Amitriptyline worries

[Mistygreyhound]

Hi I have spinal stinosis and after a trial of medication I have been given amitriptyline,been on it since January and it has helped with sleep,my doc said to start on 20mg then gradually work up but because of the grogginess I feel when I get up I have stuck to this,I am not sure it helps much with the pain,just this last week I have been reading that amitriptyline and other medication similar can in older adults give you dementia,which is a worry,wondered if any of you out there that are in the older age group has been on this for a few years with no problems ,I have been having a few memory problems lately so I thought I would try last night to go without and I didn't sleep at all,so I am thinking this is going to be a side effect now of insomnia.

[Batty1]

Isn’t amitriptyline used for depression why are they giving you this for pain?

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Batty1]

It is an antidepressant but they found it helps with nerve pain and insomnia too!!looks like coming off it is gonna be difficult as I had another sleeplessnight last.

[Downinil in reply to Mistygreyhound]

It likely helps for pain because it induces sleep. I wonder.

[rabbits65]

Well I did take this medicine for awhile last year and it certainly helps you to relax at night, but because of its side affects like you too have noticed , like the heaviness in the head I won’t take it anymore. Certainly do not take any higher dose than you say. I hate medicines and only take drugs if absolutely necessary. You need more advice, remember we are not doctors and can’t say too much here.

[loopy-lee]

Hi I started on 10mg of Amitriptyline about two weeks ago for my arthritis and Fibromyalgia and so far I have not had any serious side affects. I also take Meloxicam once daily , that is for the arthritis. I work full time and have to get up at 5am so I tend to take the amitriptyline quite early between 6pm and 7pm and it is starting to help with my sleep and pain, I also take codeine for breakthrough pain during the day but I have cut them down from 4 x 30mg per day to just 2x30mg, mainly to get me through that morning stiffness. I will be slowly uping the Amitriptyline so hopefully I can cut out the codeine all together. My treatment plan was recommended by my rheumatologist. I am fed up with feeling crap and being in pain so I have come to the conclusion that I am going to put my trust in my doctor and rheumatologist and follow their advice, that includes not using doctor google to look at side effects of meds. I am going to give amitripyline a good go as my doctor said it can take 6 to 8 weeks for the full pain relief effect to happen. I am also following an exercise plan along with looking at alternative treatments, luckily at my doctors surgery they offer accupuncture and mindfulness so I will be trying them all. I hope this has helped you a bit, just do what works for you we are all different and so what works for one person may not work fo r another. good luck

regards Linda xx

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Hi mistygreyhound

I am a forum moderator at Pain Concern and have been reading through your post.

I have put a link below to a leaflet on Amitriptyline that I think will be of interest to you.

painconcern.org.uk/amitript...

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Pain Concern

[Bidgie]

I am a retired health worker in my 80s and taken Amitriptyline 10mg at night with Paracetamol for painful arthritis. Amitriptyline in general was originally prescribed for depression at 50mg 3 x daily but found to be useful in reducing the tension caused by pain. Doctors often start at 25mg which if causing drowsiness the next day means the dose is too high.I would start at 10mg together with your other tablets at night and see how it goes for at least 2 weeks and find which is the lowest dose that helps . Keep going.Do a bit and rest a bit!!

[Mistygreyhound in reply to Bidgie]

Thanks for the reply,can I asked how long you have been taking amitriptyline for?if you still are,and has it helped?I decided to just keep on with the 20mg for the time being.