Amitriptyline

[marie5454]

Anyone on amitriptyline and is it working?

[frillyhilly]

I have been on Amitriptyline since Mar 2006. But it is because I am on daily slow release morphine which I take because I have unstable SI joints (where the pelvis meets the spine).. I was prescribed it it to help counteract the adverse effect Morphine has on nerves

Firstly - I didn't notice any difference, either way, on my Primary Raynaud's when I first went on it (I've had Raynaud's since 2003).

It has definite side effects - dry mouth is the one I was warned about by the GP - lasts upto 12 hours after taking it. Found out from Dentist recently that dry mouth is not good for the teeth, so now I rinse round with a mouth wash when I get up and that has made a big difference to how my teeth feel through the day - I moved to a new mouthwash which I find really good "Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Mouthwash 400ml" - we buy ours from Boots, sometimes locally, sometimes online (there was none in store last week!)

It also really upset my nightmares/night frights - especially when I first started with it. I used to be able to control them but to start with I could not wake myself up until it got to the "horrible" end. Now I can again recognise I am having a really bad dream, but it is not always easy to wake myself up and I find that as soon as I relax I'm back in the bad dream - usually need to actually get out of bed and pick up a magazine, etc for about 10 mins to clear my mind. Not sure how common this is, although the patient leaflet I read in 2006 recommended gradually increasing dose, 10mg a week, as it can disturb sleep patterns to start with.

It makes me tired but the GP said all the alternatives are the same and they want me to stay on it to help counteract the adverse effect Morphine has on nerves.

The other thing I found is that it interacts with some medicine if taken at the same time - in my case I can't take "Normal" morphine within 1 hr (either side) of the Amitriptyline otherwise I get mild hallucinations and can't stay asleep.

By the way - the 10mg tablet is pale blue - I found that I was allergic to the colour "bright blue" which some manufacturers of Amitriptyline use. So in the end I stopped having 3x10mg and went to 1 X 25mg which is white. I didn't notice any change.

Hope this helps. All the best, Nicola.

[Hidden]

I have 'peripheral neuropathy' & not Raynauds after having fingernail capillary test at Royal Free. My feet are mainly affected being numb all the time. I tried Amitriptylene & found it, like Pregablin, knocked me out in the day. I then tried Noritiptylene which was less 'dozying' & increased dose of pregabkin. None of these made much difference to my frozen feet & night legs cramps until my Rheum Consultant recommended Fluoxetine 20mg once a day (the old Prozac). This has made a big difference taking away my 'frozen' feet (altho they still numbing) & nearly all the night cramps, but I can live with this. I gradually reduced Pregablin & Noritriptylene & now no longer on them so I pleased not to feel so zombie-like all day . This website has been so useful to me even tho. thankfully, I do not have SSR. I increasingly see the use of Viagra being reported very helpful but when I mentioned this to my GP you would have thought I was intending to go on a sex rampage. I think you have to get a Consultant recommend it but I no longer under Rheum Specialist. My spine is suspect in neuropathy so I seeing Orthopaedic Consultant but his best recommendation is physio. I did have a L4/5 disc repair (Wallis procedure in 2008) & suspect it might be ongoing pressure from my spine but nothing shows on MRI. Altho US scan did show fatty liver & gallstones but neither of these considered cause. I wish you all excellent specialists who really care.

[Sami13]

I take 10 mg of nortriptyline daily for nerve pain trigeminal neuraligia I was on amitriptyline for a while but it made me too sleepy. I’ve been on it for about 7 years. I thought it wasn’t helping but I stopping and realised it was ! Just takes the edge off the pain

[wednesday]

I have been on 25mg of amitriptyline for many years. My rheumatologist prescribed for back pain. I do manage a few hours sleep with them, but having been on them a long time they aren't as good as they were. I did try to come off them but found I had insomnia, something the doctor didn't tell me when I went on them. If they could give me fluxotine I would prefer it, I did have them once for depression, after my dad passed away, I found them very good

[marie5454]

Thanks everyone for the info about amitripyline, just prescribed it for nerve pain so will give it a go and see how it is. Not looking forward to the nightmares though! Have raynauds but no underlying illness at this time so rheumatologist discharged me, any problems I'll see doctor. Have a lot of itching and burning in hands and feet and very sore too, so that's why I'm on it. I'll see how it goes, thanks again!

[Hidden in reply to marie5454]

I'm on Amitriptyline 10mgs at night. At first it did make me very sleepy and I struggled to get out of bed in the morning but after a week the sleepiness wore off.I take it it for Fibromyalgia and it really does help me.I can't say it helped with Raynauds though. I would try it I were you, but give it chance and persevere with the drowsiness. It should wear off in time.

[marie5454 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks tukka, I'll certainly give it a go, I have a week off soon so will try it then and hopefully I'll be ok when I go back to work!

[agnbg0826 in reply to marie5454]

I've been on it for 7 years and it really works for me with my endometriosis

[Hidden]

Good luck.

[Belinda1960]

Yes it helps for depression and to sleep at night

[marie5454 in reply to Belinda1960]

Thanks belinda, could do with a good night'sleep sleep!

[marie5454 in reply to Belinda1960]

Even spelling wrong lol