Hello Fibro friends; I noticed a group of you are taking Amitriptyline (?) and I am not familiar with this? I have been under care with a Rheumatologist for ten years and not once has he ever prescribed this? I tried Lyrica and Savella first....not good for me!!! To say the least! Cymbalta but did not help with pain or sleep deprivation so now on Gabapentin! I forgot my Gabapentin on a week vacation once and found myself in severe pain and flu achy CFS and electric shock sensation, which were my first symptoms upon diagnosis. Oh and sudden uncontrolled crying!! (Not an initial symptom) Asked my doctor why? she said can’t stop Gabapentin! GREAT! Can’t take twice a day or my CFS kicks in! Can’t function! So pain is controlled to a degree but have to live very simple and relaxed! Otherwise any unusual daily activities can cause some pain and night rls and cramps and neck and back pain. I know a lot of people who have been given Gabapentin for neuropathy, osteoarthritis and Fibro. I guess my question is:
1) Are all of you seeing a Rheumatologist or is this a General Practitioner prescribing this?
2) Was this the first prescription given?
3) is it helping with pain and bedtime sleep?
I’m curious because finding the correct medication is a big challenge for this illness!
Ty, gentle hugs!
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healthunlocked.com/fibromya..., morning trial and error seems to be the case for most of us trying out the different meds, I did try gapapentin for awhile but it did upset my stomach, was a big no to sertraline but settled on duloxtene for the past year. Never seen a rheumatologist just my doctor who does my prescriptions and also my diagnosis. This tablet helps brilliant with sleep , pain can be manageable unless I push things too far (which of course we should not) yes challenging is the right word for fibro sufferers, I hope you get some interesting feed back, I’ve also posted a link above if you would like to lock your posts as then only our community can see. Gentle hugs back.
I think you will find your doctor will give you this on prescription. If you tell him you are tired and depressed with all these things you are going through and that after all these years you have heard of a tiny tablet that works for so many people. I've been on it a long time as it's a relaxant as well as antidep. Good luck and I hope you succeed because it doesn't hurt to try does it? 🐱
Thank you, it helps to know how and what helps people differently. It is a matter of trying the meds if you don’t jeopardize your health with the risks taking the meds. I personally can’t take Lyrica, had severe memory loss and Savella I had sweat attacks and heat intensified it! On 300mg at night og Gabapentin which I find 1 hour before bed helps with sleep and the flu feeling! I can function within strict limits. I waited until my last child was almost done with high school to begin trying medical marijuana. (2015) I am in a place I can control a worst day! Gentle hugs and hoping we all could have 1 day to be pain free!🤗
Yes, one day pain free would be fantastic!! Also, would be nice to get some sleep!! I get one hour per night , tops!! My pain meds are nortriptyline, zomorph,oramorph, paracetamol and cuprofen. I'm now being advised to wean off citalopram and introduce duloxetine. Hope you all have a pain free night
No. I've got IBS, diverticulitis, gastritis, Nash(non alcoholic steatohepititis) caused by meds from my DRS, diabetes, under active thyroid, sciatica, fibromyalgia, , costochondritis to name but a few!! The other meds I'm on are omeprazole, Metformin, thyroxin, fexofenadine, prochlorperazine, citalopram, (wean off) to go on duloxetine,oxybutinin . Take care Lynne
in reply to
Oh nortriptyline and vitamin b compound strong!! How are you doing?
I am new here and right now I am taking Cymbalta which seems to have cause severe sleep deprivation so I am slowly weaning off it and taking Tizanidine three times a day...I saw a specialists at first but not see my GP.. I don't believe there is any one thing that will work its seeing what is best for each person base on their body...this disease is extremely challenging and its only God's strength that gets me thru.
