About to take amitriptyline....

I used to take 50mg at night for pain and the only side effect I had was a dry mouth. I can't remember having any sort of 'hangover' feeling personally and used to take it just as I was settling down to sleep so ~8 hours before getting up.

....and just wanted some people's experiences of it

I'm a medic so should look it up myself, but don't want to read all about all the possible side effects (as I will then probabaly develop them all...the power of the human mind )

So basically I know it causes severe drowsiness...if I take it now will I be completely ruined until the morning? And if I take it any later tonight am I risking making myself not good for tomorrow? I'm wanting to get up at 8 for clinicals at 9, although have explained to my consultant I might not be in due to medication experiments...

I'll only be taking 10mg (it's for pain management, not for depression where the dose given is much higher).

Any help from anyone who takes it, or any other medics who are lurking about would be much appreciated

Thanks, Marissa

Thanks for all the responses, really reassuring to hear some non-scary first hand experiences! Actually bottled out of taking it last night- was having a lovely, painfree time at a party and really didn't want to cut it short But anyway, the pain is back in full force now, so no more excuses, have literally just this second taken it.




Hygeia, could I just ask what you were taking it for? And was it effective in getting rid of pain, and if so how long did it take to have an effect? Thanks so much

xxxx

Oh also to anyone else who's had experience with this drug, I am absolutely terrified of putting weight on and amitriptyline is notorious for weight gain, Any tips for keeping it off? It's just I'm only 5'2'', so any extra pounds will really show! (Currently 105lbs)

....and just wanted some people's experiences of it

I'm a medic so should look it up myself, but don't want to read all about all the possible side effects (as I will then probabaly develop them all...the power of the human mind )

So basically I know it causes severe drowsiness...if I take it now will I be completely ruined until the morning? And if I take it any later tonight am I risking making myself not good for tomorrow? I'm wanting to get up at 8 for clinicals at 9, although have explained to my consultant I might not be in due to medication experiments...

I'll only be taking 10mg (it's for pain management, not for depression where the dose given is much higher).

Any help from anyone who takes it, or any other medics who are lurking about would be much appreciated

Thanks, Marissa

I am on amitriptyline, (for migraines not depression) and I was advised to take it no later than 9.30pm, if I take it any later I find it difficult to get out of bed early as I'm so tired. I'm on a higher dose though, 25mg (and I take one and a half) Aside from the tiredness if taken late, I haven't experienced any other side effects and I've been taking it for a few years now.

Thanks Sarah! Just out of interest, how long did it take til you noticed a difference? And how often do you get a migraine these days while taking it? Apologies for the overly keen questioning, am very interested in personal opinions of the drug! I'll be going up to 20 from tonight, so hopefully it'll kick in soon.

I hated taking amitriptyline for my migraines, made me think weried things and dizzy before i went to sleep. Then my limbs felt so heavy when i woke up. But im glad looking down at the other posts, people have experience the drug positively.

I think I know what you mean, just sitting at the computer yesterday that I felt the room spinning and needed to lie down. My limbs feel tender and heavy. Migranes eased off a little but still have to take my pain relief alongside. I feel tired after a long night of sleeping through, thats when I assumed I had CFS and followed this up with a visit to the GP, who did blood tests.

If you find that its still not working for you, ask you doctor for triptans (im not sure whether ive spelt that right) its a group of drugs that you take after your migrane that are brilliant compared to amytriptyline , imo. I take rizatripan melt on your tongue, tastes a bit funky but i find it works wonders :P Good Luck.