A PS to David increasing his Amitriptyline. - Pain Concern

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A PS to David increasing his Amitriptyline.

Bananas5 profile image
7 Replies

Having listened to all your helpful advice, David decided to go for the 150 mgs of Amitriptyline.

His GP got the letter from CPN and checked david's notes. He can't take it cos he has an enlarged prostrate and the higher dose can enlarge it even more.

So GP has prescribed SERTRALINE to be taken in conjunction.

Not one I've heard of before and according to Gogle it can cause sleepiness, stop you from sleeping and have just about every side effect known to woman.

Sooooo it looks like he has yet another tablet to add to the 5 pages already.

Come on Bob - what's your verdict!!

Pat x

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Bananas5
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missrat profile image
missrat

Yes, unfortunately the group of medicines including amitriptyline and nortriptyline can cause urinary problems - not so much by actually enlarging the prostate but by disturbing the co-ordination of passing urine, ability to 'get started' etc. - which means us 'prostate-less' women don't get away with it either! I'm one of a minority whose depression responds better to the older 'tricyclic' group and one thing I do try is to avoid 'loo queues!'

Sertraline - sometimes marketed as Lustral - is one of the more recent group which have fewer of these side-effects, and particularly on the urinary system. The biggest thing to remember is that even the undesirable effects listed as 'common' - often 'greater than or equal to 1 in 10') DON'T affect more people than they do! (And I'm a pessimist!) Also, in testing, a dummy pill often produces nearly as high adverse results! I don't, as has been suggested, use the British National Formulary as light reading, but my background does mean I do use a similar site for medications I, or people I know, have to use! I hope this really helps with the pain and any co-existent depression (and it's not surprising that they go together so often!) A friend of mine is on Sertraline for depression and has no side effects.

For neuropathic pain another antidepressant, duloxetine (Cymbalta) is sometimes used, along with certain anti-epileptic meds. I do use one of these - when desperate!

Best wishes

Ann

Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5

Thanks Ann,

It's the depression side they are working on now. Or rather reactive depression to give it its proper title. But as they can't remove the pain they have to try and treat the effects.

I think anyone who suffers CP or lives with someone who suffers - becomes an expert!

I'm the optimistic one!

Pat x

johnsmith profile image
johnsmith

Just read Cracked by James Davies ISBN 978-184831-556-3. The book details the dishonesty of the pharmaceuticals and the bribing of top ranking doctors to give medication that is not better than placebo but with side effects.

Every person who has long term pain and lives with the side effects of long term pain needs to read this book. Will not help with what should take or not but may enable one to ask more searching questions.

Hello Pat

BOB here

I do not know how old your husband is regarding the taking of this medication. as is age sensitive. Like many of these tablets they have a list longer than my arm, one of the problems are bladder, from blood in urine peeing to much,peeing to little and hesttating too pee, the list seems to go on .

There seems to be a yellow card on this one although I have no idea why??.

Lustral has contraindications to the other medication that he takes, although I would imagine that most of contraindications will stop in two or three weeks, that may be longer when mixed with Davids age.

Your GP will know why your David needs to take them , as he is using, another tablet dealing with a different spectrum of depression that lustral can give.

All I can say is keep an eye on him,some contraindications in the first two weeks can be very severe, the doctor may increase the doses in a few weeks time as he sees how he is reacting to it

At the moment as mentioned before I am also taking a similaire medication and I am on Amytrytalene at 75mg.

Trust the doctor he knows his patient

All the best BOB

Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5 in reply to

David is 64.

His GP explained about his prostate and any increase of that amount of Amitriptline would cause serious wee wee probs. Catherterise immediately.

He started on new tabs earlier this week and within 48 hours was a zombie. If I thought he was disinterested in anything before then this was 20 times worse.

I am making him persevere but he's not a happy bunny. GP didn't envisage any side effects but if he doesn't settle down I shall tell him.

Pat x

Morning Pat

David is about my age, if He is on a heavy dose of Amitryptalene, the SSI will possibly knock him a bit, generally give it two/three weeks he may settle.

Is he taking statins etc??

Bananas5 profile image
Bananas5

Yes statins. And a medicine chest full of others including 75mgs Amitriptyline.

Do you think all this lot will get along together then? Will the apathy go?

It is so hard for him and I hate to see him like this even after all these years.

pat x

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