Amitriptyline thread

[Stone]

So... Stone - could you tell me the brand name of your lactose-free amitriptyline please? As my pharmacist would like to know so she can get some in!

My current batch is lactose-free, they're manufactured by Wockhardt. (it's amitriptyline hydrochloride if that makes a difference)

I should probably point out that some of the tablets contain both tartrazine and Sunset Yellow as artificial colours on the off-chance you're allergic to them - as some people can have nasty allergic reactions to these two in particular. The 10mg and 50mg tablets have more innocuous E-numbers so they should be OK.

Eloise, I've just had Tramadol suggested to me, not sure I want it now

Stone

[pretzel]

My diagnosis journey really began with a nout of fairly severe hip pain, I'd had pain of all sorts for years but never really thought anything of it as I thought everybody had lower back pain when they stood at te sink, hand/wrist pain when they peeled veg or used a PC, back spasms when they laid in bed at night and relaxed the back - the hip pain however was preventing me from sleeping, I'd get 2-3 hours tops and then be back awake and taking more paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Following this I was referred to a physio by my GP who told me "probably won't help and the wait is about 3 months but we may as well" I went to a private physio who said HMS for the first time and suggested I ask for a referral to a Rheumy to deal with it properly as that particular GP clearly didn't give a stuff!

My experience with pain relief... I'd had Gall Stones some years previously and had Dihydracodeine prescribed which completely stuffed me up then after the op been given morphine and basically been unconscious for 5 days so I suspected opiates/opioids weren't for me but, GP knows best...

Prescribed Codeine - gave me palpitations

Prescribed Tramadol - insomnia

Prescribed Amytriptyline (At Prof B's suggestion to my GP) - Was terrified as I'd read the list of side effects and expected to be the one who got every single one given my previous experiences... Amy was fab, initial very low dose made very little difference and no ill effects, increased the dose and... I went from very broken sleep to a solid 7-9 hours, because I was getting good quality sleep and the effects of the pain had subsided I found the ability to control my moods was stronger, either that or because I wasn't so tired all the time the mood swings weren't there any more, maybe even the Ami dealt with that too?

You may find that you no longer need the St John's Wort, you can always stop the Ami and go back but it is definitely worth a go.

[Shadowlady]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies x

Leashy! Same boat again!

Thanks Stone, I've left a message for her, for when she gets in on Monday. x The ones I have say amitriptyline hydrochloride too, so that's perfect, very many thanks.

Chloe, Eloise, Pretzel, I'm so glad to hear you've all found this so helpful, always good to hear about helpful things and improvements!

As for me... The sleeping problems just aren't that severe. I don't feel exhausted at all, just a bit tired. I really wasn't with it at the Docs, not at all, and I've been feeling rather stressed and over-reactions are sneaking in . I think the main problem with my sleeping is that my routine has deteriorated since I've been off work, and I simply can't do enough to make myself feel physically 'exercise' tired without aggrevating my back and my walking. So, some nights I feel wide awake into the wee hours. The waking up in the night isn't because of continual pain, I suspect it's because my back is shifting about as I move. I go straight back to sleep again no problem.

I'm thinking more clearly again today, I'm far, far more concerned about my mood going down than the pain and my sleep at the moment. My pain is usually fairly low, and only sometimes bad enough for me to want painkillers, only on one day was it so bad that my co-codamol didn't feel enough. It was my flaky mood, stress, fear, and not thinking straight that had me bring it up with the Doc. How embarrasing! Only one day with ridiculously bad pain. That's not enough to start taking a daily med for, especially considering I'd have to upset the status quo with my st. johns wort.

If I start to feel exhausted/too tired, if I start to want painkillers every day and they don't feel like enough, if my mood goes wrong too regularly anyway, then it's time to consider changing meds. As it stands, I over-reacted. I'm going to get the lactose free ami, keep it in the cupboard, and feel very reassured that if things start going wrong, that I have something right here, ready to help me.

Can't beleive how confused and indecisive I felt! How embarrassing! Sorry! It so helps that I can chat with you about it!

Thank you very much x
S

[Chloe♥]

Shadow, it sounds like you're thinking clearly.
If you do try amitriptyline, definitely sort out your sleep hygiene first. It won't work without you doing all the other stuff for good sleep as well - relaxation, routine etc. It would be a shame if you were to take it now and write it off when it may help you in the future, in combination with other factors.

[Rosebud]

Shadowlady,

I haven't read through this whole thread so I don't know if I'm stating the obvious or pointing out something that you have already discussed.
I saw you take St John's wort? Does the GP that prescribed you the Amitriptyline know that you take that? The reason I mention it is that St John's wort interacts with Amitriptyline so you shouldn't take the two together. I know you mentioned "not wanting to upset the status quo with the St John's wort" in your last post but I wasn't sure if you by that meant that you'd be stopping it to take the Amitriptyline.

[leashy11]

Eloise thank you for the PM I've PMed back to say thanks! Starting with just half a tablet is a great way to ease my anxious self into the Ami and I just didn't think of it!!

[Chloe♥]

I think amitriptyline helps my pain!
I've missed it two nights out of three, due to work/drinking/my own special brand of idiocy. (I'm in a pretty low state and the moment and my depression manifests as really not bothering to do anything, especially things to look after myself. I know. It's a vicious cycle.)
Anyway, today I'm finding it much harder to deal with my pain and the general all-over pain is more noticable than usual.
However, I have worked full time pretty much for the first time ever and been out most nights.
But! It is pleasing, I think, to have some evidence to suggest that the amitriptyline is worth the time.