Hello Gidschild47; yes I agree completely with you. I didn’t know there was this many drugs/ medications? My doctor told me there were not many and he didn’t suggest it be a good choice that to try natural at best. Yes, I was on Cymbalta but Rheumatologist took me off when he started me on Gabapentin. I manage on just the Gabapentin and medical marijuana. (Which is tricky, but works great for sleep & pain with no side effects) I read Fibro patients lack Vitamin D (which I take and always will have to take) and Serotonin and the serotinin comes from the antidepressants like Cymbalta and Savella. And these are not first choice to treat depression. I was told that when doctors can’t find the underlying problem Fibro is the first thing they excuse it for cause it gives doctors the excuse to give Fibro patients antidepressant medications and for me I was depressed but I’m in such a good place in my life I don’t feel depressed as much unless I can’t do something that I should be able to do. But as I get older now 58 I don’t even have much of that because everyone around me is slowing down. I guess when first diagnosed and in my early 40’s depression was more of an issue. It just amazes me how many are being treated by their GP? I read Fibro patients should be treated by 4 specialists now that studies and research is being done!
1) Rheumatologist- to rule out all auto immune diseases. From Hepatitis, sogrens, lupus, RA, celiac, lime disease and more and my doctor checks me every 3 months cause Fibro symptoms are so similar to auto immune diseases.(since diagnosed in 2004)
2) Neurologist- because Fibro patients are undergoing nerve pain. I was seeing a neurologist for migraines in my 30’s they just got worst because Fibro patients tend to have problems shuting off the pain signals.
3) Gastrenologist- because we commonly have gastric problems! And I do!
4) pain management- to help with sleep disturbance and pain. I don’t see this one anymore.
I use Fibromyalgia foundation website to watch what the researchers are learning! My Rheumatologist was going to use me for a new study but I don’t know what the treatment entailed and I had several friends and doctors told me to be careful! I won’t be promoting this! Lol hope you have a great day!🤗
Sorry to hear in so much pain, I think we all do at different times of the day. Being on all the drugs described and on Zoloft was on Gabapentin and amitriptyline no help with pain . I take Dyhydrocodein for pain
My GP prescribed Amitriptyline ( an initial dose of 10mg per night, gradually increasing to 40.)with Tramadol. I found they gave limited pain relief but really helped at night. Unfortunately, due to an existing heart issue, i had to swap to Pregabalin( Lyrica) which suits me better.
I’ve taken amitriptyline for ten years! I take it at tea time so come bedtime I’m nice and relaxed and have a good sleep!! If I take it too late I struggle to get up in the morning. I don’t feel it does anything for pain but it definitely helps me to sleep better. I was prescribed this by my rheumatologist xx
I’ve being on it just over a year but I’ve also got OA and Psa and high blood pressure so also on loads of pills for them. Think I need new bathroom cabinet lol
My GP prescribed it for me to aid sleep. I went from 10mg then it was increased to 50mg. It has been a game changer for me as I'm able to fall asleep now and sleep a good few hours. It does not help me with pain tho.
I was on it for 15 years first given it to treat my migraines as I wasn’t diagnosed with fibo then I gained over 40 kg taking it as that is a huge problem with it but it made me sleep well and I had no migraines I’ve been taken off it now
From my own experiences I’d Avoid amitriptyline and gabapentin if you can. You can stop it .. I was on both (at separate times) and I did. They’re the same thing but slightly different and they are old fashioned tablets used initially for depression that can help people with pain but when I had amitriptyline all it did was help me put on weight and make me so tired.
RLS get your vitamins checked if you haven’t and check iron levels too.
I have severe vit d, iron, calcium deficiency but have found when restless legs kick off I take extra strong iron tablets and within half an hour or so it will calm down (but weird but it is known that rls can come from deficiency in iron and b vitamins too)
I didn’t sleep or slept too much with both the drugs you mentioned, initially found for the first month I slept and did nothing but then turned to not sleeping and became so sleep deprived it was awful !
I didn’t find it helped with pain either.
My Gp prescribed them after I saw a specialist for my spinal conditions which are very pronounced.
I’m on tramadol now, naproxen, and when I need them cocodamol (but that makes me horrendously sick and incredibly high so I don’t take it very often and when I do I really can’t go anywhere). In addition I’m on high dose ferrous sulphate (iron) extra strong vit d tablets x 4 and calcium I did at one point have b12 jabs too but don’t need those now.
