Amitriptyline & Stemetil

[Lisa_Louise]

Hi

I'm looking for some confident replies here as I've had conflicting responses.

To cut a long story short, I have seen a Professor in neurogastroenterology and he has recommended to my GP that I take 10mg Amitriptyline at night. (My GP asked me to take 2.5mg a night and start me off very slowly) This is for IBS (I get surprise attacks of the runs, nausea, bloating and dare I say it, stinky wind! - sorry folks!) The professor says this will smooth the small and large intestines and also control the diarrheoa.

Anyway, I think he AND my GP have forgotten that I already take Stemeil (Prochlorperazine Maleate) 5mg as and when I need to for the nausea, which could be roughly 3-4 times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less frequently.
The Pharmacist says I cannot take Ami with the Stemetil as they interact with each other.

I went away thinking why did the professor AND my GP prescribe Ami when they interact. Today I went into Tesco pharmacy and asked their pharmacist... she came back also saying that I cannot take both as they interact.. I'm not very happy now and the professor still hasn't got back to me yet from yesterday morning when I left a message. He and my GP think I am already on Ami.

If anyone is in the same boat (or same-ish boat or has been there or knows about these things) what do you think I should do? I need something for the nausea as it can get quite bad and Stemetil works for me..... WIll the Ami cause more nausea or does it ease it??

Any help would be really appreciated, Thank you :)

[Eve]

Thought it sounded a familiar question so checked and found your previous one, I answered on that one.

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question964259.html

[Lisa_Louise]

Thanks ! I couldn't find my original but this post is the latest as of today :)

[Eve]

No worries. If you click on your profile "My Profile" at the top left of the page you will find all questions you posted and answered.

[Lisa_Louise]

Thanks Jenna...

How did you find the Ami ? Were you on it for long, what dose were you on? Same with Stemetil (if you don't mind that is, if not no worries!) x

[Sqad]

I have already answered...see Jenna´s link above...........my answer is the same.

[Eve]

Of course not. I was on 10mg ami and 5mg stemetil as needed.

I don't take the stemetil unless I'm really suffering with my menieres but can't remember having any problems with taking them both.

The ami was good for chronic pain though I find it does make me sleepier. I found it harder to wake up in the mornings though moreso when they tried me on an increase to 20mg. I found I would sleep through my alarm etc... or wake up and go back to sleep (not even remember turning my alarm off). I was on a number of other meds too though.

I came off it in the end to see how I went as don't want to be on meds all the time for good if I don't have to but I have to say, I'm very tempted to go back on as I've found a noticeable difference in coping with pain. It really does help.

[Invictas]

Hello Lisa,
This US Professional Drugs website calls the risk of interaction between your two meds as moderate.If you click on the link you will see some of the things it can(but does not always)cause.
I tried to get one in laymans language but this seems to be the only one available.
http://www.drugs.com/...rug_list=168-0,1946-0

[boxtops]

I have had both, I take stemetil still for migraine-type symptoms which will be similar to your nausea and I find it very effective.
I was prescribed amytriptyline many moons ago as part of treatment for depression and anxiety, and while it did the trick then, to be honest it was prescribed too long for me and I found it highly addictive. I am sure these days it would be more closely monitored but it took me a very long time to come off them, step by step.

I do not doubt that this prescription for you is for a different and specific reason, and may do the trick - but both are potent drugs. I would not like to make suggestions to you without you realising that I am not a medical person, but if you take Stemetil only as needed (p.r.n.), why don't you start the Ami on the suggested regular basis and see if this reduces your need for an anti-emetic altogether? You might have to live with some nausea while the Ami gets into your system but - if it were me - this might seem a reasonable course of action.
I guess really I would prefer to leave it until Monday, and make an urgent phone call to your GP for their advice, so that the interaction can be noted on your records for future reference. To me, that would be the safest course of action, given the nature of the two drugs involved. I hope this helps - but it is my personal opinion based on my experience of both.

[Dris]

Can Amitriptyline be abused if not taken as per the script?

[boxtops]

Dris, yes, and for too long a time too (see above)

[Lisa_Louise]

Thank you all so much for taking the time out to reply ( and Invictas for the link!) I think as I am on just a small amount of the Ami I will re-consider. I'm just used to the way things are with the stemetil.

Boxtops, I have thought about taking the Ami hoping that it would take the place of the stemetil or not having to use it anymore, which would be excellent!

I'm seeing a new Dietician tomorrow morning where the professor has recommended I try the FODMAP diet.... my Dr was sceptical about this and laughed!?!?!