Amitriptyline/Nortriptyline- anyone tried these?

[Scarlett]

I can't put it off any longer, I have to try these for longer than 2 days. I found that even when I took one (smallest dose) at 7pm the night before, by day 2 I was like a zombie and could barely see straight. Will these effects wear off if I keep taking the pills? Has anyone else tried them?

[Greedyfly]

I wish that these drugs had the zombie effect for me - they do not touch the sides for me so I cannot advise on these ones. From experience of taking high dose pain killers after a few days to a week I tend too normalise to a degree, I usually feel better but not completely normal. I guess the argument always is are the effects of the drugs worse than what you are taking them for?!I personally haven't found anything to take long term so choose the pain over the side effects.

[dennisb66]

My wife was given these for pain,on the 5th night she had hallucinations and was admitted to hospital after tearing a large area of skin from her thigh.

[Greedyfly]

Not everyone's effects are the same though so don't panic. We all react different to different medications.

[Sqad]

I assume that you are taking them for depression and no I have never tried them.

However......yes, the drowsiness will wear off as your body gets used to them, but may take a couple of weeks, so carry on.

There is a psychiatric nurse on AB (Hg something or other) who will give you fuller advice when she sees your thread.

[Kiki-frog]

Scarlett, I take amitriptyline for pain, 40mg a day. I did find that I was pretty well zombified for the first few days, but that did wear off after about a week. I think they need to be taken regularly to have any effect. You don't say whether you are taking them for pain or as an anti-depressant, but I found that they only really became effective for pain management after taking them on a daily basis for about two weeks. But like greedyfly says, everyone has their own individual response.

[Greedyfly]

I haven't experience of the Nortriptyline actually have not heard of that one, had to google. Amitriptyline I have taken for pain and for sleep and neither times did they help.

[Scarlett]

Thanks- I have been given them for pain- arthritis pain- knee and ankle pain caused by ulcerative colitis, and fizzing soles of feet so I can't stand or walk. I am worried about the fact that they change brain chesmistry- my brain is the only thing I have which works well!!!

[Kathyan]

I take amitriptyline for fybromyalgia. I take one 25mg at night. I find that they ease the pain but don't necessarily help me to sleep. As has been said before, people react differently to different drugs.

[evedawn]

I was on amitryptiline many years ago and for the first while (2 weeks probably)I too was zombie like but after that my body accepted the tabs and that side effect was gone. Persevere we are all different and perhaps ur body needs time to adapt (mine did)

[evedawn]

Also I found it helped to take them at same time each day

[dennisb66]

Sorry Scarlett i should have mentioned earlier that the Amitriptyline was in addition to Tramadol which she was already taking and it was this that caused the hallucinations.

[Kiki-frog]

Scarlett, if you're taking them for pain, then I'm afraid you will have to give them a couple of weeks to take any effect, and for the zombie side-effect to wear off. I agree that it's best to take them at the same time each day. Do you go out to work? If so, then early evening is probably best. Can you maybe book a long weekend off to allow yourself a few days for your system to settle down? I've found them really helpful for pain, but it's always a case of trial and error to find out what works for each individual. I hope it goes well for you. x

[Kiki-frog]

dennis - that was pretty much my experience when mixing it with tramadol. Dreadful stuff! I kept on trying to kill my husband in my sleep at night! Things settled down once I'd switched to ibuprofen, thank goodness.

[carlton23]

I have been taking them regularly for months with no ill effects, except that I have put on a stone.

[Eve]

I was on amitriptilyne and got the grogginess, really hard to wake up and get up in the morning (and I tend to be an early bird workwise). I was given it years before after a quite traumatic incident and was like a zombie so wasn't keen to go on it but was assured it was a much smaller dose.

Tried it and ended up like a nervous wreck zombie only to discover a doctor had given me a prescription for 5 x the dose by accident! Tried some at the right dose after but not for long due to grogginess and was worried as one of my consultants said I should get up to 50mg a day for chronic pain which is a lot.

My rhumo recently suggested I go back on something like that to help with arthritis/fibro pain and helping me with the stress/upset with the conditions and helping me sleep better and as I get dry eyes and mouth already and they can make that worse she suggested fluoxetine which has made me feel sick so my GP suggested citalopram which I've been on before and tolerated well.

[ibugor61]

I had been taking amitriptyline 10mg for chronic pain (mostly lower back) for almost a year. It didn't seem to be helping much, so I recently stopped. A week after stopping I felt so much better I thought I was almost cured, but unfortunately after another week the pain came back so bad I was bedridden. You can compare these pills here http://pillcomparer.com/nortriptyline-vs-amitriptyline.html