Amitriptyline - pain med

[Fanfab1]

hello

Only after experiences not pharmaceutical advice 😊

On top of my persistent angina I have chronic back pain (lower back pain, cramping of muscles including pain down my legs mainly when I stand for a while and often when walk). “Disc bulges” the GP said, has referred me to a specialist, probable lengthy wait. Finally been referred to pain management - thanks to the back wouldn’t for my persistent angina (the psychological support / advise would be great)

I was originally given co-codamol but it didn’t do much for my back pain just gave me headache and generally feel ill.

I was this week given Amitriptyline 10mg and note is an anti depressant but at low dose used for pain relief. I have not taken after reading stuff on BNF. I was reassured by dispensing pharmacist but not convinced.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/amitr...

Has anyone with a heart issue taken this med for chronic pain? What was your experience? Any adverse impact on heart? Or did it really help?

Thanks in advance

👍

[iwannabeabear]

Hey! I used to take 50mg each night for nerve pain (and I have HF). It helped a tiny bit but nowhere near enough to be worth taking so I switched to duloxetine (which still didn't help, but still ...) no adverse affect on my heart in MY experience 😊

[Fanfab1 in reply to iwannabeabear]

thanks for sharing, i can see from reading the responses its a mixed bag. I'm always a bit overprotective of my heart issue I guess i don't want to take anything that can risk aggravation.

i should have included being investigated for peripheral nerve disease but I don't know much about it, it just appeared on my NHS app record of conditions but hasn't been explained.

maybe when i get a clearer picture of what's going with my back i can make a more informed decision on whether worth the risk of taking such a med.

Cheers - keeping an open mind for now.

[sandandkev]

I was offered amitriptyline for pain relief but after finding out it can affect heart,was given gabapentin which works great,so try that

[Fitzy1950 in reply to sandandkev]

My husband was on Gabapentin for Neuralgia in the ear. This worked for 5/6 months then the pain came back. The doctor has now put him on Amitriptyline twice a day. He has been on this since March and in all honesty it is not helping. (Apparently it can take 4/6 weeks before it kicks in ) 🙏🤞

[Fanfab1 in reply to sandandkev]

thanks for responding i will keep the alternative in mind. cheers

[Murderfan58]

I have been in constant pain my whole life and fallen . I have a rare hereditary neurological condition which I didn't get diagnosed until 2022 when I was 63.

But I saw Professor Marsden at neurological hospital in 1992 and he prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg twice a day . I know take 10mg 3 times a day. In a higher dose it is an antidepressant but it is used for chronic pain . I also take 2 co codamol 3 times a day . I have friends who have fibromyalgia and they where prescribed Amitriptyline for the pain they take 20mg twice a day.

Amitriptyline really does help a lot with my pain . I am now 66. My pain got lot worse in 1988 but even the pain clinic never helped me . But it took my GP to find the best neurologist in the country which was Professor Marsden at neurological hospital in London. He had me in for a week and ran every test available at the time he couldn't tell me what was wrong with me but what I hadn't got . But did put me on medication to try and help.

I have PAF and have a small hole in the side of my heart. Take Flecainide, Apixaban and Ramipril for my heart. The Amitriptyline is safe to take with heart medication. And I wouldn't be without it .

So please take it . It does say it might make you drowsy but from the start of taking it in 1992 it never made me drowsy.

Don't suffer in pain when the Amitriptyline will help you .

[Fanfab1 in reply to Murderfan58]

hello Thank you for sharing your experience and that amitriptyline can be a very positive thing regards pain.

my problem is I don't yet have a clear idea / explanation yet of what is up with my back / why I get the back pain although the abnormal MRI mentions the words thickening / narrowing / impingement / indenting of the thecal sac and central canal, a haemangioma on "L1" (benign tumour), a mild disc protrusion, some mild disc bugles and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!!!! all summed up as mild disc degenerative disease. none of the above has been explained by a specialist yet. my NHS app says "peripheral nerve disease" not been explained either.

i do have a bit of anxiety of taking meds that may aggravate the heart as I've had to try several for my heart that made matters worse plus an inhaler recently that was not great on the heart. but I am not going to know unless i take it though!!!!

