Meds??

[Purple7265]

Well as I said earlier, I am new to fibro. Doc put me on amitriptyline 35mg taken in evening. As well as taking this I am taking pregabalin 100mg twice daily and Co-Codamol 15/500 when needed. But... I take levothyroxine 75mg for an under active thyroid and boy did it and the amitriptyline not mix. I have an irregular heartbeat which was diagnosed years ago. Doesn't really bother me. But taking amitrip and levo sent my heart racing. Everytime I went from sitting to standing head pounding and nearly fainting. So have stopped the amitrip. Any suggestions as to what I could maybe be taking as I know when I speak to my doc today, they'll ask me what I suggest!! Many thanks xx

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello there, have you managed to speak to your doctor yet today?? They should today update your records as this effected you and hopefully come up with something that is safe and dosent give you side effects. Xx

[Purple7265 in reply to Yassytina]

Yes spoke to them first thing. He just said that maybe he had given too high dose of amitrip and to cut it down to 20mg not 35mg. Still taking pregab 100mg twice daily and Co-Codamol 15/500. I'm in agony. Doc says to persevere and give meds a chance. Easier said than done. Also due to go back to work and the thought of that terrifies me. Been advised to go down the PIP route but I've worked all my life.

[MALC19 in reply to Purple7265]

Hi Purple

I am on 150mg Amitriptyline have been for nearly 30 years now, Pregabalin 5 years and Levothyroxine 4 years plus many more meds.

I would be lost without all my meds.

Amitriptyline takes bit of getting used to in beginning but does deal with huge amount of neuro issues.....insomnia, pain, brain fog, central nervous system etc.

It is not as widely used anymore but is brilliant for fibro, had for 4 years now and ME for nearly 30 years, i have both.

These meds are not for everyone though and is trial and error in beginning. You just have to find out what is best for you as we are all different with all different symptoms.

Hope you find what will work for you. 😊😊

[Purple7265 in reply to MALC19]

Thankyou for your reassurance. I'll just have to grin and bear it now, and hope that I can eventually get some sort of relief.

[MALC19 in reply to Purple7265]

You are very welcome.

I only joined this forum couple weeks ago but wished i had found it years ago.

Have ME and fibro can be a very lonely journey.

Since joining here i know everybody knows how i am feeling and have been so supportive to not only me but huge amounts of other people here.

I have suffered in silence for nearly 3 decades now and is so good to find people that are so open, kind, caring and happy to share their experiences.

I hope you find something to help your pain but can assure you that at some point you will know through experience what works or does not.

Good luck and very gentle hugs 😊😊

[Purple7265 in reply to MALC19]

Thanks Malc. You have a nice easy day.

[Purplebluebell]

Hi, agree reducing amitriptyline might be best way to tolerate side effects. I'm on 10mgs only and that works but had fybro for decades. It does not work instantly. All the best.

[Purple7265 in reply to Purplebluebell]

Thanks

[Canbedone]

Purple 7265, Please pardon my slow reply - I have had to deal with multiple distractions.

I have had heart Arrhythmia with drug combinations. I have heart damage anyway and I have a pacemaker for slow heartbeat. I am sensitive to drugs causing heart irregularity.

You are taking a challenging set of drugs and there could be several interactions that might cause the assumed palpitations which are generally Atrial Fibrillation. AF makes you eel very uncomfortable but is not overtly risky Ventricular Fibrillation can be fatal. So it is essential that you get the effect diagnosed.

I too have an under-active thyroid but managed to get it reduced to just a 25mg maintenance dose (mainly via many measures to improve my health but being fitter being the main means).

An overdose of Thyroxine will cause heart irregularity in its own right - and Thyroid function can vary not - it is not always a permanent condition. Cocodomol is a very powerful drug to be used carefully and with respect- I try to avoid it.

Amitriptyline is an anti-depressant that has been found useful for suppressing excessive pain sensitivity for instance as a beneficial side-effect. However it does have negative side-effects for some. Again this is a matter to put back to you Doctor and be persistent if you feel you not getting a fully considered answer. Pregabalin - the same comments.

My hunch is that you should be re-tested for Thyroid function - it may have improved and you dose might need to be decreased.

Best of luck to you and keep talking to you Doctor if you are concerned - persistence will get you a result.

[Purple7265 in reply to Canbedone]

Thankyou for all that info. I did get my bloods done there last week and they said my thyroid "was off" and that I'd "obviously" forgotten to take thyroxine on a few occasions! I assured them this was not the case. I take them religiously every morning before breakfast. So I've to get it checked in 2 months time. In the meantime amitriptyline has been reduced to 25mg and at the minute the heart rate and throbbing head have not come back. So we'll have to wait and see.