[Shadowlady]

Hi Chloe,

Thanks hun x Good to know you think I'm thinking straight! My depression used to manifest as yours does, and my thinking would be ... not straight! Can't be having that back - serious downwards spiral! It's been years since I was depressed and never want to go there again. Ever. Ugh. Hope you manage to break free of yours too!

You're totally right about the good sleep hygiene. I'm currently stubbornly getting up at the same time, trying to tire myself out every day without destabilising my back (which is not happening! Anyone want to borrow some excess thigh energy until my back is better?!), having some relaxing time before bed and doing relaxation when I get into bed. I'll have to have a read, see if there's anything else I can try.

It's so good to hear you're working! Quite an acheivement lady! Make sure you take it easy on yourself x You must be hurting a lot more with such a change in activity levels as well as an ami break! Huge, gentle and take it easy!

Hi Rosebud,

Sorry, my second post didn't make much sense without reading my first post! I do take st johns wort, I like it, it's subtle, makes it easy for me to feel happy, and keeps me feeling normal and balanced most of the time. I don't want to stop taking it. I told my GP years ago, but didn't remind him as I wasn't thinking straight, if I was, I wouldn't have wanted the ami, it's not needed in my current circumstances. When I say not thinking straight - autonomic dysfunction issues (slurred speech, thick, fuggy head etc) brought on by the heat and mild dehydration. It was my worst pain day in years, possibly ever. I hadn't planned on talking about pain with the GP at all - I was freaked out by it that day and not able to think clearly enough to have an intelligent conversation about it! What I was hoping for was some sort of 'awful day' strong painkiller for emergencies, but the 'out of it'ness got blamed on pain and co-codamol, so he now thinks I'm super-sensitive to opiods, whereas actually, once I'd had an entire pot of tea, a pint of water and a pack of crisps, I felt loads better! What a plonker! I've written to the GP to explain and apologise.

Hey hey Leashy, good luck with the half tablet hun! x Let me know how it goes as if this gets worse I may well be joining you! Can't be having dodgy sleep making me worse, that'll affect my mood more than stopping the st johns wort.

Take it easy tigers,
S

[leashy11]

Well the half tablet routine is going ok, not much help with the pain but at that tiny amount I can't really expect it to be can I? I do find a half tablet makes me woozy the next day though, and it's all day not just the morning! I'm so stupidly sensitive to medication I always have problems. I'm having to skip tablets though if I need to drive the next day so a couple of times a week I have to miss them, will that stop me getting past the side effects stage does anyone know?

I'm planning to progress up to a full tablet very soon. I find I sleep very well on Ami but if anyone wakes me in the morning before I've finished my full 8 hours I get restless legs and struggle to get back to sleep! I'm also dreaming alot more than I did, or should I say alot more vividly and remembering it!

[pretzel]

I can't help too much with the "will it stop me getting past the side effects" as I haven't really had those sorts of issues...

but...

Aren't Ami dreams doozies!!? I very rarely remembered my dreams previously but I now find that I remember them more often and that they ar emuch more vivid!

[Stone]

Good, aren't they? I think probably I remember more of them as I dream right up until I wake up. It still happens if something's woken me unexpectedly so maybe I'm just dreaming continuously!

I'm wondering if it's time for me to come off them as I skipped a dose a few weeks back (wanted to get some drinking done) and woke up feeling fantastic! I don't seem to be getting such good rest now as when I first started taking them so I'm not sure if they're doing more harm than good now, the morning hangover is something I won't miss...

Stone

[leashy11]

It's funny you should say that pretzel, I woke up this morning feeling a bit confused as I dreamt about someone trying to trap me into being sprayed with green wax!! That's not my normal kind of dream at all!!

[leashy11]

Well, after a few days on a whole tablet I'm not sure how this is going to pan out. I don't find it's making any difference with the pain yet but I'm still on a very low dose but the last few nights I've been very, shall we say, active during the night. I'm one of those people who acts out their dreams and the last few nights I've been switching on the bedroom light in the early hours of the morning and frantically looking under the bed etc for something that doesn't exist. Not only is that disturbing my partner's sleep but all this unchecked wandering about in the night seems to be making my pain worse.

[Chloe♥]

On the subject of dreams, I've had vivid and bizarre dreams on and off for as long as I can remember, most nights not dreaming but then dreaming really vividly when I do. NOW, I have incredible dreams every night and actually, I LOVE it.

Leashy - Eep! Have you a spare bed you or your partner can sleep in until you settle down a bit?
(If Eloise is about she may have something to suggest...)

[Eloise]

Well I dream last night that a plane did a loop-de-loop at an airshow and failed miserably and landed in the crowd. Woke up and was frozen with fright. But then my first though was to check if my sister-in-law has given birth - as supposedly dream about death means birth (and vice-versa). Anyway - even with all the enhanced weird dreams (I have always had them) I wouldn't swap my amitriptyline for anything as it has been totally fantastic in reducing the pain levels.

Leashy - if you can cope with it - atleast try to be on the starting dose for a couple of weeks - as it does take a while for its benifits to be seen, and the weirdness of the dreams and activity may settle down. Also, you can never tell if it is another external factor (like the weather) that is distrupting your sleep, and it would be a shame to stop the amitriptyline if it wasn't its fault. Also, maybe stop reading those scary fairy tales before bed and read something else!