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How does it take amitriptyline 10mg to start working??

beverleyxjane profile image
14 Replies

Hi I'm new here and was wondering if anyone would answer a question???? I went see my doctor, because ive not been feeling myself for a long time now. He has given me a prescription for amitriptyline 10mg does anyone know how long they take 2 start working please.

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beverleyxjane
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14 Replies
Cape_Cod_Sharon profile image
Cape_Cod_Sharon

Hi Beverley,

I take 25 mg at bedtime and it kicks in within about 20 minutes. It's supposed to help me stay asleep, doesn't really work for me but it does help with anxiety so I keep taking it.

~Sharon

beverleyxjane profile image
beverleyxjane in reply toCape_Cod_Sharon

Hi cape-cod-Sharon, Thankyou for, replying to my question I really appreciate it. :)

Janet28 profile image
Janet28

Hi beverleyxjane welcome to our wonderful forum ☺ I'm sure you will come to find the forum invaluable in chatting to others who are going through the same experience as you, talking to others at different stages of their lives with Fibro and learning from their experiences.

It does help with the whole process and I wish I had found the site years ago. I have had Fibro for nearly 30 yrs and I'm still learning about it, like we all are.

Please do go check out the mother site where you will find lots of useful info and links for Fibro fmauk.org

Amitriptyline is a drug that is often prescribed by doctors to help improve Fibro symptoms. It helps relax muscles, sleep and your mood, along with some nerve pain. Some people feel the benefits quite quickly but others, it can take a few weeks, so they do advise you to stick with it, even if you feel its not working. I0mg is a very low dose but you are normally started on a low dose because it doesn't suit everyone and your gp will want to see how you get on to begin with, then the dose is normally raised to 20mg and can be increased more until you find it really is helping your symptoms.

I have taken it for many many years and its a very good drug and really helps me. It's also advisable to take early in evening and not just before going to bed because it can make you feel very groggy in the morning. I take mine about 8pm, I don't go to sleep till 12 or later but they do help keep me asleep and i can still wake at 8am.

Hope this helps and look forward to chatting with you on the forum.

Peace, luv n light

Jan xx

beverleyxjane profile image
beverleyxjane in reply toJanet28

Hi janet and thankyou for replying to me I appreciate it ive been taking it before I go to bed and seems to take ages for me to drop off to sleep.I will try taking it earlier to see if it works. thankyou :)

Janet28 profile image
Janet28 in reply tobeverleyxjane

Your welcome and yes a lot of people don't realise that you get much better effect from them when taken early evening. I hope they help xx

Hi, everyone reacts differently and the normal time within which to see a difference is a week. Hope that helps. X

Sheila-Squirrel profile image
Sheila-Squirrel in reply toYoungandSuffering

I take 75 mg around 9pm as it's a bigger dose and I usually feel tired about an hour later. If you take it later it can make you feel hungover in the morning. Everyone reacts differently depending on dose, body metabolism and time of day taken. It's a balancing act that you fine tune as you get use to how your body reacts.

bluebell99 profile image
bluebell99

Hello beverleyxjane and a warm welcome to our friendly fibro forum where you can get advice, support, help and understanding, along with a chuckle or two to lighten the day.

I have taken amitryptiline for several years and have found it effective for break through pain when I sleep.

You may have a bit of trial and error to find a dose and a time to take so that it is effective without making you groggy.

Hope it suits you.

X

beverleyxjane profile image
beverleyxjane

Hi thankyou for ur reply its much appreciated :) x

BlueMermaid3 profile image
BlueMermaid3

Hi there

If you have just started taking Amitryptyline I would strongly recommend that you take it around 6pm to avoid a hung over feeling the next day.

Also, most antidepressants can take anything up to 6 weeks to start working at their optimum level.

Obviously for some people it will start working earlier than that so hang in there.

You may like to look into locking your posts so that they stay jut within our forum. Here is an easy to follow guide I have written:

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

If you still need some help, please do let me know.

A very warm welcome to the forum and I look forward to chatting to you again :)

Lu x

Administrator

Matrix profile image
Matrix

I take two at bedtime variable for me as I don't sleep , and they used to work but I have built up a tolerance to them . Welcome by the way .Its great here everyone helps if they can . 😇x

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi beverleyxjane

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance.

Amitriptyline appears to be the first port of call with many doctors for treating Fibro. It is not a drug that I can take and I have its sister drug called Nortriptyline.

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I am on Nortriptyline too, 10mg at 6pm. I get sleepy around 9:30pm on average but I notice that if I am active in the evening or watch an exciting movie with a lot of action in it, I get tired later and I don't sleep so well.

For me the medicine started to work within a weeks time.

Good luck!

Yvonne

Midori profile image
Midori

It can be difficult to say how long it may take as there are many factors to consider. Amitryptilline has a muscle relaxing effect, which helps you drop off, but your state of tension and anxiety can change the time it takes from day to day.

I no longer take it as it made me very dozy the next day, even when I took it several hours before bed.

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