Amitriptyline

[Sherah]

Hi all

My GP suggested 10mg of Amitriptyline for my neck tension/pain and tension headaches - I took my first dose last night and slept much better but feel pretty dizzy and light headed this morning, annoyingly on top of the cervicogenic dizziness I already have!

I’m up for carrying on though - is it a case of powering through the side effects to see how it works for me?? I know it can take weeks and I can see from other posts that it doesn’t work for everyone and I am of course prepared for that.

Thanks!

[Elaine200756]

Hi Sherah, I admire you for persevering with the amitriptyline and sincerely hope that it works for you.

Early in my fibro journey I was prescribed the same medication. I was like a zombie in the mornings, I slept all the time and was unable to cope with the side effects. Maybe if I persevered for the 6 weeks I was told it would take to adjust, it would have helped me too.

All the best, Elaine xx

[moo196 in reply to Elaine200756]

need to take mine before 7pm to avoid this

[Elaine200756 in reply to moo196]

Yeah, I tried that but it was still the same xx

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Glad you had a good nights sleep and I’m guessing the extra dizziness is a side effect of starting a new tablet ? It does seem we go threw the trial and error process of getting meds too help us, and differently if you have any concerns stay in touch with your doctor, let us know how you get along and if it improves your neck /tension headaches xx

[Amanda_iona]

Try taking it earlier in the evening, and with a bit of luck you should be less groggy in the mornings.

[Mamamsgirl in reply to Amanda_iona]

Hi I was told not to take it no later than 8pm which I now do and I'm OK on it just increased to 15mg. Good luck with it I find it is the only one that I've had any success with and I've gone from sleeping 2 to 3 hrs a night to an average of 6

[Sherah]

thanks this is helpful! I’m sorry it hasn’t always worked for some. It really is trial and error frustratingly isn’t it! X

[Buboo]

HiI have been on amitriptyline for a while now..I have experienced the groggyness next day. I was speaking to a nurse with fibromyalgia who told me to take it between 6 and 7pm and i should be fine the next day. It takes 12 hours to go through the body. I have been taking it as she advised and I found that I was much more alert the next morning. Hope it works for you. X

[Sherah]

thank you - that makes sense. I have tried it a bit earlier today and will see!

[moo196 in reply to Sherah]

if I haven't taken mine by 7pm I don't take it at all.

[Seascapes31]

Good luck with it, sending you best wishes and please let us know how it goes!I take 40mg amiltryptiline at night which helps my sciatica and sleep (though I dont aim to stay on it forever), and yes I found best to take around 6pm.👍

[Sam988]

Hi I’m on 30mg of amitriptyline for a few years now and have to take it before 7pm if I want to function properly in the morning. I find as I wake at all hours in the night I’m able to relax to rest if not sleep which helps me. I do find some of my dreams can be quite disturbing but have to manage this. Hope you get on ok 😊

[New_diagnosis]

I was prescribed this. But made me so dizzy and felt out of control. So stopped after a week.. good luck

[Meditationlover]

I had the same, but side effects do normally settle down. If persists though ,speak to your doctor xxx

[Maud-ie]

I stopped taking them as however early in the evening I took it I was zombie -fied all day and hated feeling like that. I hope you have more luck.

[Sherah]

Thank you all for sharing your experience- I’m glad for some people the side effects settled - I’m hoping this will be the case for me too!

[Southport-beach]

Hi Sherah,I take low dose Amitriptyline for migraine and fibro. It can make you very groggy in the mornings and leave you with a very dry mouth. My doctor tried to move me onto Nortriptyline, which is a more modern drug in the same family without some of the side effects. Unfortunately my migraines returned after a couple of days so I am back on Amitriptyline. If you can't cope with Amitriptyline in the long term Nortriptyline might be an option for you.

[Sherah in reply to Southport-beach]

Thank you - this is really helpful - I’m sorry your migraines returned!!

