Amitriptyline

[Dazakella2010]

Hi all...

Has anyone been prescribed Amitriptyline for severe arthritis pain?

Thank you x

[NanaFifi]

I was prescribed it for nerve pain due to cervical spine damage. I moved in to Nortriptyline which is basically the same drug but cleaned up so there are less side effects. Hope it works for you x

[DW46 in reply to NanaFifi]

Hello to you how did you get on changing from amitriptyline to nortriptyline?

[NanaFifi in reply to DW46]

Hi DW46, moving from Amitriptyline to Nortriptylene was easy and the side effects I was experiencing from the amitriptyline just went. I get good pain relief for the nerve pain and I’ve weaned myself off slow release morphine so I get by with paracetamol for joint pain with Oramorph as and when I need it.

[Holdingbacktheyears]

I have amitriptyline at night for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia etc and find that it helps me settle and relax me to some extent when trying to sleep. But on reading NanaFifi post I think I will ask my doctor about Nortriptyline as I do get some side effects especially a very dry mouth. I hope you get some relief from your pain.

[Hidden in reply to Holdingbacktheyears]

Yes I get very dry mouth and if I take it late on a night for two days I get mouth ulcers and cuts and even blisters on my lips, one time I could hardly eat, till I was advised by someone to take it earlier. I now take it at 7.30. I set a alarm to remind me.

[Holdingbacktheyears in reply to Hidden]

Dr told me to take it before bed but like you have dry mouth and frequently very sore lips so I’ll try taking it earlier like you do - Thanks for the tip x

[Eastcoast91]

Morning, I’ve recently been put on this as well as pregabalin. After seeing the rheumatologist he quickly diagnosed fibromyalgia, I’m still awaiting a scan on my hands to rule out a type of arthritis. I was concerned that the medication was for mental health as I already take something for that, the doc said it can be used to treat neuropathic pain although I find it helps with sleep an not much else hence the pregabalin. Hope you start to feel a little better soon! X

[Dazakella2010]

Hi all thank you for all your replies...

I have a list of medical conditions so finding the right meds for me is difficult. I had a allergic reaction to pregablin which is the sister to gabapentin so I wouldn’t be able to taken those.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012.... osteoarthritis in my lower spine and neck.

my health has since deteriorated over the lash year and half.... I have been diagnosed with blood cancer, intercranial hypertension, a liver tumour and I am bring crippled with arthritis in my thumb joints and wrist. I have been referred to a rheumatologist urgently by my hand specialist so I just need to wait now but the pain is unbearable, it seems to have moved to my shoulder both ankles and my knee! My gp has give my Amitriptyline in the mean time.

[Hidden in reply to Dazakella2010]

☹️ so sorry to hear about your health getting worse, I think I'm bad then hear from people like yourself.

[katieoxo60]

Yes I have in the past , its a lower dose than for depression. I know of many in the same position. Gabapentin is another one although used for epilepsy it is now often used for arthritic pain . Do try the Amytriptyline it can help for lots of people. Good Luck.

[James-T]

Yes I have been prescribed 50mg at bed time, to ease the pain so that I get a good night's sleep. It has been a great help..

[Batty1]

I was given cymbalta for my arthritis pain had to stop caused too many issues.

[Hidden]

Yes, i take 50mg at bedtime to help me sleep along with pregabalin and cocodomol. If I don't take them I don't sleep. I've often wondered....I came off my antidepressants and thought I'd done well, though then thought as I am still on amitriptyline am I effectively still on anti-depressants?

[Sinclair12]

Hi I have arthritis but have been prescribed amitriptyline for fatigue I was on 20mg at night to help me sleep so I was able to get through the day. I have been on this for many years but the GP I have seen lately told me this was a high dose & cut it to 10mg at night.

I have to say my fatigue levels are about the same but the arthritis pain has increased since the reduction & I am not sleeping as well.

Just plodding on at the moment.

[Dazakella2010 in reply to Sinclair12]

20mg is not a high dose at all really.....

[Sinclair12]

No I can see from your other reply’s some are on much more....doesn’t instil much confidence in the doctor!

As I said I have been on 20mg for many years - in excess of 20 years. Along with hydroxychloroquine 400mg I am lucky to have stayed quite stable but have learnt to live with my painful joints. So I would have rather left the doses alone.

I didn’t even go to see the GP about my RA I went because I was feeling really low in my mood!

[Hidden]

Yes I have, been on them for a few years now.