Amitriptyline

[Ann1e]

Hi all, my story so far. I have been experiencing what my doctor suspects is Raynaud's. Deathly white fingers and toes. Along with this I am suffering with joint, muscle and bone pain, pretty much all over my body. I had a burning pain in my hips and was prescribed Reliflex, which didn't really help. I then tried Prednisolone, which helped with the hips for a while, didn't really help with anything else though. I was signed off sick for 3 weeks ( I work in retail and the whole place is a fridge as well as the job itself being physically demanding!) Work has been very supportive. I went back on Tuesday and managed 3 hours before being sent home, because I was struggling so much. I have a Rheumatology appointment on 26th May. I went back to my doctor today and have been signed off until after this appointment, so as not to do any further damage. For the pain I am currently taking ibuprofen, paracetamol and using a tens machine, they are helping slightly, but I'm still in a lot of pain, very often waking me up at night and even simple tasks around the house are causing me problems. My doctor has prescribed amitriptyline 10mg to be taken at night until my appointment. Has anyone tried these? Will they mask any symptoms or effect any blood tests that may be done at my appointment?

Annie

[Atibrat Moderator LUPUS SUPPORT]

The only thing it ever did for me is make me sleepier than I already am. That helps if the pain is keeping you awake. I can sleep through almost anything I get so tired. Hopefully it will help you until you get to see a rheumatologist.

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

Welcome to LUpus Patients Understanding & Support (LUPUS) at HealthUnlocked.

I am sorry you are in such pain.

Amitriptyline is an older tricyclic antidepressant used in low doses to help certain forms of pain, particularly muscular including bowel spasms. One of the "side-effects" is to induce a restful sleep and therefore is a drug used for this purpose. This is a very, very low dose and up to 75mgs a night can be used to help control pain and gain a restful sleep which is why this should not be used during the day, especially if driving.

We also have another website called the LuPUS Message Board where you can also post questions and talk to other people. Registration is FREE and we offer free information and free online psychological support. We specialise in psychological support with our own counsellor/psychotherapist available.

By becoming a Member, you will have access to the private forums and because they are private, only Members have access and even bots and search engines are forbidden.

When you register, please use the following format for entering your date of birth: nn-nn-nnnn where n=number. Please use the "-" separator and not "/".

Finally, please go to: lupus-support.org/LuPUSMB and Sign Up.

I look forward to talking with you more!

Sometimes we need to talk to people who understand and who are not family or friends.

I hope your appointment goes well on 26 May.

With good wishes!

Ros

[Ann1e in reply to lupus-support1]

Thanks for the replies. My doctor said 10 or 20g. I tried 10 last week, just made me extra sleepy, but still woke up with the pain throughout the night. Going to try 20 tonight and see if that helps.

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to Ann1e]

You may have to try and see what works best. Only take amitriptyline before going to sleep else you will feel drowsy!

Be well!

Ros

[Curious7Curiouser]

I took this a few years ago and it was one of my favourite drugs ever.

It made me feel a little weird at first, sleepy and foggy (more than usual) but I found over time it helped me get to sleep more easily and therefore get more hours sleep in a night. My doctor gave me the freedom to take 10-30mg each night, and I would adjust the dose every so often depending on how I was feeling... Feeling foggier and struggling to stay awake, I'd only take 20mg. Not sleeping enough I'd take 30mg.

My doctor told me that while amitriptyline can help pain, it's an effect that takes a long time to kick in, so you may not even notice it's there. He prescribed it for me with sleep as a primary concern. (Getting some sleep makes the pain easier to deal with too.)

I don't take them anymore, but only because I had to change my antidepressants and it wasn't considered wise to take both. I miss them!

[colettescarfe]

i was on them for 11yrs and have been weened off them as they can be dangerous to your mental health and memory(they were brought out in the 50s) which is what had happened to me,i have just on 11th june 2015 been put on a new tablet to help me sleep and it will also help with my depression,i am tomorrow 17th June going for an EEG as some damage was caused to my brain but this may not happen to you as we are all different,im LUPUS SLE,and my pains and aches are getting worse now but im still trying to cope,.......I will let you know my outcome of sme of my tests,and I hope it may help you,but as I say we are ALL