Amitriptyline : Guys. Does anybody have... - Cure Parkinson's

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Amitriptyline

jeeves19 profile image
16 Replies

Guys. Does anybody have any evaluation/views on this drug in terms of effect on brain? My story goes way back maybe 10 years and at the time concerned lots of chronic pain (back, knees). The docs were about to give up when I told them I'd read about the ability of an old anti-depressant to alleviate pain. They gave me a go on it and within a matter of weeks, much of my pain had gone. My own take on it was (and is) that it gives one such a good nights sleep that your body gets a proper chance to repair itself. I admit that I got a little hooked on it and took it for years on and off due to it's marvellous sleep inducing properties. Anyway, then I get PD. I kept on using amitriptyline thinking 'well everyone who gets it seems to complain that they don't sleep, but hey: I have secret weapon that I'm gonna keep using'. But then I researched a bit and I DID find some serious papers from academics tentatively linking long term ingestion of this drug with the start of PD. One might think that there's no issue as that now I HAVE PD, what's there to lose? Maybe the drug could make things worse, but boy do I love 9 hours quality snooze! Any analysis most welcome friends.

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16 Replies
Hikoi profile image
Hikoi

Interesting. I woould be interested in your comment on dosage.. I started on nortryptilIne 10. Mmg for sleep problems but now 20 mg isnt working that well..

I know nothing about a casual link to developing pd. wonder. how receeent that research is.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply toHikoi

I have taken 25mg for years. Works like a dream annoyingly. Wish I wasn't such a slave to it!

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi in reply tojeeves19

Thank your lucky starts and dont changeit!

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply tojeeves19

I take 50 mg 5-HTP a couple of hours before bed and that seems to do it for me. Best to get off of amitriptyline if you can if it really does cause PD.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply topark_bear

Thanks

movinngroovin profile image
movinngroovin

Helps you sleep-old antidepessant. It makes me very groggy so I don't take it anymore.

stiltzski profile image
stiltzski

I am the spouse of a PD sufferer. I have had fibromyalgia for 13 yrs and take 10-20 mg every night to relax muscles and help with pain & sleep. It works really well. If I forget, I lie awake for hours till I remember! If you are groggy in the mornings, just take it earlier in the evening. I have not heard if any link with PD.

ramondo4 profile image
ramondo4

What daily dose do you take.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply toramondo4

25mg but not daily. I save it for a treat once twice weekly

Hi! I was taking amitrypiline for pain. I am also taking clozapine for schizophrenia & I had adverse side effects, my speech was slurred & I stuttered. I have stopped them.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19

New research is now suggesting the drug slows PD down!

stiltzski profile image
stiltzski in reply tojeeves19

Yes, I saw that yesterday. Weird! Have you noticed that your symptoms have been slowed down by taking amitriptyline?

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply tostiltzski

Well I've been taking erratically for years and so I have no idea. What I do know is that the PD certainly developed over a period despite my ingestion of this drug.

Hi! I was taking amitrypiline for pain but it caused side effects with clozapine,my speech was impaired & I was stuttering I could not get my words out. I was on it for a few days then I stopped it.

andrehypnotic profile image
andrehypnotic in reply to

Should only be taken at night?

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19

Well I do and it’s always helped me sleep very well. Don’t know if there are different sorts or doses?

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