General Chat

Hi After months of constant excruciating pain, I've finally been diagnosed with Tension headaches, and prescribed a very low dose of the anti depressant Amitriptyline. The list of side effects goes on forever, and I was wondering if anyone here had ever taken it?

Ive had them as a muscle relaxant to take when I go to bed for muscle spasms. I was ok but found myself to be really groggy in the morning, hence stopped them as need to bright to drive up the M4 every day, suex

My daughter has taken it for nerve pain - but there is someone on the board who has taken it themselves so may be better able to tell you about side effects. I know that initially she found it effective at reducing pain but the body does get used to the dose which invariably is increased if it fails to 'solve' the problem. She did expoerience considerable weight gain (although that may not have been entirely attributable to the drug) and although it is often used to combat depression, it can cause depression too. I would imagine that your doctor will be keeping a check on you for any side effects while he adjusts the dose to suit you. Hope you soon feel well again. Mags xx

Thankyou Sue. That's what I was worried about. My class of 5 year olds will be wondering what's going on - suppose they might prefer a more laid back me!!

Thanks Mags. I'm fed up enough as it is, without putting on more weight - although OH would say it was just an excuse to spend more on clothes - see, in every cloud is a silver lining!! S x

Hi Sharon, im a nanny to a family of 5 so you can see why ive got to have my wits about me lol. Have you thought maybe about herbal check it out at your local health shop and definately your gp, good luck, im sure you can do without tension headaches with a year 1 class too ! suex

Sharon - It's not a foregone conclusion that you will put weight on (although I can see that gleam in your eye that says SHOPPING! LOL) I think anything that gets rid of pain is worth a try. Lists of possible side effects can be horrifying - but each may be because just one case in thousands has experienced it. It still has to be recorded to safeguard the manufacturer. Btw - I think a whole class of 5 year olds is enough to give anyone a headache! Mags xx

I was given it for acute back pain. Didn't suit me as although it helped with the pain I felt like I was on another planet. Very groggy and hungover - without the pleasure of gin - and I piled on the weight. Keep an eye on it yourself and if after a few weeks you are not happy go back to your GP. Only you knows what your body feels like and all drugs have a different effect on individuals. Am now on a mix of Tramadol, paracetamol and Nefopam which work well for me. Unfortunately with chronic pain it is a case of trial and error.... Good luck and keep smiling :)

Hi Sue Only just been diagnosed today. I had thought that once school had broken up for the summer, things would improve, but it hasn't been the case - I'd just put it down to being one of the joys of working with kids!! My GP is really good, and I do have an appt to see him again in 3 wks, but def will ask about herbal options - I hate taking medication, even just Ibuprofen. Many thanks S x

Hi Mags - already you seem to know me so well!!! Hide and Seek - you touched on another concern of mine - it says very clearly in capital letters, ' Avoid Alcohol '. That's just adding insult to injury surely?? S x

I try and avoid it but it keeps following me and it would be rude to say no....... Seriously though, you do have to be careful. I get rat ar**ed on two G&T's these days. OH thinks it's great cos I'm a cheap round now :)

The sad thing is I'm like that before I've even taken any!! S x

Hi I've been on and off it for years. I take one at night to help me sleep, as any stress and I just stop sleeping. It dosen't really help me now but if I don't take it I sleep even less well. I know someone who just has to take one and he sleeps for about 18hours!! Its never had that affect on me. I did put weight on but I don't know whether I can entirely blame that on the tablets!! I.m not sure how it would help relieve pain

Hi Jennifer Apparently it's the fact that it relaxes muscles that helps with pain relief - has an effect on nerve endings. I don't sleep well when I'm stressed either ( which is a lot of the time ) so that could be another reason why I've got it. I'm sorry that it hasn't worked so well for you - is there no alternative? S x

Sharon I had them for depression used to make me so hungry I used to sit in front of the open fridge and eat . My weight went up to over 14 stone. Was ment to go on holiday and when got back dr was gonna wean me off them but stupid me forgot to take them with me and had no probs coming off them. Hubby had them and made him very sleepy. good luck dawnie xx

Thanks Dawnie There does seem to be a common theme in different peoples experiences, about putting on weight - I seem to be able to do that easily enough before taking the medication, so will just have to hope that it doesn't get too out of hand. I have noticed some diet threads on the board, so look out for me asking for more help in the very near future! S x

Hi Sharon My husband has just been prescribed them for a similar reason - he started getting migraines a few years ago but just recently has been getting up to 3 or 4 a week. Although the Amitriptyline have made him sleepier than normal, he's had no other side effects at all, and his migraines have decreased greatly. I also have Amitriptyline, but for a different reason. I have another condition which sometimes causes my sleep pattern to go haywire, so I take the Amitriptyline for two nights in a row and I sleep very well! A list of side effects are always quite scary, but of course the pharmaceutical company have to list all the possible ones just to be on the safe side. Don't worry about getting them all - you might even be lucky and not get any. Good luck! Mandy x

Thanks Mandy I'm glad it has worked for both of you - fingers crossed that everything is simple for me too. S xx

Sharon how many Amilriptyline tabs have you been prescribed??Helenx

Hi Helen Have to take 1 10mg tab every night, an hour or two before bed. If after 5 days there has been no improvement, I have to double that. S x