Amitriptyline

[Maxsmudge]

Have recently been diagnosed with IBS and have been given Amitriptyline tablets 10mg, 2 tablets at night.

Has anyone else tried these? Got a few reservations about taking these.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Yes I take amitriptyline and I have IBS but I wasn't prescribe this medication for my IBS specifically

[Maxsmudge in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, was wondering if it makes you sleepy and did it help with your IBS?

[Angie11 in reply to Maxsmudge]

I was prescribed this for my IBS 20mg. It made me a bit groggy in the morning. Plus it said in the information sheet DO NOT DRIVE. That would cancel my insurance if I had an accident. So I stopped.

Mine was double the dose of yours. You won't know unless you try it. 10 mg is nice and low.

[vonni17]

Yep I take amitriptlyne they do make me feel a bit groggy next day but I'm only taking 10mg my mum however takes 100mg reduced from 150mg and yet she doesn't even sleep mine was prescribed as a muscle relaxer as I have tmj/tmd since tho my doctors have prescribed for pain relief I think if it's taken over a period of time it's tiredness effect wears of as our body adjusts

I keep starting and stopping but am trying to stay more started this time

[diana1948]

I also had a prescription for the same medication but not for IBS. Took one tablet and felt drugged up. Not for me. Don't want to get use to it either. Need control over my life. Too drugged up to drive or get to work.

[ivesy]

Ive been on 10/20 mg for 7 years now. In the bedinning it helped but doesn't do much now. The only problem is it's really difficult to come off so I'm stuck on it for the time being.

[Jane123456 in reply to ivesy]

I was on Amitriptlyne and Tramadol for several years but I slowly weaned myself off one at a time. With the Amitriptlyne, once I was taking just one of the lowest dose tablet I bought a pill cutter and took 1/2 tablet for about 4 weeks then 1/4 tablet for 4 weeks then stopped. You have to listen to your body and go slowly to avoid symptoms of withdrawal if you have been taking this drug for a long period of time. I have to say I feel better not being on these drugs. I have realised that they weren't helping and I function better off them than on them.

I am using CBD at the moment and I think it is helping me sleep. I also use essential oils to relieve abdominal pain at night. Different things work for different people but if you are not happy on prescribed medication talk to your doctor and ask how to come off it. Do not just stop as you may have severe withdrawal symptoms.

[Shambles10944]

I have been on them for about 6 weeks and I feel better and it's helped with a painful tummy, try them you can always come of them

[jojo12345]

I've been on 20mg for years, though I did go up to 70mg but there was no difference in outcome. When I was first prescribed 10mg I took all at once - big mistake, I was exhausted and could barely function. You need to titrate up slowly. I have no side-effects now, unless you could call putting on weight as I no longer have constant tummy pain. It's not completely cured me, but it's well worth a try. I came off them once when I thought I was better - titrated down very slowly (reducing by 2.5mg every few days) and no problems there. But I wasn't better, so back I went. You need to take it slowly and give it 1-2 months to settle into your system before drawing conclusions.

Good luck!

[FerdyOne]

If I were you I would check out the potential side effects of this anti-depressant drug. See:

drugs.com/sfx/amitriptyline...

[Tojo10]

My wife was prescribe this drug, but at a far greater strength. She was given it as an antidepressant. Being me I tried a few, but soon stopped taking them, my wife did as well.

The drug tries to do to much. It's vaguely like taking an amphetamine, then taking a valium at the same time. Some people it makes sleepy others it makes slightly hyper. Or both at the same time. I just found it annoying.

If you want to relax then get a doctor to prescribe 5 or 10mgs of diazepam. They probably won't let you have that for IBS, in fact they hardly ever prescribe it for stress or panic attacks.

Any substance that changes your mood or behaviour over time, can and will be hell to kick. The doctors have been sued by to many people to keep handing out benzodiazepines. Stupid people mess it up for people who need these types of drugs. They prescribe ridiculous things for hyper tension now. This amitriptyline cannot be of much help to IBS sufferers

[Maxsmudge]

Thanks for all your replys, won't be taking them. Looked up side effects also and noooo thank you! Can't be sleepy either as up early to drive and no alcohol!!! Now that's just a step to far! X

[Jayney85]

Yes I have taken amitriptyline now for several years for ibs and other chronic pain problems.

The only side affects I have noticed is a groggy feeling in the morning. Which wears off after a short time.

[golf99]

I was given the sister drug nortriptyline. Yhis one does not cause weight gain but I did not like the morning grog but it did help the IBS. I take on and off as needed.

[1499]

Hi Maxsmudge! I was started on these many years ago for Fibromyalgia till the fibro got worse and I was put onto other meds. I started having IBS symptoms last year and some of the meds didnt help me. Buscopan was probably the best, and I tried eating Gluten free foods for a while which helped. I do think pain medication doesn't help the IBS either. I was on pregabalin latterly, but had some side effects though it was great for the fibro pains but found it difficult to wean off, which took me over a month or so. I went back to my GP and she put me back on amitriptyline which I hadn't had since 2010 ,she hoped it would help my Fibro and my IBS. I am waiting on a scan etc., for other problems with my back and knee locking as GP thinks there are other things going on not related to the fibro. I have to say the Amitriptyline has really helped the IBS. It can make you sluggish though especially in the morning ,and you may experience slight hallucinations if you wake during the night as I do from time to time, but this doesn't worry me as I know it's the meds (I have been known to see nice flowery patterns on the walls) My GP advised if it was making me very tired in the mornings to take it earlier in the evening long before bedtime to help with this. I am on 10mg and can take two if required. Good luck hope you get a bit of relief maybe worth trying gluten free also if you haven't as yet. hugs!

[1499]

p.s. When I stopped these in 2010 as felt they weren't helping the fibro I just stopped them right away. I now know with any drug you should wean off but I was never up or down stopping these suddenly as notice quite a few have had problems even weaning off. All the best!

[Maxsmudge in reply to 1499]

Thanks, I've decided not to take them! Going to try Alflorex, which someone on earlier post recommended. X

[1499]

ok good luck.