Amitriptyline

pinkcupcake

Has anyone on here had seizures from taking Amitriptyline?

byhookorbycrook

Haven't heard of it as a side effect. I take it for neuropathic pain (50 mg at night) but was told to increase or decrease it according to a particular time frame and not to stop it "cold turkey."

brettmirl

Have been on it before too, 75mg at night for back/leg pain.

Never suffered from seizures. Would be worth speaking to your GP or pharmacist about it.

Tropheus

Haven't been on Amitriptyline, but on similar drugs. It's basically one of the older tri-cyclic anti-depressants. Seizure wouldn't be a common side effect. However, well worth discussing with your doctor particularly if you are prone to seizures.

mel123

Sorry to hi-jack the thread. I got this prescribed for chronic back pain, however, when I went home and naturally googled what it was and the side effects, i didnt get the script. How was everyone when they started taking them? It frightened the life out of me when it said you might be suicidal for a few weeks until your body gets used to them.

Also, for pain, how were they?

brettmirl

mel123 wrote: »

Sorry to hi-jack the thread. I got this prescribed for chronic back pain, however, when I went home and naturally googled what it was and the side effects, i didnt get the script. How was everyone when they started taking them? It frightened the life out of me when it said you might be suicidal for a few weeks until your body gets used to them.

Also, for pain, how were they?

If you read the side effects of any medication they pretty much list everything - I reckon to cover themselves.

I can only talk about my own experience. I had lower back pain from a trapped nerve (bulging disc) and as a result wasn’t sleeping at all. I was also getting muscle cramps in my calf and very bad restless leg

They worked for me, reduced the pain and got my sleep back on track. The worst effect for me was the drowsiness the next day, but I was on a high dose (75mg at night). I never had any suicidal thoughts. In fact, I felt happier, cause my pain had reduced and my sleep improved!

mel123

brettmirl wrote: »

If you read the side effects of any medication they pretty much list everything - I reckon to cover themselves.

I can only talk about my own experience. I had lower back pain from a trapped nerve (bulging disc) and as a result wasn’t sleeping at all. I was also getting muscle cramps in my calf and very bad restless leg

They worked for me, reduced the pain and got my sleep back on track. The worst effect for me was the drowsiness the next day, but I was on a high dose (75mg at night). I never had any suicidal thoughts. In fact, I felt happier, cause my pain had reduced and my sleep improved!

Thanks Brettmirl. I know, and I work in pharma!!! So i do know they have to tell you everything possible, but it just turned me off them.
Your on here because you have chronic pain, which effects your mental health enough, id kinda just be afraid for myself you know. Ive still got the script, back with the consultant tomorrow, so ill see what he suggests as a plan.

by8auj6csd3ioq

any of the tricyclics can make depression worse before better and can lead to suicidal thoughts. They can also lower the seizure thereshold

Shoobs86

hey everyone, sorry to hijack the thread. Just been prescribed amitriptyline (low dose) and notice in the leaflet it says not to take with contraceptive pill... my doctor didn't mention anything. anyone else have issues with using both?

brettmirl

Shoobs86 wrote: »

hey everyone, sorry to hijack the thread. Just been prescribed amitriptyline (low dose) and notice in the leaflet it says not to take with contraceptive pill... my doctor didn't mention anything. anyone else have issues with using both?

Be worth asking the pharmacist what to do - give them a shout or drop in to them and ask.

by8auj6csd3ioq

mel123 wrote: »

brettmirl wrote: »

If you read the side effects of any medication they pretty much list everything - I reckon to cover themselves.

I can only talk about my own experience. I had lower back pain from a trapped nerve (bulging disc) and as a result wasn’t sleeping at all. I was also getting muscle cramps in my calf and very bad restless leg  

They worked for me, reduced the pain and got my sleep back on track.   The worst effect for me was the drowsiness the next day, but I was on a high dose (75mg at night). I never had any suicidal thoughts. In fact, I felt happier, cause my pain had reduced and my sleep improved!

Thanks Brettmirl. I know, and I work in pharma!!! So i do know they have to tell you everything possible, but it just turned me off them.
Your on here because you have chronic pain, which effects your mental health enough, id kinda just be afraid for myself you know. Ive still got the script, back with the consultant tomorrow, so ill see what he suggests as a plan.

If you do not object to my asking what was the dose for pain. It is usually much lower than for depression as far as i know. In general tricyclics lower seizure level but this would only effect people prone to seizures as far as i know. I am not suggesting you take or don't take them and not giving medical advice. Pelase ask your doctor about concerns. I am curious re the dose , forgive me

byhookorbycrook

Shoobs86 wrote: »

hey everyone, sorry to hijack the thread. Just been prescribed amitriptyline (low dose) and notice in the leaflet it says not to take with contraceptive pill... my doctor didn't mention anything. anyone else have issues with using both?

News to me- and my neuro, I would imagine. And no little Crookers to prove us wrong I'm on a treatment where it's strongly suggested you avoid getting pregnant, if the neuro even prescribes an antibiotic she remind me EVERY single time about the interaction with the pill. Last year , I was on a medication which causes severe birth defects and again, no worries using the OCP and amitriptyline.

