New medication

[madmel]

So been to rheumatologist today and been prescribed amitriptyline but told to just continue either Co codamol can anyone tell me if the amitriptyline will help with sleeping?

Thanks in advance xxx

[Hidden]

Yes it does I took it around 8 pm if I took any later it kept me awake . Good luck with it 😊

[madmel in reply to Hidden]

My main concern is I work 3 night shifts a week 12 hours so don't know how I can work around taking them x

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi there

Did you tell your Rheumatologist that you work shifts? Amitryptyline needs to be taken on a regular basis so that it keeps working. It helps many people to sleep (I have been on the forum for three years now and have read lots of comments from other people too).

I took it myself for a few months but it didn't help with my sleep or pain.

It would normally be taken around 6pm so that you don't feel groggy and out of it first thing in the morning. As you are working shifts I'm not sure what the best way to take it would be.

In my humble opinion I think it would be best to ask your GP or Pharmacist how and when to take it. At a low dose Amitryptyline helps with pain and sleep. At a higher dose it acts as an antidepressant too.

Obviously I'm not a doctor, but just giving you an idea of my experience and that of other members of the forum too.

It helps some, but not others. The only way to tell is to try it.

Let us know how you get on.

Hugs Lu xx

[TheAuthor]

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Amitriptyline contains a sedative component so in most people it does aid sleep. I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[ukmsmi4]

Hi

I had Amitryptyline when I was first diagnosed with ME. It didn't work for me. It didn't help with sleep or pain. And on top of that my head permanently felt like it was 4 feet above my shoulders. I couldn't cope with that especially when it wasn't helping anyway.

Having said that other people say it works for them. I guess all you can say is give it a try but as Lu says you do need to take it at regular intervals

[madmel]

Thank everyone I'm going to speak to my manager and see what my options are and see how the medication goes I was hoping my husband would get a job then I could stay at home with the boys and not have to struggle but it's not working that way fingers crossed things will get sorted onwards and upwards lol love to you all xx

[ailsamary]

Oh wow that is hard with nights and children. I was advised to take amytyptiline an hour before bedtime. It certainly does help me sleep, though it was given for pain management. And I believe that the dose should be between 30 - 50mg for fibro. It's perfectly safe along with the cocodamol as they work completely differently. And you need to allow a few weeks for your body( and your brain) to acclimatise to it

Hope stuff becomes resolved x

[dillydally1]

yes it will help you sleep. can make you feel groggy in the morning. I used to take it couple of hours before bed x

[Hidden]

Hi..yes,the amitriptyline helps me to sleep..thank goodness! Finally, some sleep!hope it helps you,too.take care ,dunkxx

[Hidden]

Hi my experience with Amitryptiline was on lowest dose, cut in half to 5 mg, I did not take it regularly, moreso as and when needed to get sleep, so this is possible. Could not tolerate it regularly as made me very groggy in the mornings, I found it was fast acting and could sleep for 12 hours. You could see how it works for you starting with a low dose and taken so it fits in with your shifts? Or as suggested discuss this with GP. It is taken at much higher doses for depression 300 mg plus (my GP mentioned to me) We are all different with medication.

Alice