You could always ask a specialist about the tablets and discuss with them or ask for a different Gp maybe
In my answer I’ve assumed your U.K. based as I said of course your meds will differ dependant on where you are
I do hope you find some relief soon and something to help
Re the fibro have you been advised to exercise as much as you can ? Maybe swimming ? It’s been proven that exercise helps somehow (I don’t know how but it does ) so in a good day maybe a nice long swim might be in order ?
Hi Teapot1966; I’m USA, and been out of commission. I’ve been in Er with kidney stones. Hoping this one has passed! Your post helped me. Gabapentin helps me with rls Fibro electric shock and flu feeling so I’ve decided best for me for now. Yes, I walk whenever I can but do get weak still. Sounds like you have it under control. Just when I think I do I have a day I don’t know why or what made me feel so bad. But life goes on and so do we. Right now I can only focus on getting passed this kidney stone! Thank you and gentle hugs!
Hi There, I was prescribed amitriptyline when I was first diagnosed with fibro years ago. It did help with the electric shock pains I was having in my legs at the time and I experienced no side effects and was sleeping fine. As the fibro got worse over the years and I developed knee neck and back probs the amitriptyline wasn't helping anymore and I was on pregabalin for a while, I think Lyrica is the other name but you can check that if you wish. They did help me sleep but when dose was increased to 150mg I developed side effects and stopped them suddenly and ended up with horrendous stomach pain and sickness after a week of stopping them. I should have realised that I should have weaned slowly off them. I was put back on amitriptyline after all those years and for some reason with maybe getting older I developed side effects.
They were keeping me awake rather than helping me sleep, and I was at the loo almost every hour through the night which I believe can be a side effect. I was so so groggy during the day and told the GP I wanted to stop them as couldn't function throughout the day. He was happy for me to do this as they weren't helping me. Fibro sufferers don't sleep well, but since stopping them I am sleeping much better, though everyone is different ,and they do help many people with sleep and pain as they did with myself many years ago.
I take nothing for the fibro now other than tramadol and CBD oil. My mobility is affected with my knee chondromalacia and my neck and back problems and as a result have little option than to pace myself. Like most of us Fibro Warriors when we have a reasonable day we go mad trying to catch up with things then end up with the dreaded flare-ups and have to take to bed for several days. My Dr always said to me pace pace and pace but it is easier said than done especially when I was looking after ill family members and had no time to rest.
If I was you I would give the Amitriptyline a try I don't think they are as potent as the pregabalin and other meds and I was told in 2010 that it was the first drug that fibro-sufferers are started on. I was never referred to a Rheumatologist but to a Neurologist and was told after waiting for 5 months that they don't see fibro patients anymore so was then sent to the Consultant in the Pain Clinic. He is very very nice but really likes his patients meds to be kept at a minimum if possible as they all have side effects he tells me. I take the horrible restless arms and legs and he advised he could give me meds for that but again they have side effects so I said no. If I manage to take my tramadol early enough it helps with that. I also use hot water bottles during flare-ups and a tens machine and since I went onto a stronger dose of the CBD oil I find I am able to cut down a bit on the tramadol. I took Jaundice and High Liver function levels and was in hospital 2 years ago and hospital suspected it was the years of being on cocodamols also so I am wary about medication. I hope the amitriptyline helps, as I said it really helped me for a few years. Good luck x
Hi amatryptalyne did nothing for me, I got prescribed this by my GP & this was the first medication I tried. Never seen a rheumatologist. Hope you are well today
Hi friends.I take oxycontin long acting and oxycodone for breakthrough pain.Experts say powerful opiods don't work for fibro ..well they should try telling my body that works great for me except for the severe fatigue we all suffer..Take care..
I take 2x300mg gabepentin four times a day for my PSA pains some days it helps some days it doesn't touch pain and have to resort to oramorph. Been on this dose since November 2018😳
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