My RA is controlled with Methotrexate injections. Blood tests back to normal.
My Rheumy consultant has suggested this drug for nerve pain as overall my pain is poorly controlled. Has anyone found this particular drug helps? Have they experienced many side effects?
I also take Codydramol, Naproxen and sometimes Tramadol.
Only answers from people who have tried this drug or possibly other nerve agents please x
Hi Gramma3 - have been on amitriptyline for over a year, no side effects. Was prescribed them for nerve pain in right leg that was waking me up through the night. They work. Take them at night. Good luck.
I was diagnosed with RA in 2004, and have been through a wide variety of meds. I was prescribed Amitriptyline about 10 years ago. I take 30 mg at night. My gp prescribed them because I had nerve pain in my legs and was unable to sleep.At first, I they made me very sleepy after about an hour, but now I don’t have any side effects.
Yes my GP prescribed it for nerve pain. I take that dosage each night and I find it helpful. If there are any side effects I’m not aware of them!
I used it for a while but I got lots of headaches. Spoke to my doctor and they said 5 headaches a week was unacceptable so was changed to gabapentin . This did work for me. Can't remember exactly how long I stayed on this bit o do remember having to taper it off gradually.
I’ve been n it since 2012, initially for nerve pain radiating from my neck. However now I find it eases the spasms in my neck. I wean off it every 6 months, to check it’s still helpful, but I always struggle. It also helps with sleep. Initially you get a hangover feeling, but that quickly subsides, and I don’t have any side effects. I started on 10mg but take 25mg, although how happy when j flare to increase to 50mg.
thanks good to know, increase in flare useful, if GP happy
Hi I've tryed it For a while ,stopped working and side effects and got halted
The side effects for me was tired and dry mouth and as mention early evening was best time,the alternatives are gabepentin and Pregablin, all those 3 help pain the former 2 I got told for more severe and long term ,similar side effects ,although the later can be weight gain ,but everyone is different just as many cant take Amitriptyline as well ,I'm now Pregablin started with low dose then they say 150mg twice a day is low enough to work ,if severe a higher dose I'm now higher dose and had it with your above meds and helps me did take a while to take to them and get over the side effects And dose
Give the Amitriptyline a try ,if you can't take to it you coukd ask for the pregablin to see if that helps
Wot suits one dose not suit another with those 3 drugs
Hopefully one of them does for you
Thanks for the advice, very helpful
Hi guys, I’ve been on amitriptylene for just over a month now for severe sciatica pain in my leg. I have mixed feelings about them, they were hugely helpful at first as they knocked me out and sleep had been really difficult up til then. I increased to 20mg on second week and it was only when I went up to 30mg I think I felt a noticeable difference in my symptoms. I was still taking naproxen, paracetamol and tramadol but have tapered of the tramadol almost completely and plan to do same with naproxen. However after a week at 30mg I noticed very unwanted side effects of dry mouth and irritability, the low mood was quite concerning as I’ve suffered from depression in past. So I dropped back down to 20mg and feel slightly better mood wise now. However I’ve got a slight flare up of symptoms from over doing swim/walking so need the tramadol in morning the last two days.
I was advised by a spine consultant to try gabapentin instead. Which I still might do. I believe side affects are similar but it’s a bit like with antidepressants, you have to try a couple of different brands to find the right one that works best for you. I believe amitriptylene has a 1 in 4 chance of working whereas the others has lower odds, gabapentin being 1 in 8. It’s also worth remembering that amitriptylene works by increasing sertitonin to your brain, the happy hormone, which I think then decreases your brains response to pain, rather then it actually treating the cause of any pain. Hope this was helpful, best of luck.
Thank you. Your input is very helpful.
I take amitriptyline for fibromyalgia nerve pain which does help a lot. No notable effects on the inflammatory arthritis. I take 40mg about 3 hours before i go to bed. GP did say I could increase up 100mg, but the 40 suits me atm. At first I was a little tired the next day but my body soon adapted to it. Taking it early enough seems to be the key- and it helps me sleep.
The nerve pain isnt as controlled if I am in a flare from the arthritis or the fibro.
I take 30 mg amy at night. I started on 10mg for fibromyalgia. It takes a while to work I was told around 5/6 weeks. I think it explains that on the enclosed paperwork. the side effects I have had are dry mouth mainly. Its great for sleep as well.
Hi, I take 30mg at night and have done for several years to control neuropathic pain in my legs due to spinal stenosis. Initially they made me very sleepy but that went after about 1 week. No other side effects. I recently ran out overseas for a few weeks and that made me realise just how effectively they control the pain. Back on them now. Good Luck
Hi Gramma3
I’ve been on it since about 2015 when the pain clinic prescribed it for me. This was just after I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It really helps me and when I wake up in pain at night, seems to get me back to sleep quickly.
Thank you so much for all your reply's and helpful advice. All very positive about efficacy - I am picking them up today - fingers crossed x
I have RA and along with other drugs i take Amitripyline, it has help control nerve pain in my legs, found it really useful with no side affects. It works for me.
Good morning.I first tried Amitriptyline 13 years ago, gave me the scariest nightmares I've ever had in my life. Stopped taking it and the nightmares stopped. However I tried them again 6 years ago for my ear and it was fine. I only took them for a month but it was okay that tune around.
All the best x
I tried this but was so woozy and fuzzy I couldn't function. Now on biological and pain gone
I've been on it since 2012 I take 50mg at about 5 o clock it really helps pain and sleep. I found you need to take it early so it doesn't affect you the next morning. Hope this is helpful and it works for you.
thanks for the tip
Hi, I have been on 10 mg a night for the last year. I am on methotrexate and Imraldi injections. After a hospital admission due to a v. bad flare up in my wrist, I was also given Naproxen, but began to experience some gut problems, leading to having both a colonoscopy and gastroscopy (not pleasant...). Fortunately, nothing serious was found, but it scared me enough to stop taking Naproxen. I also felt unwilling to take any other anti inflammatories, unless really necessary and decided to ask my GP for Amitriptyline, as I felt it was worth a go and probably less harmful to me long term. It did make me feel very sleepy initially ,but you do get used to it pretty quickly and I think it does help with the R.Arthritic pain. I take it around 8 pm. I was also prescribed this about 15 years ago, for tooth grinding and the first night I ever took it, I experienced bad nightmares, but nothing since; in fact I have found my dreams tend to be rather more vivid and interesting than before!!! I think the morning dopiness wears off once you get used to the drug. Just to note, I did once try 2 tablets (my GP had said I could if the pain was too bad) and I felt very odd and drugged the next day. Since then I have stuck to the one, 10mg tablet. Definitely worth a try I would think - good luck.
I found this drug really helped - I take it about 9 in evening x.
Had a trial in the past but I had hallucinations. Also although a low dose I had trouble keeping awake. Also the start of tinnitus which never went away. Suits some but not everyone.
Hi I tried amytriptyline for spinal and neck stenosis which also causes me migraines through sJIA, OA and AS.
I'm unfortunately one of those people who is a light weight with all pain meds. Unfortunately for me I couldn't function and even at 1mg I feel like I've got helicopters and become nauseated. I changed to gabapentin and although I can't take a large dose, I'm able to tolerate this better.
I think it's trial and error. What works for one doesn't work for another.
I also do regular daily stretches and exercises which helps, and use the gabapentin at night before bed, along with taking dorerra life long vitality supplements in the morning and evening and therapeutic grade essential oils for sleep as well as other things.
I hope you tolerate it, and it helps you xx
thanks, very helpful👍
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