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[Dancinggirl]

Hi everyone
Is anyone taking amitriptyline for pain relief?
If so, are you finding it good and are side effects generally tolerable ?
Saw GP today regarding increase in lower back pain, headaches and poor sleep and Amitriptyline was mentioned. I've always been wary of ADs but feel I should be open minded about this option.
Feedback please. DG x

[dazned]

My DH was prescribed it a couple of months ago when he pulled something in his back and was in a lot of pain. He said it helped enormously and he never appeared to have any side effects. Hope your pain eases soon.

[countrybumpkin]

I know loads of people who take this for pain relief and beter sleep, some have been on it for alot of years.  At the dosage used for pain relief there is no anti depressant effect its just altering your perception of pain.
I personally can't take any anti depr as they give me severe acid reflux but thats just me and I wish I could take it.
Def worth trying to see how you go on with it as it can help enormously.

[CLKD]

Didn't know that it was classed as an anti-depressant. I was prescribed it for trigenimal neuralgia years ago, did not do anything at all as I couldn't forecast when the pain would hit.

It can be used successfully for pain relief as can Valium.

[Taz2]

Valium is addictive whereas Amitryp is not addictive.

I've had it before for fibromyalgia pain and it worked really well. I found good results on 10mg a night. The first few nights it made me a bit sleepy in the morning but I was still able to function and get to work. Hope it works for you.

Taz x

[Elizabethrose]

Dancinggirl, I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time. Back pain is the absolute pits, I know!!

I haven't taken amitriptyline but it was one of the prophylactics suggested for migraine relief at COLMC though I think it was off licence for that treatment so was only prescribed by specialists. That was a while ago, it may well be licensed for general use now.

I have a pal who struggled terribly with HRT, it really made her quite ill. She stopped cold turkey and has taken this since. It seems to control quite a number of issues she was struggling with, and she now looks and feels like a new woman.

Give it a go, you can't know till you try.

I really wish you well x

[Dancinggirl]

Thanks ladies - very helpful. I'm getting quite bad aching in my lower back and hips and I'm unable to take aspirin ibuprofen or codeine so may well need an alternative.
Good to hear that at low doses the side effects are minimal.
Anyone else could feed back? DG x

[Annie0710]

Mr dr mentioned this one for my bad back.  I'm waiting for my appt to come through from the specialist but dr said she'll help with pain management in the meantime.  I can't tolerate codeine either x

[Wrensong]

Hi Dancinggirl, as has been said by the other ladies, at low doses this is often prescribed as painkiller/sedative as opposed to as an anti-depressant when at higher doses.  Have tried this at low dose several times over the years for chronic pain which disrupts my sleep & can vouch for it as a good sedative, so may well be very helpful for you.  Was not strong enough to relieve my pain, though I know it IS a tried and tested pain relief medication that is so helpful to many people.  Slight drawbacks are that it can be constipating & tends to dry eyes (so again, not that suitable for me, as already on meds for these two conditions), but I believe these side effects don't affect everyone & often pass after a while in those they do.  I would think it well worth a try - I don't think you should have any withdrawal problems if you need to stop it, so feel you have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain.  I hope you find some relief soon, pain can be so wearing.

[marras]

Its a drug that is used for lots of things including bed wetting in children I believe. Only used as an AD in larger doses. I've used it for quite a few years at 10mg for migraine prevention and back pain. Helps me to get a good night's sleep. Need to take it about an hour before you intend to go to bed otherwise can make you drowsy in the morning. Hope it improves things for you.

[Otes73]

I've used it for pain relief in the past and it does help.

I had to take it very early evening and then I wasn't groggy in the morning. I started with 5mg and then increased to 10mg after a couple of weeks. I had no side effects at all if I took it early evening. It's very commonly prescribed at pain relief at this dose, for anti depression relief it's given at a much larger dose.

X   

[Greyhoundgal]

I also use it for back pain at 10mg dose.  Dr recommended I took it in the evening an hour or so before bed as it can also help with sleep patterns.  The first few days I woke feeling a little strange (bit like a mild hangover) and a dry mouth but the benefits outweighed the negatives so I would say, give it a go.

[linfit]

Thanks ladies - very helpful. I'm getting quite bad aching in my lower back and hips and I'm unable to take aspirin ibuprofen or codeine so may well need an alternative.
Good to hear that at low doses the side effects are minimal.
Anyone else could feed back? DG x

This is a coincidence that you are asking about Amitryptyline as I have just asked for some from my GP for VA pain and discomfort!! I am trying everything else for that at the moment and still in discomfort and I read about this drug somewhere so I asked my GP for it...does anyone else know if it might help VA pain and discomfort???

[Maryjane]

Linfit .....amitriptyline is drying mouths / eyes including vagina so you will need to bebisin loval oestrogen to compensate.

[Annie0710]

I'm picking up a prescription for this today after just coming off the phone with my gp

I struggle with codeine and so she said anything in that category may give the same spaced out feeling so suggested amitripyline, also I fessed up to my social phobia for the first time and she said it may help that too.  She said give it a week to see if side effects (dry mouth/eyes) settle.  I have been diagnosed with damaged or arthritic facet joint in lower back and any movement causes the nerve pain so she said this may help all round with my problems