Unbearable symptoms on 100mg amitriptyline

[SteveStacey]

Hi Everyone

Won’t bore you with long history. Suffice to say, had A/D for about thirty years, trying different combinations of meds. My condition has mainly generated fibromyalgia type symptoms, rather than black mood etc. Started on 25mg amitriptyline in Nov, increasing to 100mg this week. Don’t think I can tolerate this med. Dizzy, shakes, nerve sensitisation etc. However, by far the most ghastly is a diet of mental anguish that makes thinking, communicating and functioning impossible. It’s like thoughts are completely blocked and you then you force the words out, which becomes embarrassing drivel. Haven’t seen this specifically in forums so wondered if it rings a bell with anyone. The intention is to move me up to 150mg dose, as the argument is that it is the underlying condition worsening, never reaction to the meds😡 Thanks for your time.

[Hidden]

Hi I had to come off Amitriptyline as when I was on a low dose didnt do anything as soon as I put it up the world started spinning and it was really bad. It might be the meds.

[SteveStacey in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your interest and response. I suppose it’s quite difficult to distinguish between side effects and a dramatic deterioration that happens to coincide with new meds😡

[Hidden in reply to SteveStacey]

Yep its not fun and sometimes the meds are worse than having the illness.😡

[Jeff1943]

Amitriptyline has been around since the 1960s as an anti depressant and anti anxiety anxiety med. It went out of fashion when Prozac and other more modern meds arrived but now is coming back into popularity because of its minimal side effects.

Amitriptyline works by boosting levels of serotonin, the happy hormone. It saved my bacon twice many, many years ago. The only side effects I noticed were slight sleepiness, dry mouth and weight gain. It is also used in low doses for nerve pain. You have to taper off it very slowly when the time comes.

I was started on 3 × 25mg tablets then dropped down to a 2 × 25mg dose. When I went to the Priory Centre for therapy the psychiatrist wanted to put me on 6 x 25mg (150mg) but I declined and went onto 4 × 25mg instead. Soon dropped it down to 3 x 25mg and then 2 x 25mg which I stuck on. Maybe I was wrong, should have gone for the higher dosage, I was on it for years.

Except for the side effects mentioned I was entirely free from the side effects you mention. We're all different and respond differently to psychoactive medication but remember: Anxiety about anti-anxiety medications is just another symptom of Anxiety.

[SteveStacey in reply to Jeff1943]

Interesting you mention minimal side effects. I was prescribed this as came off combo of two other ADs. I was happy to give it whirl, as my A/D produces very nervy/fibromyalgia type symptoms. It’s been four months now, and it appears to be producing v undesirable psychological symptoms, while not relieving the fibromyalgia obes😡 I hope my anxiety in this scenario is not unfounded

[Agora1]

Hi Steve, I don't think it's your imagination. I too have Fibro and at the beginning

was put on Amitriptyline side effects was bad, then put on Nortriptyline and saw

triple vision while driving tollway. Taken off both and never used medication for

Fibro pain again. Did however find benefit from Physical Therapy and Heat.

I hope you find something that may give you relief. It doesn't always have to be

medication. Ohhh water exercise proved to be very beneficial and was fun.

[SteveStacey]

Thank you. My problem is underlying A/D, not just fibromyalgia. I’ve seen eminent neurologist and been reassured that nervy symptoms are not major neurological disease. However, the effects of the A/D, or the long term effect of the ADs produce changes to neurotransmitters and other chemicals which produce v nasty symptoms. That said, I would willingly accept the physiological symptoms ifvI could get rid of this unbearable mental anguish and confusion. Thanks

[KrierandRosie]

I have been taking the same drug for about 30 years, but the smallest dose. It helps me sleep but it does not solve everything. Take with food. All drugs have side effects that take time to tolerate.