I think you may have been looking at a particular and not very clear leaflet that says:

"medicines, such asmonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) e.g. phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide ortranylcypromine (used to treat depression) or selegiline (used to treat Parkinson's disease). These should not be taken at the same time as Amitriptyline Tablets
The other drugs, such as the Oral contraceptive pill aren't prohibited, your doctor just needs to know if you have taken/are taking them.

Shoobs86

Thanks byhookorbycrook

Reading the leaflets has always been my downfall. So far the tablets are working exceptionally well. I have had 5 full nights of sleep - I haven't had that in over 4 years! No poor side effects yet except dry mouth, but that's not too bad.

byhookorbycrook

For dry mouth, sipping water actually makes it worse. The dentist said to take a slug of water and "sloosh" it around in your mouth to get saliva moving. In areas when that's not possible, I find a fizzy cola bottle is almost as good.
Always, always, always read the leaflet, human error occur, so good to keep an eye.

brettmirl

There is a dry mouth spray you can get in Boots. I used it for a bit while I had that particular side effect

superd1978

Hi All,

Ive been prescribed a low dose of amitriptyline (10mg).

In summary, I have a trapped nerve in my neck which seems to be playing havoc with the rest of my body. Seems my muscle control and central nervous system is gone awry and causing a lot of pain in hip, knee, shoulders.

The consultant reckons i need to effectively reboot my system with a minimum 3 month course of amitriptyline.

I am dead against taking drugs for anything, but kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Has anyone had any first hand improvements with there pain / issues, apart from being able to sleep better, or feel better? And does it take long to actually work?

Im very afraid ill pollute my system with this drug and end up with no improvement at the other end

Thanks all.

bilbot79

Of all the threads that get closed down on boards I'm surprised that medical dosage and side effect threads don't get wallopped. But thats just mr

Graces7

was prescribed it after a bad wrist break .. slept 24 hours so binned it. Works for some, like all these things.. .

brettmirl

superd1978 wrote: »

Hi All,

Ive been prescribed a low dose of amitriptyline (10mg).

In summary, I have a trapped nerve in my neck which seems to be playing havoc with the rest of my body. Seems my muscle control and central nervous system is gone awry and causing a lot of pain in hip, knee, shoulders.

The consultant reckons i need to effectively reboot my system with a minimum 3 month course of amitriptyline.

I am dead against taking drugs for anything, but kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Has anyone had any first hand improvements with there pain / issues, apart from being able to sleep better, or feel better? And does it take long to actually work?

Im very afraid ill pollute my system with this drug and end up with no improvement at the other end

Thanks all.

Meds affect us all differently. I've been on and off it a few times with on-going back issues.

If your consultant is recommending you take it , might be worth heeding his advice, or going back to your GP to discuss other options?

Kurtosis

bilbot79 wrote: »

Of all the threads that get closed down on boards I'm surprised that medical dosage and side effect threads don't get wallopped. But thats just mr

Hi bilbot,

Medical advice isn't permitted on the forum, however people discussing dosages they have taken or side effects they have experienced is not giving medical advice. If you think a post may possibly be looking for or giving medical advice, please do report it so that it's brought to the attention of mods and we can take a look at it.

Hope that clarifies things a bit.

cassid

One side effect that i noticed is that i burnt really quickly in the sun. I had factor 40 on, and got really burnt on the face, arms and upper chest. I never had the problem before, so during our recent sunny spells, made sure i was in the shade or stayed in doors. Its listed as a side effect.

Whiplashy

cassid wrote: »

One side effect that i noticed is that i burnt really quickly in the sun. I had factor 40 on, and got really burnt on the face, arms and upper chest. I never had the problem before, so during our recent sunny spells, made sure i was in the shade or stayed in doors. Its listed as a side effect.

Interesting. I’ve been on a low dose for a few years so it’s a long time since I read the leaflet. I’m not a sun person but decided to lie out recently, with factor 50 on. Burned to a crisp after 40 minutes.

brettmirl

cassid wrote: »

One side effect that i noticed is that i burnt really quickly in the sun. I had factor 40 on, and got really burnt on the face, arms and upper chest. I never had the problem before, so during our recent sunny spells, made sure i was in the shade or stayed in doors. Its listed as a side effect.

I've had that issue before with an ant-biotic, but never Amitriptyline. Might be worth having a chat with your pharmacist or GP about it?

byhookorbycrook

On it for years and not difference to skin burning at all, even after long days by the beach in the good weather.

locum-motion

Photosensitivity is a recognised adverse effect of Amitriptyline, classified as 'Rare', which means it is expected to happen somewhere in between 1 & 10 patients out of every 10,000 who take it for a year.

Or to put it another way, between 0.01% and 0.10% of patients.

Or yet another way, for every patient who suffers it as a side effect, there will be between 999 and 9,999 who don't.

Patient11

Amitriptyline is a bogey drug it gave me depression after a few days.