Amitriptyline

[Almostthere12]

Does Amitriptyline help with IBS

[rosco1]

Hi Almostthere12, I was given Amitriptyline for my IBS and it didn't help me in any way. It made me feel more ill.

Hope this helps

[Orchid99]

Hi, I'm on Nortriptyline and it helps me immensely, it's helped me eat more foods again and I was very underweight, so I feel its saved me.

[edwangy]

Didn't do anything for me

[Mutleyforever]

Hi, I was put on Imipramine to help with abdominal pain, which was good but is not helpful if you have slow transit or constipation as it can slow things down even further! I had to stop it before I even got on a full dose…..

[xjrs]

I wasn't able to tolerate Amitriptyline. However, I did a lot of research into it. It is supposed to help with visceral hypersensitivity (IBS nerve pain). This can be caused by wearing down of neurons in pain control centres of the brain due to environmental factors such as neglect or abuse in childhood, PTSD, traumatic events etc. Pain control centre neurons in the brain usually pick up nerve signals from the gut and recognise these as the normal action of the gut and close something called the 'pain gate' in the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to the gut. When these neurons wear down, the 'pain gate' stays open and the brain picks up normal activity of the bowel as pain.

Being on amitriptyline for 6-12 months is meant to help these pain control centre neurons regenerate. It is also meant to help with the nerve pain in the gut.

Amitriptyline can be constipating, so not helpful for IBS-C, but can help those who are diarrhoea dominant.

Instead I am on Linaclotide which is meant to help with motility in IBS-C, but also to calm intestinal nerves which reduce pain. After 10 weeks Linaclotide reduced my pain by 50%-60%. When I introduced Alflorex probiotic, which has been scientifically studied for IBS my pain reduced to zero. This is because visceral hypersensitivity (IBS nerve pain) can additionally be caused by some bad bugs dominating in the gut which oversensitises intestinal nerves. Alflorex can help to bring these bad bugs under control. In fact, I would try this first on a 3 month trial, before trying any medication, since you may not need the medication.

[welsh12 in reply to xjrs]

Interesting Alflorex worked well for me for years until diagnosed with RA

[xjrs in reply to welsh12]

If you're talking about rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I've just done a google search and there seems to be some research regarding probiotics and RA, in that probiotics can reduce inflammation in RA. Interesting for you that Alflorex only worked until then. It is amazing how much gut health can be connected to other aspects of health. Hopefully one day they will find out the function of each type of bacteria in our guts for more targeted treatments.

[welsh12 in reply to xjrs]

Now I am on my way to a little reduced inflammation I may try it again my daughter also takes it and works for her.

[Fergie53 in reply to xjrs]

Oh interesting, I’m taking Amitriptyline at night, it helps I think with nerve pain and as you say with the vagus nerve connection with the gut, not sure re trauma but it makes sense..

[Glitterpants]

I have been on Amitriptylene for a few years now and it has certainly helped my IBS pain. I take a low dose in the evening.

[Boofers]

I've been on Amitryptiline for about 6 months and it has helped. I know some people get horrible side effects but I was lucky. It's reduced my IBS attacks from every month where I'd have to take days off work, to very low level which is manageable. I had one of the worst attacks ever recently, but I'm hoping that was a one-off, and I'll go back to lower level and manageable again once I recover from this one. Good luck

[Johny334]

just finished a trial dose , alas for me side effects were worse than the cure , I have predominantly Ibs d and it did slow everything down , but i felt like I’d been hit with a truck! Could not get out of bed in the morning, and really wozzee , light headed , I could get by with the dry mouth but not the other symptoms, I was only on 10 mg , my quest continues

[Gizmo6]

Hi I took amitriptyline for around 6months as a pain killer. I have ibs c my gp was concerned it may make it worse for me. The first 6 months I felt great on Amitriptyline then it made the constipation worse so I had to slowly come of them. Shame as I did so well at the beginning. Hope they help you

[Fmkhan]

It’s been about a month that I am taking Amitriptyline for post infectious IBS but I am using Alflorex as well so I am not sure which one is helping but I can feel the difference.

[grandylynda]

I think it might, though everyone is different. My IBSchanged from C to D after surgery for oesophageal cancer. I was prescribed amitryptiline to slow my bowel down and it helped. After a few years and having been on CREON (to aid digestion) for over a year, I was advised to se if I could do without the amitryptaline. I tried for a week, was waking at 5am for the loo and had one complete accident out of the blue. I have started taking it again. I think we are all different but it is certainly worth a try. Works for me. Good luck

[MellowYel]

Yes, it does. I have IBSD. It’s completely transformed my life. I’ve gone from having around 3-4 sudden loose stools to having them around once every 4 weeks. I take 20 mg every day. My consultant said usually prescribed for 6-12 months but he recommends me being on them for life.

[gsw5700]

Amitriptyline has been absolutely brilliant for my ibs-d. I have tried everything & I mean everything. As soon as I started taking 10mg amitriptyline, I am a different person, everyone with ibs-d needs to try it.I had a woozy head for a day or two, and had vivid dreams for a month, but these are all temporary side effects.

Useful links

oh-mygut.com/amitriptyline-...

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/amitr...

thelancet.com/journals/lanc...