Was on them (10mg) for months and months for chronic pain. They did help me to remain asleep once I finally dropped off (less trips to the loo in the night
) but I was fed up with the whole zombie morning thing so I stopped taking them.
Had some strange side effects from quitting, including insomnia / disorientation, but eventually got my mornings back. (Think it took about 2 weeks to feel 'normal' again).
I swore I'd never go back on them but since getting frozen shoulder (on top of other chronic pain conditions) I opted to go back on them so I could get some much-needed sleep.
I find if I take my tablet before 6pm I can manage to get up in the morning without feeling too spaced out. (I suggest you try taking them several hours before bedtime).
I have the strangest vivid dreams, but I'm not entirely sure the amitriptyline's to blame.
Did the paracetamol codeine thing and while it helped in the first week or so it soon wore off and I had a real battle to get off them.
Can't tell whether it's those tablets, menopause, bad diet or one of my other meds that's making me chubby (probably a combination of everything) so can't comment on the weight thing. I guess if I slept better at night I'd be more able / inclined to exercise more during the day to burn off the extra calories I'm consuming from comfort eating...
I guess, like most things, everyone's different and will have different reactions / side-effects to meds x