Your thoughts on amitriptyline, if you have already been prescribed this medication

I have seen numerous comments and sites suggesting that amitriptyline is good for not just depression, but also for pain/nerve pain and or relating to ibs pain. I've only ever taken citalopram 10mg which has not done much for my ibs pain and thinking about switching to amitriptyline. Has anyone had any experience with this medication and has it worked for you? I know it can take up to 4 to 6 weeks for it to take effect.

[MissNyxiie]

Ive been on amitriptyline 30mg for over 6 months. I found after 5 weeks no effect so they gradually increased to the max of 30mg. I have found im in just as much pain as before this, if not more. It helped me to get to sleep when i first took it but not for a couple months now. Since starting it i have been put on anti spasm tablets, anti nausea, omeprazole for acid and have a couple a&e trips and out of hours appointments for severe pain. I am now coming off them as I dont think they are working. They worked well for nerve damage i had in my leg a year ago, so i was hopeful. It may be trial and error? I would try them but make sure you keep an eye on things like alcohol and painkillers, if i had either around the time i took amitriptyline i felt very ill.

[FRreedman]

I found that the side effects were not worth the pain relief I was getting. My GI team replaced it with Nortriptyline, which have worked quite well for over a year now.

[Greyhound2]

Hi, I take amtriptyline for another reason but am only on 10 mg which has no effect on my ibs symptoms, apart from making the constipation worse...

[SophieC22]

Hi, I’ve been taking amitriptyline for a couple of years after citalopram being ineffective. Over the years amitriptyline has also become ineffective (i think) so am now on 40mg. I did try to come off it but I was in even worse pain! So must be doing something. But it can be really effective for some. I don’t have any side effects apart from if I have a drink I get really sleepy once I’ve taken the tablet!

[Carlettejaque]

I tried it for something else and it gave me severe pain and the runs. I have been on a high dose of gabapentin for another complaint and it doesn't help my IBS at all. Omeprazole is bad, it caused me to lose my sense of taste and it gave me more stomach pain. The only thing that worked was a high dose of steroids which was brilliant but comes with its own set of side effects. The only thing that works for pain is to send everything through the gut quickly so it doesn't sit inside and irritate which is what causes the pain. I suppose you have already considered a dairy free, wheat free low finals diet?

[jointpain]

I was on 10mg amitriptyline for nerve pain a year ago. Just made me twenty times worse. After stopping the extra pain lasted for about a week. Tried again and same result.

[xjrs]

SSRI's like citalopram don't work on pain. Only TCAs (low dose Amitriplyline, Nortriptyline) and SNRIs (more modern drugs like Duloxetine) work on pain. I couldn't tolerate Amitriplyline and I decided against Nortriptyline & Duloxetine since they have a similar mode of action, but it's a case of what works for you, trial & error - everyone is different. I have been getting intestinal pain relief from Linaclotide (also for IBS-C) and I have been trying out Alflorex probiotic which has been studied for IBS and some people say they get pain relief from it. In combination I got total pain relief for a little while. The pain has come back a bit only because I am really trying to find out the limits of my diet by trying spelt pasta, though both have enabled me to introduce more foods. I have also just ordered enteric coated peppermint which is also supposed to help with intestinal pain to see if I can expand my diet even further.

[Garfy]

Yes they work for me take 2 2 hours before bed they help your tummy in the night and have a low sleep aid too so both good highly recommended them

[Sarahblue]

I take the same amount as Garfy two hours before sleeping.

As I mentioned to my doctor last year it's as though I had a nervy stomach and now it's relaxed!

No side effects that I can think of and less problems with IBS.

I continue to eat a 'normal' diet.

Please try them.

[Kimmiejo]

Made me very very sick and did nothing to help with the migraines I am now seeing a holistic doctor and she has me on a number of natural meds and no headaches no side effects just pure joy of no headaches but she was working to get my heart valves 2 of them opening and closing properly and that she has done also.

[Harley1020]

I am on 10mg Amitriptyline which works for me. It stopped my diarrhoea but unfortunately I then had constipation when I take Laxido. It’s worth a try as everyone appears to react differently.