jennifishI've been taking amitriptyline for just over a year for chronic neck pain from multi-level disk herniation and depression. I recently began to experience cystitis symptoms. In reading the side effects information, I noticed that it lists trouble urinating. My cystitis symptoms consist primarily of urgency which is just kind of annoying. Sometimes my bladder is full, needs to be emptied. Following urination the urgency symptoms go into overdrive, despite an empty bladder. I have been tested for urinary track infections - negative. I have done a candida cleanse and have begun eliminating foods that encourage candida growth. I have been tested for a variety of chemical and food allergies - negative. Two chemicals were identified as allergens CARBA MIX (diphenylguanidine, zincdibutyldithiocarbamate, zincdiethyldithiocarbomate) and Thimerosal (merthiolate). Some foods did have reactions when test patches were removed (and those corresponded with foods, I suspected I had allergies to), however the following day when test sites were officially read, non of my suspectic allergens were positively identified. I suspect I have food sensitivities for those foods, but I have also had them with no cystitis symptoms, and I've eaten them my entire life with no cystitis symptoms. Anyway, I know that amitriptyline is used to treat cystitis symptoms, but I'm wondering if the amitriptyline could also be contributing to my cystitis symptoms, or if it could be reacting with anything to contribute to cystitis symptoms.
Thanks for your assistance.
pattishan61
Thanks Pattishan61.
I'm not on any pain meds other than the amitriptyline. I can't tolerate most opiates (vomit). My job requires that I'm alert too, so I can't take much for the pain, just kind of live with it and take the amitriptyline at night (it puts me right to sleep). The only other med I'm consistently taking for the herniated disks is mobic, an anti-inflamatory, to try to calm down the muscles that get all tweaked out from the disks being herniated.
I'd still be interested if anyone else has experienced cystitis with the amitriptyline, but not prior to being on it.
Oh I forgot to mention NSAIDS, like mobic also cause the burning in me. I never noticed that that was what was causing it until I actually got off prescription pain meds and I swear, tylenol or advil will cause burning and the advil causes urgency in me. I found some site that mentioned burning while urinating as a side effect of tylenol. Can you use the Azo standard or any of the cystitis anti pain meds to help it keep from irritating you? It will stain your underwear, but, it works somewhat. I know you have to use something for your pain, maybe talk to a pharmacist and see what they say.
I've taken Mobic for... almost 2 years now. I haven't read that as a side effect, but maybe I'll talk to my doctor about it. I want to get off of it, but I think it does help with the neck, shoulder and back pain.
I've had burning too, but that usually only happens if I'm too busy or lazy to go when I should.
Thanks again for your response.
I have searched the internet for months trying to find someone else who experienced this type of reaction. I have never had cystitis until 3 mos after starting amitriptyline for a sleep disorder. I now have pain every day. My specialists insist its a coincidence & that amitriptyline is not responsible for the pain but Im convinced otherwise.