Amitriptyline

Hi all, just got back from gp and been prescribed amitriptyline 10mg, does anyone take this? If so yr thoughts good or bad.also been prescribed prochloperazine anti-sickness

[SheffieldJane]

Amitriptylin was helpful to me in the early days of PMR. 10 mgs 1 hour before bedtime helped with sleep and the pain.

[MrsNails]

I’ve just written you a big piece in Amitriptyline & lost it! I will rewrite shortly!Meanwhile

nhs.uk/medicines/prochlorpe...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is it for pain or for sleep problems?

[shella in reply to PMRpro]

My consultant wanted me to take it for sleep and come off Lorazepam…. sleeping is a huge problem but not sure after reading leaflet!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to shella]

Remember the leaflet is most likely general and for all doses - like the pred leaflet lists everything that happens from doses of well above 50mg to low doses and some are effects that can occur anyway due to something else including the problem for which you are taking it. Pharmaceutical companies cover their backs. It is also important how you use it, timing and so on so do read MrsN's story

[Hidden]

Pain in my neck and face,

[MrsNails]

My Second Attempt!

I have taken Amitriptyline for many years, it was first recommended to me by a Pain Management Specialist when a shoulder injury was not responding to treatment.

The second time it was prescribed for me was when l had a different shoulder issue but on the same side as the previous injury that ultimately led to PMR.

The first time l was prescribed it l was very resistant to try it as it is an antidepressant, however when a Psychiatrist l worked with asked if l’d not been prescribed it, he told me in no uncertain terms to take it!

When it was first introduced patients used to be prescribed up to 200mg per day but for Pain Management it’s 10mg up to 30mg per day, rather a big difference….

My Colleague recommended l take it at 7pm as it takes several hours to ‘kick in’ & also it would prevent that ‘hungover feeling’ the next day!

I have found that it really does work, l find more as a muscle relaxant than a ‘pain killer’ as such. l have taken it in several doses over the years 10mg; 20mg up to 30mg - but am currently on 20mg & have been for a long time.

The best advice l can offer is try it, give it chance to start working but Always Take It By 7/7.30pm. You cannot simply stop it but a taper is always recommended.

I had several friends (who don’t have PMR) who have been prescribed it & taking it at 7pm (ish) has benefitted them.

nhs.uk/medicines/amitriptyl...

[Hidden]

I think I'm just weary of taking new meds, I dont seem to take to new meds very well. I tried 4 blood pressure tablets before I got on with these and even then when I took the 100mg was sick about hr after taking it but I can take 2x50mg of same tablet and I'm fine, I'm so strange

[MrsNails in reply to Hidden]

Karen, blood pressure meds are some of the hardest to ‘get right’ there’s often a lot of tinkering with them until they find the best one or combination - l think l had 5different tablets/combinations before we struck lucky. You know you have an option to take Amitriptyline if things are not going well so you can take your time & consider the options. I’m sure you’ll get more responses in due course.

[AyJayBass in reply to MrsNails]

Agree! It took about four attempts before I found the right BP meds for me.

I have been on Amitriptylene 10mg or 20mg to assist with sleep for several years, all OK, no problems, and definitely useful.

[Ronnie101]

It would be interesting to hear what you've been prescribed it for - presumably PMR? Apparently, according to my GP, it's a very old drug which has been used for a wide variety of ailments, including bed wetting in children! I've been given it for controlling acid reflux (it is supposed to relax the alimentary canal, thereby calming movement of the muscle around the valve at the top of the stomach) and it works; my wife and daughter have successfully taken it for IBS.

More recently I've been getting headaches and I've been fearful of a GCA flare, and a neurolgist has suggested using amitriptylin.

As others have said, I've been advised to take it in the evening, otherwise it knocks me out for the next day (even at a low dose of 10 mg). Bizzarely it depresses my mood generally - so much for an antidepressant!

[Hidden in reply to Ronnie101]

Neck,face, head pain I was prescribed them for a long with anti sickness meds

[Pixix]

Please see my response to Mrs Nails pinned post on this drug, Karen, I’ve been taking it for 15 years now, since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I think it’s great, but get a side effect to every drug I take (unusual & rare to get them all!! ) & I’ve included it. Sorry can’t copy & paste & no time to type again....mrs N’s post came up first in my daily feed! I take that anti sickness drug when I get vertigo, & it works well...with no side effects!! To be completely Frank with you, I think you should try the drugs your doctor has prescribed unless you really think that the doctor was wrong, & if you do, you should tell him in next week’s appointment, & not take them! I think that asking here you will get the bad side of things (like my side effects) & that could put you off, both of those drugs are very widely used. I nay take the anti sickness drug for times when I feel I am definitely going to be sick, not when I have the nausea I get every day that I know will pass if I lie quietly for 15 mins then don’t rush around! I take 30 tablets a day, as I have several medical issues, & I hate it! Last summer I managed to get down to 20, but it’s risen again with new problems! Ah, but 3 tablets are magnesium, vit C & calcium, which shouldn’t count! I would follow your doctor's advice, what have you got to lose...& everything to gain, & if it doesn’t work you can discuss it in next weeks appointment! Just my opinion, nothing else! Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Pixix]

I have had the anti sickness one about 2 yrs ago and that was for vertigo before pmr but saying that it was about 2 yrs I started getting pain.

[Pixix in reply to Hidden]

Oh good, so you know you can take that OK then.

[Hidden]

Not taking it yet as having blood taken tomorrow and didn't want this to affect the results.

[Pixix in reply to Hidden]

Did they tell you either of those would affect your blood results, please? I take both of them & have never been told not to take them before my blood tests. I would be interested to know who told you not to take them beforehand, as it could affect my blood tests, thanks!

[Hidden in reply to Pixix]

No gp didn't tell me not to take them before blood tests, I only collected them from chemist day before so I thought 1 more day without them wont make any difference, and I I'm taking same meds now as last time I had bloods done just taper pred, so wanted to see if bloods have gone up since pred gone down really.

[Pixix in reply to Hidden]

Ah, OK, I understand! Gives you a good comparison! Thanks.

[Pongo13]

I take it. No problems. Sleep is much improved. Don’t think I’d have managed without it. Got to one steroid a day - started at 30. My favourite tablet.

[Hpy123]

I’ve just been prescribed 10mg for back pain and insomnia. First two days the side effects were awful but slept really well. Now side effects have passed but last night slept badly. I have a review with my GP today and see what she says. Whether to up the dose or change. The insomnia is the worse. If u can sleep then I can usually cope with the pain.