help me sleep. My husband has also been prescribed the same dose and he also is h.f. and on same meds including Digoxin. It has helped him at nights to rest better.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Love100cats

Thank you for your reply which is very helpful

I've been on 10 occasionally when on Bisoprolol and Flecanide combination due to pain keeping me awake at night. Not had any issues.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to jedimasterlincoln

Thank you for your reply, good to hear you have not had any problems taking the drug.

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

My only proviso if your GP happy would be the inclination to cause constipation.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Bagrat

Thanks for reply, will check with my GP

lms0006 profile image
lms0006

Should check with your EP

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to lms0006

Thanks for replying. Do not have an EP, GP thinks my AF is under control, which it is.

mavisrich profile image
mavisrich

I have taken 10mg amitriptyline for many years and it does not affect my afib one lttle bit.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to mavisrich

Good to know, I think I will give it a try, thank you so much

Annekw profile image
Annekw

I take Amytriptyline at night for Rheumatoid Disease, no problems at all affecting AF!

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Annekw

From all of your replies I now feel confident to take it, thank you so much for your feedback.

I would be very leary. This drug is one of the very early antidepressants known as a tricyclic.

There was a time some years ago when doctors were prescribing it to women for female symptoms, a mild mood elevator for menstrual depression, and menopause ups and downs.

As I recall not many patients I talked to felt it helped.

At one time, taken correctly (in the 60's/early 70's) it was an adequate antidepressant. Some people still take it for depression and seem to do well.

But since it's heyday there have been many more effective meds developed.

Re rest less legs: About 2 years ago I began to have some mild symptoms. My PCP/GP quickly wrote me a prescription for Mirapex. When I read about this drug (something I always do before taking anything I'm unfamiliar with) and learned aboutit causing augmentation and also learned what augmentation was I chose not to take it.

That same week I saw my Sleep doctor and happened to mention the restless leg problems.

He said I may very well have a low ferritin level and ordered a lab test. It was within normal range but at the low end. He explained that patients with restless legs often need a ferritin level at the higher end of the range window. For me this was slightly over 100. (US lab)

I wanted to try diet before adding iron supplements-just my own preference-and began eating liver-8oz. once a week religiously. I dislike liver intensely but viewed it as medicine and the restless leg situation was awful. After about 2 months my ferritin reached 100 and my restlesslegswere.gone. I still eat liver every Monday night and have not had RLS sx since.

I know there is a lot more to restless legs than just raising ferritin. It can be a very debilitating disease. But it might be worth a try. Some doctors don't believe this or say the level doesn't have to be as high as 100.But I did my research. My sleep doctor is a respected pulmonologist and I was helped by his advice.

Do your research, talk to your doctor. It may at least help lessen the severity.

I hope you do find treatments that help you. Very often it takes more than one thing to help the pain.

Maybe checking your ferritin might be a good beginning.

Take care. irina

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to

Thank you so much for your reply, I will take on board what you had to say.

Fearnie profile image
Fearnie

I take Dronedarone, Bisoprolol, Aspirin and Warfarin for my PAF. I was told that I should not take Amitriptyline for nerve pain, but after some research by pharmacist I was prescribed Pregabalin instead for the nerve pain in my leg.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Fearnie

Thank you for your reply Fearnie. I have now been told that my GP does not want me to take this drug and I am awaiting a call from him with an alternative. Onwards and upwards!!!

dizzielizzie1 profile image
dizzielizzie1

Hi there--Like you I was prescribed amyitriptyline--mine was for nerve pain. I have occasional bouts of A Fib and take Apixaban. I was a bit alarmed when I read the patient leaflet and rang my GP. He said it was fine to take this and wouldn't affect my A Fib. I only took it a few times, and it never affected my heart. However, your A Fib may be more severe than mine, so check with your GP for reassurance. It did help me sleep.

Keep well.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to dizzielizzie1

Thank you for your reply. My GP has now decided I shouldn't take it and am awaiting a call from his to tell me what I can take in its place. It is different for everyone isn't it.

Jeanie-p profile image
Jeanie-p

Hi woody, yes I have been taking 15mg Amytriptaline for years, and I also take Amlodopine and Riveroxoban, plus Ramapril tablets. If your doctor prescribes it you should be fine, but you could always ring the surgery and speak to someone there, who could ask the doctor if you are concerned. I find that they are great for keeping me on an even keel, when I go down to two 5ml a day I find myself getting worked up and worrying about things, so I just take the 3 tablets at night and am out like a light! Good luck, Jeanie-p.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Jeanie-p

Thank you for your reply Jeanie-p and it seems okay to take them, hopefully they will work.

shirlygirly profile image
shirlygirly

I have taken it for IBS but couldnt take it for more than 2/3 days as I suffered rectal bleeding and was terrified until I read the contra indications and stopped, all ok again!! For restless legs I spray magnesium on my legs at night and also put epsom salts in my

bath, every night, 4 handfuls. I buy big bags of the stuff from Amazon.

It has improved my R.L enormously.

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to shirlygirly

Thank you so much for the info which I will take on board.

Angierose50 profile image
Angierose50

Hi I'm on amitriptyline 50mg and have just been put on Bisoprolol for fast heart rate and odd rhythms. I will be interested to hear peoples responses x

pwoody profile image
pwoody in reply to Angierose50

One GP prescribed amitriptyline for neuropathy, but on reading the leaflet enclosed with the medication, it said it should not taken it if you have an arrithma. On contacting another GP in the practice he said I shouldn't be taking it. However, it appears from experiences of others on this forum, many seem to take it who have AF. I also take Bisoprolol. Opinions seem divided.

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