[Bertiemum]

If you feel dizzy in the morning try taking the Amitriptyline earlier in the evening, say a couple of hours before you go to bed. With some people it does take a while to get used to it. All the best.

[Sherah]

thanks! Was also wondering if I could cut the tablet in half to take 5mg???

[caico in reply to Sherah]

Hello Sherah, Yes you can as I only took 5mg a day - which eased the side effects. I finally came off them after 8 years as it had affected my eyesight and increased my heart rate. Everyone reacts differently to medication - so if it works for you and makes your life bearable (from the pain/lack of sleep) then go for it. Take care

[Sherah in reply to caico]

Thank you!!!

[healingspirit]

I tried it the side effects was annoying so I stopped

My aunt has been taking it for 25 years she started at 10 mg and is now on 75 mg and has now have to increase the dosage because she has been taking it for so long the lower dosage doesn’t work anymore she has tried to stop taking it due to it causing other health issues but she had serious problems by stopping it her blood pressure would start going crazy she would have dizziness and falls so she had to start taking it again 🥲🥲

[Sherah in reply to healingspirit]

That sounds really stressful I’m so sorry!

[Gooddaysagain]

I tried fora couple of months before asking GP to change meds as I kept falling over things and injuring myself. I didn't feel safe driving either. Luckily, I had no booked work at the time. Sometimes, you just know if it's going to suit you or not.I've just persevered the 2 months I needed to get back on to Duloxetine. As long as I don't overdo it, my pain seems more manageable. But, I had to try so many different meds that didn't suit me, such as a Gbapentin and tramadol, to find one that had more tha

[Gooddaysagain]

Oops! Should have ended:.... such as Gabapentin and tramadol, to find one that had more benefits than negative side-effects.

I hope you find something that really helps!

With gentle, loving hugs,

Dee

[Sherah]

thank you I’m glad you have found something that works!

[paris1511]

Hi Amitriptyline isn't for everyone it effects us all differently, i am on 150mg of Amitriptyline but that is mostly due to the restlessness. When your body isn't used to it the side effects to start with are to put it lightly annoying. I would persevere for a little longer but if it does not get better definitely go back to the doctors and see what else you can try, there are always other options.

[Sherah]

thank you- I’ve tried half a tablet tonight and will see how it goes - but also persevere!

[Sherah]

Ok so quick question - even after 5 days (3 of those on half dose of 5mg) I feel like the pain in my shoulder/neck has improved - BUT feel like the neck tension is still there as feel stiff (but less painful)

So bizarre but I guess the meds are pain relief rather than a relaxant???? So I prob need to deal with the tension in some other way?

[Johanan7]

Hi everyone!

I have chronic tension headaches since November 2021, it actually started since 2020, but back then I had more like a strange feeling in my head so I started drinking antidepressants (pakston) one of the new ones. And it became better after a while, I’ve been drinking it for 6 months and I was okay. But after a few months when I’ve been through some stressful situations again, my tension headaches was severe and since that time it’s present every day. Again I started drinking pakston and I was better but headache was still there. It’s been almost a year without antidepressants, except that I was drinking all this time bromazepam whenever I feel that headache is severe, sometimes I can handle it so I don’t drink, but often I need em so they can relax my head muscles.

I was to specialist 4 days ago and he prescribed for me this amitriptyline, 25mg, first 7 days a half of it then 25mg, today is going to be my third day if I drink it..because I noticed that my heart is working fast and I feel some weakness, I take a pill around 8:30 pm and after 2, 3 hours I feel these symptoms, do you know if these symptoms last for the first few days until the body gets used to it?

[Sherah in reply to Johanan7]

Hi Johanan

I don’t want to say it’s definitely the meds but I felt dreadful (hungover feeling, heart racing) for nearly 2 weeks even on 5mg (I had to cut my tablets in half) - my GP told me I could even do 5mg every other day which I did then gradually went back up to 10mg. I feel much better now though.

But it would be worth trying to speak to GP about it?

Hope things improve!

[Dolly38]

Wonderful post. Uplifting. Thank you so much. Dolls