Hi does anyone take amitriptyline at night?

[cisy]

My rheumatologist has put me on 10mg a night to help reduce my prednisolone. I took my first dose last night but feeling a bit odd this morning. I wonder if I should have taken it earlier than 8.30p.m ?

[MrsNails]

Hi Cisy

I’m a long time user of Amitriptyline, l’m back on 10mg now & l always take it by 7.30pm each evening but if you still feel groggy try 7pm until you adjust.

I had a friend who took it ‘before bed’ as per instructions, unfortunately she never went to bed before midnight! She was wiped out until l explained 7.30pm would improve things greatly.

Best Wishes

MrsN

[cisy in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks for replying so quickly Mrs Nails. Rhematologist has said it will relax my body through the night so hopefully wont wake up with the stiffness in the mornings. So can reduce prednisolone 5mg a week. I will definitely take it earlier tonght then.

I must admit I'm quite looking forward to having a long sleep as prednisolone keeps me awake most nights.

[suzy1959 in reply to cisy]

I am also a long-term user of Amitriptyline- on 35mgs per night. It has certainly helped me to sleep as Pred. keeps me awake, but isn't a magic cure either. I still get some sleepless nights. I do think it helps the pain a bit but is not a steroid sparer and I am worried that you have written "reduce prednisolone 5mg a week" That is way too fast a taper and will get you into all sorts of trouble!

What dose are you on now and how long have you been on Pred.?

[cisy in reply to suzy1959]

I'm on 40mg. The Amitrptyline I have is 10mg.

[MrsNails in reply to cisy]

Hi Cisy

Yes it will relax your muscles & people with shoulder issues find it of great benefit 🤗 however, I’m not so sure about reducing 5mg per week?......

What dose are you on now?

MrsN

[cisy in reply to MrsNails]

Yes I also have shoulder problems and a trapped femoral nerve.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wish I knew from where they come up with some of these very strange ideas!!!! I assume he wants to see you without pred - but I'm far from sure that amitriptyline will stop morning stiffness. Do tell us if it does!!!!

[Kaaswinkel in reply to PMRpro]

In high doses it is used for depression. In low doses to relax. I now break the tablet in half take it before bed and helps me to sleep, mostly , better. It is not a prednisone spearing agent...the rheumatologist tells fibs

[cisy in reply to PMRpro]

I do feel a slight improvement and I am sleeping which I do desperately need.

[Viv54]

I take one at 6, most nights lf ive had a bad night , i find it helps , no i dont have any side affects from it. I dont take it when i go to bed as tried this and it kept me awake ! Hope this helps x

[Louisa1840]

Hi Cisy,

I was prescribed amitriptyline by my rheumy to help me sleep. I'm not sure how effective it is since I still have lots of near sleepless nights?

He did say it would help with general pain - again not sure about this. However my husband (Type 1 Diabetes) takes it for his neuropathy and it seems to be helping that . I asked my GP how it works and she said it works on the central nervous system so is therefore prescribed for LOTS of things. We are all different and what works for one won't work for another.

Blessings go with you.........

[Oumaof2 in reply to Louisa1840]

Hi Louisa 1840,

I am in the same sleepless boat as you!... Very seldom have uninterrupted sleep on long term 20 mg Amitriptyline... Not even sure if it relaxes me much either...

Initially it was prescribed for a bursitic hip... It helped with sleep although not greatly... I find now if I miss a dose, sleep doesn't even visit.... Not sure it helped much with my hip either...

For those of us poor sleepers, I find it a nightly comfortable crutch regardless of amount of sleep it provides...

[Louisa1840 in reply to Oumaof2]

Totally agree about the crutch any help it does give is probably psychological.

I too have a bursitic hip!!

[Singr]

I was prescribed this as it might help sleep and nerve pain. Not convinced it helps either. Although when I do get to sleep it’s like comatose. I was taking it very late as I’m a late bedder but found I was really out of it in the morning. Trying to take it earlier as I find it hard to get to sleep initially at night. Could almost sleep the whole day at times. Don’t notice any relief from nerve pain as suggested.

[cisy in reply to Singr]

This is how I'm feeling after 3 days.