I'm not sure what i want to do re amitriptyline but a good explanation by a specialist would help. (noted name for future reference)

cheers

[mozart27]

I have been treated for hypertension for approaching 30 years now but have had no other heart issues. In my mid 50s I was having quite severe back ache and regularly waking very early in the morning in pain which was relieved on getting up and walking about. I was prescribed low dose Amitriptyline and for some years it worked well. I was still waking in pain but at a later time than before. Then I seemed to notice that it was not working as well and I also read that it's not a terribly good medicine to be on as you get older - cognitive issues. So I switched to low dose Duloxetine, another antidepressant but a much newer one, and again this seemed to work for a while. Then it too seemed to become less effective. Again I read that taking Duloxetine probably wasn't a very good idea for older people so I decided to stop taking it. There are lots of warnings about weaning yourself off both medicines very gradually. Amitriptyline is quite easy; although fiddly, the tablets can be split. Duloxetine though comes in capsules with lots of mini pills and it's much more difficult. I have a slight hand tremor so my wife would open a capsule and replace the contents very gradually reducing the dose each time. So just something to think about if you go on an antidepressant because many people do have real problems if they decide to come off them and this may not be explained at the outset. A final point and you may not find this very convincing but my backache and sleep improved dramatically when we moved to a three storey house. Walking up and down stairs frequently during the day is remarkably good exercise.

[Fanfab1 in reply to mozart27]

thank you for sharing the pros and cons from your experience. I have been diagnosed with severe depression previously - I don't think it ever goes away you just learn to manage it. but I have never taken anti-depressants although offered / prescribed. My maybe unproven feeling that i don't want something that alters the mind is probably holding me back.

i think you have something there as I am sure my inactivity has not helped and agree moving is key - but my angina kicks in on minimal exertion and I am unable to exercise as a result. I get moderate (usually, sometimes feels severe) angina walking up one flight of stairs. rest is only way to avoid the angina but its not great for my bones and muscles. I'm hoping I will be able to see a physio who can understand my heart condition who can advise on stretches / exercises when lying on bed.

Rock and a hard place dealing with angina versus dealing with back pain!!!!!

Cheers

[Redfloyd]

I think amitriptyline can be used for different things in different doses. I took 10mg for IBS, it worked, my daughter took it for depression, not sure it helped and I know people take it for pain. It didn't make me very sleepy until I got used to it so I took it at night.

[Fanfab1 in reply to Redfloyd]

yes the GP advised to take at night in case of sleepiness. Not ruling out taking the amitriptlyine just yet. looks like as with all meds helps some and not others.

Cheers!

[Happyrosie]

two of my neighbours have similar issues to you. One swears by it. The other said it did not help.

[Fanfab1 in reply to Happyrosie]

that seems to be the overall thing coming out of my post - works for some not for others.

Cheers!

[Cookieisland]

My partner took amitriptyline for a year after he injured his back which caused severe pain and sciatica down his leg. It worked well and he was able to get back to normal activities gradually. Then he eventually tapered off of it. The only side effect he noticed was being very sleepy after taking it. He doesn’t have any heart conditions so wouldn’t be able to comment on that.

[Fanfab1 in reply to Cookieisland]

thanks for sharing that, I'm always concerned with new meds if affect heart and I'm trying to keep an open mind but I'm thinking when the back pain is worst I might cave in and take it!!!!!

Cheers!

[nilmonisikdar40]

Hi Fanfab1. I hope you are getting some relief of back pain in case you have started taking Amitryptiline at a low dose. This medication is not a specific pain killer but helps with neuralgic pain ie when the pain is caused by damage to sensory nerves. The side effect is dryness of the mouth which you may not experience with such a low dose. See how it goes, Regards.

[Fanfab1 in reply to nilmonisikdar40]

thanks for responding, I do apparently have peripheral nerve disease listed as a condition in my NHS app conditions list but it hasn't been explained to me. googled a little. makes sense why prescribed, cocodamol didnt help.

cheers!

[Alfie33]

Due to my heart not suppling my brain with enough oxygen, I got really bad head aches. The GP put me on 10mg amitripyline. It says take them at night but once in my system I rarely get any head aches

[Fanfab1 in reply to Alfie33]

I'm learning from this post it has several uses, and that low dose may not be as much an issue but works for some and not others. I wasn't expecting a clear cut response so i am definitely keeping an open mind after.

I'm glad it worked for you, i loathe the headaches i get with moderate / severe episodes of angina i get!

Cheers!

[Thanksnhs]

Hi I take it for pain 10mg 2 or 3 a night depending on how the pain is, I have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet, I have been taking it for years on top of all my meds and I always declare on my holiday insurance and tell them it's for pain. Char

[Fanfab1 in reply to Thanksnhs]

thanks for responding - that's interesting. apparently i have or they are investigating peripheral nerve disease but I don't know much about it and its not been explained to me. i am hoping the referral will lead me to a doctor who can explain!

noted regards declaration.

Cheers!

[Zechillo]

I have angina and back pain as well as having bouts of gout.

For my back I have used naproxen 500 mg doses I’ve found this helps me a lot. I only use this when required

It fits my needs

[Fanfab1 in reply to Zechillo]

thanks for responding, looks like naproxen might not sit well with asthma so that might not be for me! its a mind field having multiple issues!

cheers!