Certain meds not to be taken

[Sleepless1950]

I don’t know who recently listed the meds they are on and included amytriptoline.

Amytriptoline is an absolute no no for RLS!

You should discontinue this drug right away! It does help people with insomnia but not if you are an RLS sufferer!

Please look into this!❤️

[Madlegs1]

Thank you!

[Hagalaz]

I was put on amytriptoline amongst other meds way back when I started with rls. 6 years later I became a murderous, suicidal psychotic. My driving manner was insane, overtaking in dangerous situations just for the sake of it. I was so violent and aggressive all the time. One day I almost hit my wife and that made me realise what I had become. I knew they should be stopped very gradually but could not wait that long, I got off them in 6 weeks without ill effect. Told the doctor afterwards. I would not advise you do as I did. I was fine, you may not be.

Now whenever a GP suggests amytriptoline I mention that they made me psychotic and they drop they idea.

I find it appalling that amytriptoline are commonly used for moderate pain relief.

[Hidden in reply to Hagalaz]

Amitriptyline was originally used as an antidepressant. I was prescribed it in 1969. It did absolutely nothing for my depression. Resolving the situation that was causing the depression helped more.

There has been a recent study that claimed Amitriptyline is an effective antidepressant despite the common experience that it isn't.

It did help me sleep, all night and most of the day too.

More recently, Amitriptyline has been prescribed for chronic pain, e.g. arthritis, nerve pain of fibromyalgia. I was prescribed it for nerve pain. It has been shown to be effective for this. Didn't really help me much.

A psychotic episode as a result of Amitriptyline is probably a very rare occurrence which may possibly be a result of why you were prescribed it in the first place.

Such a reaction is more associated with the now infamous Prozac, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.

However, to concur with Shumbah, the problem with Amitriptyline and SSRIs is they can make RLS worse.

For someone with RLS probably wise to avoid these antidepressants.