[Telian]

Hi cisy,

I know Amitriptyline is used for a number of reasons but never heard of it used for helping to reduce pred.

It is known for making some people feel groggy. Try an earlier time that works for you. You might have tried it by now and hope it’s working out.

I took it for near euphoria when only sleeping 2 hours on the higher doses of pred. The longer I used it the more my body adjusted to it. I still hated the after taste though. It was worse first thing but improved throughout the day.

[S4ndy]

Yes I am a long term user. It certainly helps me. I take it no later than 7pm in the evening so it doesn't give me a hangover the following morning.

[Dappa]

Hi Cisy,

I have been on 10 mgs of Amitriptylene for awhile now. I take mine too late sometimes and feel groggy day after. The best time is about 7pm. You will then feel good day after. I am tapering and on 1mg now. It's been the hardest thing i've ever done this. Have good and bad days. Feels like a vicious circle this though. At moment suffering with really bad dry skin and had allergic conjunctivitus for weeks now. Been to my Opticians and got some stuff he told me to get. Does anyone know anything good i can put on my dry skin. Tried loads of creams. Thinking about trying oil. Anyone know of any fragrance free body oil please. Googles it can't seem to find any fragrance free. Thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dappa]

Try Doublebase or Diprobase. Some GPs will prescribe it - unless it has been removed from the list by now - and it is used for eczema patients. You can reduce the dryness either by just avoiding soap altogether (it strips out the skin's natural oils, not using foaming products reduces that effect) and/or by using their products for showering and aftercare. You ise them post shower, while the skin is still damp to keep the water in.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

We can can still get doublebase on prescription with no problem.

[Dappa in reply to Bcol]

Thanks Bcol for the info.

Take care, Dawn x

[Dappa in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the info PMRpro. I'll see about this Doublebase.

Take care,

Dawn x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dappa]

Meant to say - it isn't terribly expensive even buying it yourself and most chemists will have it.

[Dappa in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, i will xx

[cisy in reply to Dappa]

Thank you. I also had terrible skin before I went on Prednisolone. I have been using Aveeno. It's a blue one and is unscented. Have a google.

[Dappa in reply to cisy]

Right. My skin was fine until i got to about 5mgs and then went very dry and flaky on my legs and body. a District nurse told me to look after my skin on Pred.

I don't use Aveeno because of the oats ingredients. I have Coeliac . So I am allergic to gluten I know it can't be absorbed but just don't take the chance.

Thanks for replying xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dappa]

Any cream with urea in it will help the dry and flakiness. Strangely, I find local use of a very good FOOT cream deals with flaky skin in one or two applications every several weeks! I use Gehwol - no oats but a lot of oils!

[Dappa in reply to PMRpro]

Will have a look at this. Thanks PMRpro.

stay safe,

Dawn X

[notlegs in reply to Dappa]

Aveeno - I get it on prescription for varicose eczema

[Dappa in reply to notlegs]

Thanks notlegs for info. I don't use Aveeno because of the oats in it. Got Coeliac. I know gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin, but just don't take chance.

Stay safe.

Dawn X

[Jackoh]

Yes I take Amitriptyline, 25 mg a night. Like others I take this about 7 pm and I don’t have any reactions to it. I take it for peripheral neuropathy and without it the pain was excruciating. If I do miss it ( have only missed it once I think) I find I’m not able to sleep.

[MsDirecto]

Hi Cisy

I took amitriptilynbe/Elavil about 12 years ago, when my husband was dyring. I felt as though my body forgot how to sleep. I thought it woukd help me fall asleep, so woukd take it and keep being active, The GP said I was over-riding it. Learned to take it about an hour beofre going to bed - and then actuallly going to bed! It really helped sleep through the night,

My sister had terrible time sleeping because of MS pain . (Took other meds for the MS). She said ambien helped her fall aslep and amtriptiline helped her stay asleep.

[Cyclegirl54]

Hi there,

I take 10 mg each evening at 7.30 approx. I don’t leave it later than that if possible as it does make me feel dozy in the morning!

[scottygirl73]

Yes i take 2x 10 mg at night,this is for the trochanteric bursitis in both hips,as pain is unbearable during night.I can take 3 if required i do sleep much better.Good luck.xx