Thanks to everyone who answered. The responses have been very helpful.
I was also able to speak with the Clinical Pharmacist attached to my GP.
Turns out it was my error, the amitriptyline was for IBS and not part of my rescue pack.
Is Amitriptyline standard for copd exacerbations.
I checked online and found it's prescribed for mental health problems and comes with a string of side effects including confusion, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Anyone else here using it?
What's been your experience of it?
Should , I be worried given that I live alone?
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I had Amitriptyline prescribed for back pain. I now have tinnitus because of it. Many people think it’s a good drug but I’m not one of them.
Take care and speak to your doctor about your concerns. Xxx
As Sassy said, best to discuss with whoever prescribed it but yes, I’ve taken it in the past. It was for anxiety and pain relief though and not COPD related when I had it. I’m guessing it may be of some help if your breathing difficulties are worsened by anxiety (mine certainly are) but don’t quote me on that!
I can’t say it had a huge effect on me other than a tiny bit of weight gain and weird dreams. Remember that the side effects listed aren’t a given- they have to all be listed despite not affecting most people who take it.
I do think it’d be fair to raise your questions with the prescriber though, especially if you’re unclear why it’s been prescribed and have concerns. Hope you do get some benefit from it. Many do find it great for all sorts of things.
No, it’s not. Amitriptyline is used for mental health, but also at low doses for pain, particularly pain believed to be stemming from nerve problems, and occasionally as a migraine preventative. I took it for pain purposes, and whilst for some people it works brilliantly, for others not so much. As with all drugs, some people get side effects, and those ones are very common warnings on the vast majority of anti-depressants and mental health medications, but frequenting forums where amitriptyline is quite regularly prescribed for pain, I haven’t personally encountered anyone that’s experienced massive problems with it to date.
Unless you know why you’ve been prescribed it, I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest you don’t take it and clarify with your GP tomorrow. Mistakes can happen, and my understanding is a rescue pack for COPD is comprised of antibiotics and steroids. Have you got an antibiotic in addition to those and your steroids? It shouldn’t happen, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they’ve given you amitriptyline instead of something like amoxicillin.
As I said, don’t take them and speak to your gp. Other than your steroids and the amitriptyline have they given you anything else? If not, then I’m guessing it may have been a prescribing error and they accidentally gave you the amitriptyline instead of an antibiotic.
I agree with Charlie G - very unusual. Rescue packs have antibiotics and steroids in them, i.e. for infection (the ABs) and inflammation (the steroid, usually prednisolone). Amitriptyline is not in either of those classes of drugs. There could well be reasons why this is a useful prescription for you (I dont know your medical situation and Im not medically qualified either) but it would be highly unusual for this drug to be included in an emergency pack.
I take it in a very small dose just at night for bladder nerve pain and diverticula pain, just when I have bad attacks. It helps the pain but I feel a little groggy the next day. I was prescribed it years ago for sciatica. For me it’s just an emergency pain medication. Works well for that.
My GP prescribed it for me years ago. Just one of the smallest dose pills at night. Not for depression but for pain relief and help to get to sleep. I was very reluctant to take it but was assured that it was such a low dose that it was not addictive. As the others say, ask for more information from your GP.
I was prescribed it years ago for pain and found it brilliant. Only side effect was that I slept better. Was prescribed it more recently for depression and had weird side effects.
I think you should contact your GP to check why you have been prescribed amitryptaline but it could be because perhaps COPD is worsened by anxiety? I was prescribed it for diverticular problems in the night (10 mg dose) and it helped me to sleep.
I was very reluctant to take it because one of the possible side effects is an irregular heart beat and this was partly responsible for my husband’s recent death (which probably exacerbated the bowel problem ) but i decided that if you paid attention to all the possible side effects of all the drugs you take you would never take anything.
I am afraid of becoming dependent on it, however, (although I am told that wouldn’t happen) and only take it occasionally when I feel I need to. So my advice is, check first and then take it when you need to. Good luck!
Hello LClinton, this is commonly prescribed in smaller dosage for pain . I was told its a much larger dose for mental health issues. Hope that helps apparently the small dose does help lots of people hope it works for you.
Hi, I was once prescribed amitriptyline by a consultant to take at night after taking an inhaler in the morning (sorry, can't remember which inhaler. There have been so many) to counteract hyperventilation he said could be cause by the inhaler. It was to be taken at night as it might cause drowsiness. I took 3 doses and then stopped as it just made me feel weird and I had no problems with the inhaler causing hyperventilation. I do remember thinking that a 12 hour gap between the meds seemed a bit odd given the reason for the prescription. I hope you get to the bottom of why you have been prescribed it. It seems strange if the reason hasn't been discussed with you.
Amitriptyline has many uses but, as far as I am aware, I don't believe it is used to treat copd. The standard rescue pack for copd consists of steroids and antibiotics. I am currently taking 75mg Amitriptyline per day as I have neuropathy - nerve damage and I have yet to suffer any side effects.
I would suggest that you take the advice of many others on this post i.e. ask your GP.
Hello I have taken Amitriptyline for many years very low dose at night. Was given to me for migraine prevention. They are also given to people with Arthritis they are good for pain. Still take them great for getting a good nights sleep 😴They would be prescribed for anxiety . . COPD medication would be inhaler/ Prednisone/ Antibiotics probably. Many people do not like Amitriptyline ⏱
When I've had exacerbations I've been given Amoxicillin (antibiotic) and, if necessary, a short course of steroids. Could a mistake have been made and Amitriptyline given instead of Amoxicillin?
Its not standard rescue med for exacerbation, but If you have mentioned to your doctor previously when you've had an exacerbation that you also have pain and increased anxiety for instance your doctor may have included this in the rescue pack specifically for you to use at those times you are in pain or distress. No harm in checking back with your GP.
quote:
Amitriptyline is a type of drug called a tricyclic antidepressant. These drugs were originally developed to treat anxiety and depression, but when taken at a low dose they can reduce or stop pain. Amitriptyline works by increasing the amount of serotonin your brain makes.
I've only been prescribed it historically as a muscle relaxant to aid pain relief and sleep myself. I don't recall any side affects but then I think I only took it for around 3-5 days.
I take it to counter nocturnal tooth grinding (sounds minor, but I smash my teeth to bits). Not entirely sure how successful it is but I've never slept so well! Can't imagine it helps my COPD though ...
I was prescribed this to help me sleep and it gave me dreadful nightmares resulting in my attacking my wife while asleep during the night. Please beware as I have spoken to others who had similar experiences.
Omg! How scary that must have been for your wife and you when you realised what you had done! I hope your wife has recovered from the shock of it ! You too! 😱
So glad you clarified that with your GP
Ref: "ANSWERED
Thanks to everyone who answered. The responses have been very helpful.
I was also able to speak with the Clinical Pharmacist attached to my GP. "
I wonder if your doctor inadvertently wrote amitriptyline instead of amoxicillin for your rescue pack 🤔 my mum who is nearly 94 takes amitriptyline at night for severe back and hip pain and it works well at reducing pain and gives her a good nights sleep.
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