Afraid of side effects

[1goldie]

just been given 20mg of Vimovo AND 10mg Amitriptyline while waiting for diagnosis from Rheumy. Assured its not for depression as don't have it but works on same nervous system. Blood pressure, heart rhythms etc are all mentioned in leaflet as contra indicator's. I would much rather suffer this extreme joint pain than be extra concerned about my AF playing up too. My GP wants me to try them for two weeks, easy for him to say, he isn't living alone with no support system if things should go wrong. Am I being too cautious? I have been without arthritis drugs for a year due to moving country and had been put on hydrochloroquin in UK but they wont renew until I get a new Rheumy here. Just tried two and they are not taking newbees so in the meantime ?????

[Peggyannn]

Amitryptiline often given for pain relief. Having worked in psych hospitals I'd prefer it over newer anti depressants anyway. Dont remember warnings over side effects like those but if you read all the warnings in pill packets you'd never take anything!

[1goldie in reply to Peggyannn]

Thankyou Peggyannn for replying. Yes, you are right! I read the warning labels as discovered low dosages can still have extreme effects. As I can have a 90%pain free day and then some extreme joint night pain, I still feel reluctant to take anti depressants for pain until type of arthritis is fully diagnosed by Rheumy in this country. Your reply made me realize how strong I feel not to start anything as will be seen in 3 weeks. Hope you are fit as a fiddle today! xg

[James-T]

My doctor has recently put me on increasing dose of amitriptyline now on 30mg. No sign so far of side effects other than sometimes dry mouth. It has provided better sleep and pain relief.

[1goldie in reply to James-T]

Hi James-T, thankyou for reply. Its reassuring to know you are good with a higher dose than the one prescribed to me. I see your previous post is about your hands. Do they get swollen or just this wretched stiffness and pain? I don't have a tens machine but as a pianist got very good advise from physios in UK last year re exercises n heat. Can play a mean Mozart but only in afternoon in between the 'hours of stiffness'!!Lol. Like I said to Peggyannn I feel reluctant to be put on two drugs in one go when side effects could rock my boat badly until I see Rheumy here. Keep smilin'

[James-T in reply to 1goldie]

It is mainly stiffness and aching hands. I do use tens machine on kners and other joints and a glove for tens machine on hands. Like you I am pianist/organist and it helps me keep playing. However I am not using tens as much since going on amitriptyline.

[1goldie in reply to James-T]

thankyou for reply. Yes the organ was my second instrument in college. Lucky you! At the moment I write and get songs recorded. Do you find a pattern to the time your hands get worse? Do they act up after performing? I find exercising the upper fingers like the physio said hanging onto a cliff, the best ones to do. Which is your worse time of day? G

[Frankie24]

developed for depression, Elavil as it is also known has been found to be useful for many other purposes, off label usage as it were, this is not uncommen and it is worth trying to see if you get any benefit from it. At worst, you just stop taking it.

[Cat33]

I have been given Amitryptiline for pain and don't get any side effects apart from a dry mouth and I did feel a bit drowsy on waking in the morning at first but that seems to have passed now

I'm only on 10mg but they have helped my pain

Good luck

[1goldie in reply to Cat33]

That sounds a very positive feedback. Thankyou. If this pain was every day the same degree I would have no hesitation. But need to see the Rheumy first as the diagnosis in UK was UCTD but they don't accept that here in Ireland.x

[Cat33 in reply to 1goldie]

Wishing you all the very very best xx

[Seenie]

I get your concern, Goldie, but the side effects of pain and sleeplessness are pretty horrid as well. And even if you were prescribed something for depression, what of it? Life with arthritis is bad enough, without having the added weight of depression on you.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[1goldie]

lol thankyou for that! Yeah never had time for depression as too busy recording new discs. Yes you are so right, nothing is as bad as no sleep. Hence my reluctance to start on med when I can have good nights and then intermingled with horrendous ones for no reason. Guess I want to see the Rheumy first over here.x