Amitriptyline

[jen78]

Has anyone taken this for chronic pain problems?

I was offered it years ago but declined as I was wary of its reputation but am now considering giving it a go as my rhumatologist has recommended it.

I've got to go see my GP as well to check contra-indications with other medication I'm on such as anti-emetics (stemetil), citalopram and codine but just wanted to see if anyone has has experience of it and whether it helped?

[Bathsheba]

You'll put weight on, hun, sadly xx

[Bathsheba]

Think i'll better qualify my answer ;)....you'll put weight on if you're not careful- they can increase your appetite x

[sqad617]

Sensible suggestion by your Rheumatologist. Why not try 50 mgms at night to start with...2tabs 25mgms.

[SurreyGuy]

Its reputation?

I was on 1 x 25mg tablet (just before bed) for back pain until the tail end of last year.

That didn't work, so the doc increased my dosage to 2 x 25mg tabs (just before bed), but that only resulted in me feeling sleepy for the whole of the following day!

The doc then took me off them!

[blackcat77]

I'm diabetic and have neuropathy in my feet - I've been on Amitriotyline for quite some time and take 50mg before I go to bed and yes, I think that it has helped.
I'm very interested that Bathsheba saying that it'll make you put on weight, because I hadn''t heard that before and wonder if it partially due to my weight problem.

[Eve]

Thanks for all your answers :)

Weight gain is not good esp with the arthritis and lack of mobility though if it means less pain then that's more important really.

Can watch my diet and hopefully if I feel better I can exercise a bit more.

As regards reputation, it used to be given in high doses as an anti-depressant and I was put on that and Seroxat, another one with a reputation, when they were trying to help me with eating problems I had when I was younger.

[weeal]

I was given these - 5 a night - after an attack years ago, and I will never ever take anything similar again, they are severely strong and I think they were even banned for a time, I was a zombie, couldnt work or hardly walk - and coming of them was excrutiating after 6 months

[CJ242]

I took this for chronic pain about a year ago. I was also on Dihydracodeine. I did not experience what others have said about weight gain, but it did make me feel like I had a hangover every morning and made me really irritable.

[mandid12]

I have tried every medication known to man for my back pain and like you was weary of taking this. I eventually gave it a go starting on 10mg and moving up each week to 100mg. I can honestly say it is the most effective drug I have tried and I am very pleased with the results. The only side effect was feeling dead to the world in the morning but once youre up and about this wears off straight away, unlike the constant tiredness you get with morphine based pain killers. I would check with your GP about taking it with citalopram as they are both antidepressant drugs

[Ice.Maiden]

This drug works on the central nervous system, and although it can increase your appetite, it can also DEcrease it, so that aside, I think it's worth a try, providing that your doctor thinks it's suitable to take along with your other medication. It used to be used for various types of pain relief, but I know someone who takes it for depression. Side effects are the same - can make you sleepy, have a dry mouth, blurred vision, etc, but since you were offered it in the past, i asume that you could try it now. I'd imagine you'd have to be careful about taking it with the codeine and Stemetil though, so only your doctor could advise.

[BagPussAA]

I have been taking it for about 4 years now for migraines and they do work very well. The weight gain is a small problems but I have never had any other side effects. I take 4 a night and have never felt like a zombie or had any other effects. I also take citalopram and codeine and they do not have any effect on each other. My mum is on stemetil and also takes it for shingles pain and she find that it works well with that. I would recommend that you do take them but start at a small dose and gradually increase if needed.