Sickness and prednisilone/amitriptyline

[Sufferinginsilence]

I am currently on 10mg pred daily which I take around 2am with some yoghurt. Haven't had any problems with my stomach since starting them nine months ago and I take esomaprazole daily too. I have trouble sleeping and GP recently prescribed Amitriptyline which I take at 7.15pm because otherwise I can't get up in the morning.

On Saturday night, took the Amitriptyline at usual time but by about 10pm was feeling bloated and nauseous, had a dose of diarrhoea and then was very sick. After being sick was very cold and shivery so took extra 5mg of pred with my 2am 10mg. Felt fine the next day and on Monday but yesterday experienced very similar problem, just slightly later (around midnight). My husband is eating the same as me and has been fine so don't think it's food poisoning or anything and we are eating quite healthily

Has anyone ever experienced this? I don't think it's a bug because I felt fine for two days inbetween and feel OK today again, just very tired. And I know the sick day rules say take an extra 5mg if you are sick but I'm assuming it's just a one-off, you can go back to normal dose the next day? I'm tempted to just not take the amitriptyline tonight to see if I'm OK.

[jinasc]

Take a look at the side effects for omnaprazole, Nausea is one of them.

Check with your pharmacist whether the drugs you are taking are compatible with each other.

I made a friend with my pharmacist and twice she did not fulfill the prescription I had been given by the GP and had it changed for one that was compatible. You can telephone your pharmacist as well.

[Sufferinginsilence in reply to jinasc]

Thank you Jinasc, i will call my pharmacist to see if he can help.

[DBE46 in reply to jinasc]

Excellent advice xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's certainly worth trying not taking it for a while - although you say it hasn't been every night?

[Sufferinginsilence in reply to PMRpro]

That's right PMRpro. It happens very suddenly and that's twice now, both times at night. Once around 9.30pm, having taken amitriptyline at 7.30 and last night it was much later, around 1pm. When it happened on Saturday night, I thought it was maybe a bug of some sort but then felt fine on Sunday/Monday so it took me by surprise last night. In respect of the sick day rules, I wasn't sure whether to just add the 5mg of pred on for one day and go back to normal dose - that's what I've done. I've never vomited while on the pred until now.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sufferinginsilence]

Don't think you need to bother if it is just now and again - as long as the pred stays down for a good hour after you have taken it that is enough for it all to have been absorbed. And the sick day rules are really for ongoing illness where your body is under stress for a while.

[Jackoh]

I think it’s worth just eliminating the Amitriptyline for a short time to see if that’s the culprit. I take pred and Amitriptyline but have never had this problem. I don’t however take a PPI, just yoghurt with my pred to protect the stomach. It could be also as Jinasc has said a reaction of the PPI with Amitriptyline so checking with your pharmacist is a wise choice. All the very best. Xx💐

[Pixix]

I get nausea with amitryptylline sometimes, but if I lay still it passes without anything nastier happening!! I take mine between 6-7pm & eat my main meal straight away after taking it. I take it with my PPI, lansoprazole (changed from omeprazole as it just wasn’t working!)

[Sufferinginsilence in reply to Pixix]

Thanks Pixix, I didn't take any last night and I was fine so I'm thinking it must be it. I might try taking mine earlier before my main meal and see if that helps. I'm usually taking mine after I've eaten. x

[Sharitone]

I have had the same thing a couple of times, though I don't take amitriptyline. I was assuming it might have been a passing bug maybe in food or maybe not, that took advantage of the weakened immune system. In that case, you wouldn't necessarily expect someone else in the house to succumb. Hope last night was better for you.

[Pixix]

Worth a try, I reckon. If you have taught muscles, or muscle spasms they do work & relax them! Good luck!

[Rockborne1920]

I have been taking amitriptyline for many years as I have Fibromyalgia, I take 20mg (2 tablets) an hour before I go to bed. I also take Omaprazole for a hiatus Hernia and have never suffered any adverse effects. I am now taking a reducing dose of Prednisolone as I have been diagnosed with GCA. I don’t alter the dose without the Doctor’s say and have not had any problems. Sorry if this is not very helpful.

[GreyBike]

Hi. I've had very severe nausea in the past when I have mixed alcohol with amitriptyline when I have only just started taking the amitriptyline. I did eventually work out that I could have a small amount of alcohol once my body was used to the amitriptyline.

I've also always built up my amitriptyline dose slowly i.e 10mg for 7days then 20mg for 7 days etc

[Sufferinginsilence in reply to GreyBike]

Thanks for that GreyBike... I hadn't actually had any alcohol those nights but I will bear that in mind for again! Whatever it was, it seems to have passed as have been ok for the past few days.