The Hypermobility Syndrome Association

by **Enigma** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:03 pm

See i have to take mine about half an hour before i am ready to sleep. Trying to get anything from me after that is pointless i am usualy out cold!

by **NeoMorph** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:35 am

Enigma wrote:See i have to take mine about half an hour before i am ready to sleep. Trying to get anything from me after that is pointless i am usualy out cold!

I think it's because I've been on them so long plus have been on morphine (MST) for so long as well. I think the MST slows my absorption down but I can't say for sure.

by **Retro** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:14 pm

Hello all,

I managed to get a GP to give me Amitriptyline a couple of weeks ago and so far...WOW! I have been sleeping a million times better! I was told to start on a really low dose and gradually build it up, which I did. I get to sleep much earlier and feel more awake in the morning for 3 or 4 hours. Then I still get shattered and need an afternoon nap. I have noticed that I still feel pretty awful after my nap, my concentration and memory haven't improved and I can't say my daytime pain has either but it's early days and I've been under a lot of extra stress recently (DLA appeal next week). I also need to rethink pacing because I know I've been overdoing it especially with feeling that little bit better for a few hours every day.

Anyway, just thought I'd report back how Amitriptyline is working for me. Just wish my GP had given me it years ago..it's so long since I've woken up feeling as if I've actually had a nights sleep I'd forgotten what it felt like!

Lindsey

by **sarahh** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:51 pm

Hi Lindsey

Am glad that you managed to get a gp to prescibe Amitriptyline and that you have been sleeping alot better. I hope the daytime pain gets easier as the meds build up in your system. I really hope your DLA appeal next week goes smoothly and that you get it :pray:

.

Take Care

Sarah x

by **naama** » Mon May 14, 2007 8:33 am

Hi all,
Thanks to reading this post I had the courage to ask for an increased dose of amitriptyline and I've also started taking it at about 8pm (when I remember to take it early). It has made a huge difference. I never have trouble getting to sleep anymore. What would we do without each other!!

by **hollilyric** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:32 pm

hi,
i'm a psychology teacher and have discussed amitriptyline only today with a clinical psychologist. I take the max does for neuropathic pain which as many have stated is below the dose used for depression. It is in fact rarely prescribed for those with depression anymore. i have taken it for about 2 years now and have no problems except for a dry mouth in the morning. i have had periods before when i have stopped taking it for a period of either weeks or months and have had no issues with dependency. the clinical psych colleague said today that you should wean off it in pregnancy as previously mentioned but that there is no problem with long term use.

people can become addicted to anything really, it depends on a lot more than a drug. not being physically dependent doesn't mean that you are not psychologically dependent and that can cause it's own 'withdrawel' symptoms.

i find it is a great help and has barely any unwanted side effects than most of the pain killers i take. but it doesn't work for everyone.

i have also had my dose increased a few times as thereutic range can alter due to a plateau effect as with any other meds.

by **naama** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:31 pm

Has anyone had problems with dry skin when taking amitriptyline? I went to the pharmacy today because I've had dry skin just under my eyes for about 2 months but it got worse this week to the extent that the crease under my eye has cracked and is sore. The only thing I can think that may have triggered it is an increase in amitriptyline or co-codamol. I know amitriptyline causes dry mouth so I'm wondering if the higher doses can cause other dryness. The pharmacist, reasonably, wouldn't give me anything because it is so close to my eyes so I'm off to the doctor tomorrow. I am sure that the sudden worsening is because I wore makeup last Saturday evening and the Saturday before. They are probably the only times I have worn it in the last two months, so I don't think makeup triggered it, but it may have aggravated it.

by **dremcatcher** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:55 pm

My doctors tried me on amiltriptyline a couple of times but it doesn't agree with me, I felt really groggy all the time and it was like swimming through superglue trying to get up in the morning!

So now she's put me on nortriptyline, which she said was similar but non drowsy, which seems to be true. I'm not sure it's helping, but at the moment i'll try anything. I also take meloxicam and co-codimol, but take co-dydramol instead if the pains really bad which at the moment it is.

So what I want to know is has anyone else tried nortriptyline and does it help at all?

by **Sandy L** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:49 am

Is this to help with pain or depression? Necessary doses for pain are often lower than those for depression. There is about a 30-day run-in period for depression before you would expect an effect, and the doses often needto be considerably higher than the starting dose. We can't talk about numbers here, but you could do a search on "prescribing informatin for nortriptyline" and come up with your own numbers.

by **dremcatcher** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:17 am

hi Sandy

It's to help with the pain so I am on a very low dose, the doctor did say it may or may not help but at the moment i'm just trying to find the right balance between pain and zombie status. (i'm a bit of a control freak so i don't like feeling away with it!) But thanks i will do that search and see what it comes up with.

Iona

by **jakerleen** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:34 pm

They put me on this for my fibromyalgia and I take it at night. The first few times I would find myself asleep and eing told it was 2am, now it's not so bad, I just don't find it so great with the pain.

My Gp told me it is given to relax the nerves and muscles.

Jackie xxxxx

by **dawn barlow** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 8:07 pm

Hi,
My GP has put me on a low dose to help with a very painful foot, at the moment it is helping a little, takes the edge off. I did feel like a zombie the first few days though.
Dawn x

by **nat05** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:18 pm

Ive been on it since October. Rheumy put me on it to help my sleep and to start with it was WOW!! :D :D

I was so shattered during my first teaching placement that at 10pm dead i would zonk out. I have found it best so far to take it as i go to sleep but lately iv not been having the same effect.

Doasge was upped by silly dr who refused to given me pain meds other than paracetamol. Since iv finished my PGCE im sleeping til 12 at least everyday and not feeling brilliant at all. Could be to do with no pain meds tho... :wall:

Nat
x

by **Princess_Sarah** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:08 pm

I was put on them about 3 weeks ago and I'm definitely sleeping a lot better. I've only had 2 interrupted nights whilst taking them; hopefully they keep sending me to the land of nod!

by **kimsta** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:03 am

hi to all who use/have used amytriptiline.....

My gp wants me to try it for better sleep and abdominal pain relief (IBS pain). as well as muscle pain. I was wondering if anyone who used it expereinced constipation as a side effect.....she said this might happen, and given my unpredictablebowels with IBS, I am worried about how this drug will effect my bowel......

thanks for any advice

The Hypermobility Syndrome Association

Amitriptyline thread

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