Hi, I've had severe abdominal pain and no sleep for weeks, waiting to see consultant.
Usually have constipation but have had a few diahorrea episodes in last few weeks.
GP has prescribed amitriyptaline for pain and to help me sleep. Does this work or am I best taking zopliclone or both? Does it cause constipation cos I really dont need that. Mainly just need some sleep so I can cope with pain. Cant take nsaids or codeine. Thanks
Hi If you can't sleep at night my advice is to take Zopliclone on its own. This tablet Will be enough to get you to sleep. In the morning to start with you will feel abit drowsy but this will ware off. Take the medication the GP has given you and take the Sleep tabs an hour before bed. Try that for a few days then see how you feel.
Also Codeine will give you constipation if you take too much and that will upset the Bowel and block you up. So in other words your going the other way again.
Thanks for your reply, I have been taking zopliclone 7.5 mg every other night now for a week, I don't want to get hooked on them, they do help up to a point but I'm in agony on the day after I don't take them. I don't know if I should continue to take them when starting amitriptyline. I never use codeine
Hi,
My experience of Amitriptyline is that it made me very tired in the mornings (a real struggle to get up) and it made me very constipated .......so I came off it. It also didn't help with the pain!!
how long did you take them for before you realised they constipated you and had no effect on the pain? What dosage did you take?
Apologies for delay, have been away. I knew pretty quickly... within a few days. I started on 10mg and built up to 50mg per day. Didn't cure the pain and had to reduce back to 30 mg in a bid to relieve constipation. Stopped taking in the end as it was just making things worse.
Hope you have better luck than me 🤞
Hi edwangy sorry you’re suffering like this I was the same not long ago had no sleep for months . The only thing I can suggest is to keep ringing your consultants secretary to see if there’s any cancellations explain how much pain you’re in . I can’t take co codamol or nsaids either , I hope you find some relief soon x
how did you solve your sleep and pain problem?
I havnt yet lol just some nights are better than others am waiting for an orthopaedic app to see if the pain is coming from my back , I use paracetamol hot water bottle on front and back , magnesium spray on back , Epsom salt bath twice a week x
Hi from a person suffering from constipation I would take movicol maybe a couple a day or try using the glycerine supposories to help u unblock there cheap from savers and I find lots fruit and veg plenty of water...amitriptlyn will constipate you..I'm a bad sleeper too and lately found lemon balm capsules and a banana of all things helps me nod off quicker....try it..x
Have you take amitriptlyn? If so what dose did you take? x
25 mg at night x
Do you think 10 mg would cause constipation? x
No I wouldn't think so...its trial n error I'm afraid x
Hi so sorry to hear that. My daughter have IBS and I understand your pain . Few weeks ago I was very up set because my daugther was very very bad and from that day we try black oil seeds every morning with empety stomac whaouuu believe me now she have less diarrhée and less constipation she looks more Happy. Please try it for your goog 💝💝💝 Happy mum
Looking up sleep, just noticed.Had a horrible history of benzo's years ago and was surprised that Zopiclone works for me like magic: long unbroken sleep with good amount of deep state but bit of a head for a few hours on wake up. But for me only under the right conditions: Don't leave it until small hours desperation and don't use it if there is risk that discomfort will wake or make sleep harder as you'll need 2x7.5 and the result is trashed next day and faster use of your 'stash'.
Amitriptyline I found horrible, it has 20-hour half life and while it did relax a bit and reduce discomfort I felt like hit by a bus during middle of night wakeups and next day was destroyed. I binned what I had.
Severe pain
Severe anal pain
IBS and back pain
Joint pain and fatigue 
