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adri_ela2000 profile image
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Good morning.Is someone who has gained weight because of amitriptyline.How can I stop to not gain weight?

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adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000
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20 Replies

I have found that changing my diet helped me massively. I cut out dairy and refined sugar. There are lots of good alternatives out there, you just need to check labels of everything because milk (whey) and sugar are in so much these days!

Fasting was also recommended to me, but it isn’t something that helps me personally. I prefer to eat little and often, to keep my energy levels up. I also drink plenty of water - often, we mistake thirst for hunger and typically don’t drink enough water in the UK, as it is so rarely hit that we don’t notice we need it!

I hope you find something that helps - it’s horrible to gain weight with these meds yet still be unable to get the exercise we would do if we were able! 💙

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to PenelopeClearwater

Thank you for your advices!🤗

PenelopeClearwater profile image
PenelopeClearwater in reply to adri_ela2000

Of course! The main thing is to do what works for your body - healthy eating is always important, but don’t deny yourself what you want 🥰

SnazzyD profile image
SnazzyD

Try really cutting carbs down such as potato, rice, flours, sugar, maize etc.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to SnazzyD

Thank you for your advice!🤗

Maggie1920 profile image
Maggie1920

I was just going to ask the same question. Does ampritripline make you put on weight. Ive been cutting down but dont seem to be able to shift the pounds. Would it help to go off it for a while to see if weight goes down. Im on 20 mg at nighy.

Flamingbernie profile image
Flamingbernie

Hi, i have the same problem. I packed on about 3 stone over the past couple of years. I have found opting for high protein foods, but still making sure i get plenty of fibrous carbs (brown foods good white foods bad).

If i need to snack (which amitriptyline seems to cause) i go for protein bars if i’m on the go, or something like a peanut butter sandwich if i’m at home. I’ve lost over a stone in the past month using this approach.

Good luck, & don’t be hard on yourself if you’re not getting results. Just getting through the day is a major success sometimes with fibromyalgia , so let the worrying about the pounds take a backseat sometimes 😀

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to Flamingbernie

Thank you for your answer.🤗

saj01 profile image
saj01

Hi, If you're not able to do much in the way of exercise... or walking, then the only way to go is to monitor what you are eating.I've put a bit of weight on with fibro, mainly because I'm not able to do so much.

If it's of any help, I drink a lot of fluid, eat a lot of veg, 1/2 my plate is veg that excludes potatoes or rice /grains etc 1/4 carbs, 1/4 protein, mainly fish. dessert is usually berries & natural yoghurt. My treat of the day is 2 squares of 90% dark chocolate.I had to stop buyng cakes etc... mainly because I'm greedy!!!. I do have a couple of biscuits now and again with a tea or coffee. Have cut out wine/alcohol. For a lunchtime snack I have ryvita rye cakes with hummus, much nicer than rice cakes or something similar, maybe a salad wrap. It maybe your meds make you feel hungry, so if you've got the munchies, just keep a daily food diary and you'll see where and when you can cut down.Hope that helps.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to saj01

Yes,I am not able to exercise,but I will try to make a plan for my diet.Thank you for your advice!🤗😘

Midori profile image
Midori

Amitryptilline is a culprit for me as well. I switched to Nortryptilline and it helped. They are similar medications, but one is more difficult to control weight gain.

Cheers, Midori.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to Midori

Thank you!🤗

Fillingincake profile image
Fillingincake

When I was on 50 mg I would put on half a stone, I was able to cut back to half quantity, then I would loose it. I have 50mg when I feel really poorly then cut down to 25 mg. It works for me, but I do have other pain killers as well.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000

Thank you for your advice!🤗

Keyros profile image
Keyros

Hi, I have the same problem, I have fibro and CFS. Since starting amitriptyline in November last year I've gone from a size 14 to 18. I was recently upped to 30mg from 20mg and I really started piling on the pounds. As I wasn't getting any further benefit from the higher dose I have dropped back to 20mg. They do help me sleep but sadly nothing for pain relief. You're not alone, and it's not your fault, so don't feel guilty. We're all in this together sending gentle hugs.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to Keyros

I am happy because I found the cause of gaining weight,but I don't want to give up the Amitriptiline. It help me with my sleep and restless legs,and also with not going to toilet on the night. I hope I will pay attention for what I eat, but is very hard. I send you lots of hugs!🤗🤗

JayCeon profile image
JayCeon

If you're as unlucky as me, stopping it is the only way out.

My experience as a bloke was putting on 6kg from 4 months of amitriptyline, along with 7+ other side effects. (Varying amounts, 5-25mg.) I've only managed to get that weight down again after about 2 years, despite now even less mobility than I had then. And also always had a very healthy diet. So whilst I'd always subscribe to eating healthy and moving as much as possible: It wasn't lack of movement, it was amitriptyline. And diet helped zero.

Also it zombified me, which was a small life-belt but much better without, after installing other things to improve sleep. Didn't help pain. But I prefer "rather pain with brain, than no pain with no brain" anyway.

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to JayCeon

I am disappointed for the fact that the diet did not help you and also I am scarred. Amitriptiline helps me sleep well and also with restless legs ,but not for pain. I don't know what to do.🤗

JayCeon profile image
JayCeon in reply to adri_ela2000

My strategy in that situation would be

1) keep calm and make your decisions without worrying.

2) try diet. You're different to me, as it helps you with sleep & RLS, so maybe you will get help from diet, like others did. It'll help you anyway and is added motivation.

3) I'd definitely keep on it for the time being, set a limit for your weight and then wean it off, as soon as it doesn't seem worth it (you may continue gaining weight while weaning off).

4) If you see a weight gain you could also ask to try nortriptyline instead (it's more expensive, so you may have to exaggerate the side effects and/or play down the main effects.)

5) And I'd look for other ways of improving your sleep & RLS in the meantime, like supps/herbs and sorting out insomnia triggers, install your personal sleep hygiene, then reduce the dose bit by bit as you manage to do so. That was my main way...

Does that help?

adri_ela2000 profile image
adri_ela2000 in reply to JayCeon

Thank you for your advice!🤗

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