amitriptyline

[fluffiebunnie]

Does anyone use this drug for nerve pain?  I have just been prescribed it by the doctor and found it to be an anti depressant? Confused!

Also it says take tablets at night... but does this help the pain throughout the day too? 

~Also my blood pressure is really high my doctor said.. so thats another thing to add to my ever increasing list of problems...... hey ho!

[comanchesue]

When I hurt my back in 2000 the only thing that helped with the pain was elavil-an antidepressant.  Apparently some of them work well on nerve pain!

[Crabcakes]

Some types of anti-depressants DO work on  nerve and muscle pain. When I FINALLY get to see my rheumie, I plan on asking for Cymbalta, for the pain!

[Venus]

I was prescribed Amytriptyline by my Neuro as l suffer with Hemiplegic Migraine and this drug is excellent & prescribed for neuropathic/nerve pain. Yes, you are right, it is also an anti-depressant but l didnt worry about that as l was so glad to be rid of the pain and right sided weakness. Neuro explained that migraine is more prevalent in people who have an auto-immune system syndrome.

I have come off it now as my migraines have not been so frequent, but l am suffering with lots of Neuropathic pain in my feet.... For me personally, l dont wish to go back on it as it caused my body to swell up (lots of sensitivities to meds) and gave me a ferocious appetite for sweet things... 

Fantastic for the pain though!

[fluffiebunnie]

Thanks everyone.  Just hope I dont get a craving for sweet things cos I am also pre-diabetic so need to watch my food.  Will take first one tonight... does it work for 24 hours?

[Epson]

Fluffie,

I take Cymbalta for my neuropathy and it too is used as an antidepressant.

[ohiolady]

Fluffbunnie,

I took it's cousin Nortriptyline for migraines about 15 years ago and this was pre-Sjogrens.  It is extremely drying and there is no way I could take now.  This is another example of how so many with Sjogrens don't have to be as concerned about dryness.  That is my first concern with any med, is how it will affect my dryness.  It did help with my migraines.  Also, will help you sleep.

Anna

[Liz D.]

I was given Prozac for pain and it helped tremendously.  There must be something in anti-depressants that control pain somehow.

[Scottietottie]

Fluffie - I take amitripyline at night. Only 10mg. I was given it for nerve pain in my neck and to help me get to sleep. Well - it helps my neck but doesn't help sleep. I was originally told to take 20mg and then to 'up it' to 25mg but it dried me out too much. It made my mouth even drier than before.

I stopped taking it and went back to the doc with neck pain. She said to try just taking 10mg. It helps.

Take care - Scottie 

[lesleyjoy]

Hi there, I'm on ami's other cousin doxepin, more sleep inducing but also keeps IBS and some other overactive areas under control  They are antidepressants by name, but at this low level (10-25mg) they're not for depression. As mentioned they're also  prescribed for nerve related pain.

Cheers, Lesley (NZ)

[SassieCat]

My brother was dx with fibromyalgia about 25 years ago and he was put on this drug to help.  This was before Cymbalta and Lyrica.  I too was put on this drug for my fibro about 9 years ago.  The doctor explained that years ago it was used to treat depression but the dosage given for depression was much higher.  Since they now have newer and better drugs for depression, it is not really used to treat depression anymore. 

Yes, it does help with the pain.  I am told that it should also help me with sleeping better but I have yet to see that miracle happen.  I started out on 10mg and went up to 25mg.  Now I am on 50mg and he has thoughts of increasing it to 100mg.  He hopes that my increasing it will help me to get off of taking Ambien CR which is the only thing that really helps me to sleep.  I had tried cymbalta too and it really didn't do much for me but make my head feel floaty and my concentration was mush.  I stayed on it for about 6 months and then was taken off because it wasn't helping. 

[harrigan]

I,M on 50 mg too.  it helps so much with night time pain and the odd few times I have traded it in for a 2nd glass of wine, i have been disappointed!  50mg means I sleep within 3 hours of taking it.  It nmakes my mouth dry but hey!  what doesn't these days!?!

[lesleyjoy]

Hi there, I was on Doxepin ( tricyclic cousin to ami) for depression a few years ago as I cannot tolerate the newer SSRI's or SNRI's (they just make my head /brain buzz and I want to climb the walls)  Once I reached 75mgs Doxepin, I had to reduce quickly down to 25mgs, as the dryness to eyes and mouth was horrible 

Cheers, Lesley (NZ)

[Patze]

Hi fluffie,

I have used Amytriptyline, it didn't seem to help with the pain (took a very low dose and only took it at night), and by did it cause some wild nightmares for me!  I don't know which was worse for me, my normal don't sleep a whole lot anyway, or this drug - the nightmares were not to be believed.  And I'm very thankful that most people that take don't have that kind of reaction!

I also tried Cymbalta, but it also caused more issues than it helped with me.

Take care -

Patze

[SassieCat]

I tried Effexor (sp?) and had trouble breathing.  Went off of it real fast.  I haven't noticed the dry mouth any more so but I've been on the drug longer than the dx with SjS.