Hi everyone, I have finally been diagnosed today - appropriate day!!
Its taken 3 years but the first time I hared the work Fibromyalgia was January 2013.
I wont forget it as I was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of weeks before.
Apparently the stress and trauma of that diagnosis started it all off. It was the most horrific pain and I,m glad it hasn't been as bad as that since those first few weeks.
I've just put up with feeling rubbish a few days every week since but hopefully I can get it under control now.
Anyway, that's me, but my question is should I take this Amitriptyline?
I don't want to feel like a half shut knife all day which is what it would appear to do to people.
Any advice??
Thanks
Written by
JoyceB
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Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.The pain you had the time around you were diagnosed I woukd say was caused by stress, as you said it's not as bad later on.If your gp gave you amitriptyline I would say take it.I used to take it and wish I still did....once you get used to it you will find its worth it.I wish you the best. Peck
welcome to our friendly forum. If you would like, you can visit our mother site fmauk/org. where you will find lots of evidence based info on Fibro.
With regards to Amitriptyline. Personally I've taken it for many years and wouldn't be without it. I take 50 mg at 10.30pm every night, and get a good 6+ hrs sleep. The secret is to start with a low dose and work up until you achieve the desired effect. The lowest dose tablet is 10 mg. start by taking it early, say around 6 - 7pm. and see how you go, it doesn't kick in right away like a sleeping pill does. Continue with it until you feel you're ready to increase it. Carry on in this way until you feel that it's giving the desired effect without you feeling too drowsy in the morning. You have to be patient as it can take up to 8 wks before achieving the results you want. I found that it got me into that deep stage sleep, which in turn helped with my pain. You can buy pill cutters from your Pharmacist which would allow you to start with an even lower dose, ( don't use them to cut slow release pills as that can be dangerous.)
The thing to remember is that we're all unique individuals, and we all experience different effects from our pills. So with that in mind I would encourage you to give Amitriptyline a try for yourself otherwise you will always wonder. I am not a Medic, and I'm only speaking of my own experience.
You've had a bit of a rough ride these last few years, and I truly hope that you can get your pain levels down a bit so that you can start to move forward to some sort of normality.
As you know say so appropriate to be diagnosed today. Many ppke on the forum have found that particular drug to be really good so I think it is worth a try. It is one I haven't tried myself as the two My last doctor tried really made me very ill but I think I just react badly to that group of drugs whereas other people have no ill effects.
A friend took it for lower back pain and he found it really beneficial. Let us know how you get on. Have you had a look at our mother site Fibromyalgia Action UK as there are some good sections on different treatments and drugs. Look forward to your future posts.x
Hi , I'm under a rheumatologist, still in the process of diagnosis. However, my symptoms in her opinion, suggest Fibromalgia, amongst other autoimmune problems. I was getting no restorative sleep for years. I didn't realise how bad it was until I (reluctantly ) was given a prescription for Amytriptyline. I am on a lot of pain relieving meds, so I took it to my pharmacist who holds my medicine records , who said it is highly sedative with the combination of my drugs. I raised this with the pain clinic I am under and they prescribed Nortriptyline, as it is less sedative. They start you on a low dose and then build up to your needs. I found that the minimum dose has given me the chance to sleep and not wake up through the night with the pain in my body etc. / waking up in the morning, feeling like I've run a marathon.
I would advise trying this type of support to help. You can always change types of medicine and find one that suits you. Mentally , it has given me a huge boost, and I am not constantly falling asleep in the day. I wish you all the best!
I am so genuinely sorry to read of your Fibro diagnosis, and I sincerely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to your pain issues. I am one of the patients that did not get on with Amitriptyline and so I was changed to Nortriptyline instead. However, I have a combination of medications including Pregabalin and cocodamol. So it may prove beneficial to discuss alternative pain relief also with your doctor?
I want to genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis with fibro and breast cancer. How are you feeling now? Have you experienced any worsening of you fibro with your cancer treatment?
I was finally diagnosed with fibro and then a week later found the cancerous lump. I had severe fibro symptoms with the first tablets and was moved onto an implant which is much better but l do find my fibro flares up after the implant and then again just before it is due again.
Have yòu had any worsening symptoms due to hormones.
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Just diagnosed with Fibro 
Just diagnosed with Fibro
just been diagnosed with this awful condition
newly diagnosed and very confused!
