Amitriptyline - a good idea?

[Dann2]

Hi everyone, I’ve been having bad times experiencing constant head pains, ringing & hissing, numb feelings across left side of head and also weird pulses that are happening. It is all ruining my experience and enjoyment of life very much, and I feel desperate coping with it.

My GP’s only suggestion is that I go on a course of amitriptyline (low dose) as it is meant to help with head pains, but I am concerned of its side effects and of course don’t want it to lead onto more serious issues down the line (links have been made to dementia which scares the crap out of me).

I’m writing this to see if anyone has first hand experience with the medication and to get any advise please as it’s really difficult to find out from anywhere else!

Thanks, Dan

[cat3]

Hi Dan. Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline may cause dry mouth, constipation and a 'distanced' feeling for the first month - 6 weeks. At higher doses it can cause weight gain but that won't affect you on the dosage for nerve pain.

The distanced feeling might feel strange during the first weeks, but with time that feeling subsides. Amitriptyline can really help with pain relief, and with sleep.

If you decide to go ahead with them it's best to take them just before bed to benefit from any drowsiness in the first weeks (though you might not suffer with drowsiness on such a low dosage).

I was on a high dosage for depression for over 10 years and only stopped them in favour of the new SSRIs at that time. And my sister in law has taken a low dose regularly since 2018 to ease the pain of shingles, with no side effects.

Hope this helps a little.... Cat x

[Dann2 in reply to cat3]

Thanks for the info, Cat. Very helpful 🙂

[cat3 in reply to Dann2]

Hope you find the help you need ; good luck Dan. x

[Newtonpovey]

I’ve had to take it for a year now because of what they call here “neural pain” it is the only painkiller that really works for me. I take it at night because I couldn’t sleep because of the pain and i can sleep now right through the night. An accident caused me to lose memories of the last five or six years and these tablets haven’t made it worse. So it works for me but I’m an old guy. I truly can’t say if it works so well with anyone else but it’s really good for me

[Alibongo60]

Hi Dann2, I was on amitryptiline following a bleed on the brain and severe head pain. That’s a few years ago now and my consultant suggested tipimarate, which is used foe migraine. Unfortunately the tipimarate made me short of breath as I also have fibrosis in my lungs, I have returned to amitryptiline, I take three at night and it does help the head pain, I’m not too worried about future, as my conditions are life limiting, but they have helped with pain and improved my quality of life, the only side effect I’ve found is I’ve put on quite a bit of weight, hope this helps love Alice xx

[Pairofboots]

Hi Dann2, most medication if you dig deep enough via Dr Google, you will find alsorts of adverse side effects. Not to try to worry you, but any brain injury isn't good in relation to problems in later life, but then anyone could experience problems in later life. If amitriptyline helps you live comfortably, then what have you got to loose?

[Cornishboxer2]

Hi Dann2. I've been on amitrytiline for about a year at the lowest dose. Its really helped me sleep at night. I struggled before because of headaches and tingles etc. I'm not aware of any adverse side effects so far. I go to bed fairly early so I find I have no effects the following morning so I drive if I want to. Hope you find some relief whatever you decide to do.

[moo196]

Morning,I've taken amitriptyline as the alternative to Tramadol in 2014. It was the best decision I had made at the time. And I still take it most evenings 10mg. But (and I'm disagreeing with Cat here) definitely take it well before bed time. If I haven't taken mine by 7.30pm, I don't take it at all. I certainly feel groggier for about 12 hours and if I take it at 10pm, I wouldn't be able to get up and out (driving) before 10am. But 7pm for a 10pm ish bedtime works well for me.

Good luck 🙏