I was prescribed this drug for back pain by my physician. As I am reading the Drug Education Monograph I am finding out that Amitriptyline has
too many side effects and it will take up to 4 weeks before I will see any results. Is this drug worth the wait? Also, should I get a second opinion?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. As I dislike taking prescription medications in the first place I just wanted something to get rid of my back pain.
17 Jun 2010
I myself have never heard of anyone prescribing that for pain,only mental health issues,but I do know one person who takes M.S Contin & 5mg oxy for B.T pain for pain & also amatrip & he would give up all his meds except for his amatrip,so it does something for him but I think in his case it's helping mental health issues. Sorry this doesn't answer your question directly,but it does give you an example of a person who takes it & I noticed know one responded to you yet so I figure any info is better than nothing. Hope it helps some.
Anonymous 26 Jun 2010
I take Amitriptyline for back pain, other wise i wouldnt get any sleep! I take one to two tables at bed time, usually 1 hour before iam due to go to sleep.
This drug has worked wonders for me! and doesnt take 4 weeks to work! it works straight away! The only down side is trying to wake up first thing in the morning, and some times get a bit dizzy, but nothing else that has a major effect.
It's worth a go! if it doesnt work for you, then doctor will find some thing else! I didnt relise how much sleep i wasn't getting before! now iam feeling- at least i no longer get pain at night time, only the day time! it's worth a go.
Lisaswtlady
26 Jun 2010
Loopyhoops,
Thanks for your response I appreciate it. I am taking one pill in the evening time also and Amitrip. lets me sleep all the way through the night
with no interruptions. I've already spoken to my doctor as he wanted to know how this prescription drug is working out for me. The only side effect I am having now is a dry throat. My doctor told me that to feel the full benefits from Amitrip. I will have to wait 4 weeks to feel less pain in my back. I am happy that I can sleep better now thanks to my doctor.
Anonymous 30 Jun 2010
Yes, I get a dry throat too. also have light headed moments but that actually feels nice! I know iam wierd. :-) all the drugs i take for the day time give me a dry throat too, so i make sure i drink enough water. the doctor told me that all good pain killers give you a dry throat! wether that is true or not i have no idea! hope you feel better soon!!!
23 Jul 2010
It has been on the market for 60 years or so, but take it at night, it made us all tired but we all felt fine in the morning. My brother took amitriptyline for his bad back problem and it was a "life saver." He had no side effects and it worked better than pain killers. (Important! We all took the generic made by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.) I took it for migraines years ago (50 mgs a day) for 15 years. Then I got pregnant so I had to stop taking it. My migraines never came back. Now, I take it for insomnia (10 to 20 mgs a night.) My 9 yr old takes 5 mgs a night for stomach aches that she had for years. Her stomach aches are gone. She has no side effects. I've been on amitriptyline for years with NO weight gain & NO side effects. I had been taking the generic made by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals for years & never gained an ounce and had NO side effects for years. Then the mail order pharmacy sent me a generic made by Sandoz Inc.
Lisaswtlady
23 Jul 2010
Thank you for the information on Amitriptyline medication and your
comments on this prescription drug I appreciate it.
My physician and I have good communication and he told me to give him a call if I am having any problems or concerns on the Amitriptyline I am taking now. He's so easy to talk to and very patient. I am taking 2 tablets
(50 mgs.) and Amitriptyline is doing a great job of letting me sleep all
night. I hardly have any side effects only dry throat.
redjoy2
29 Aug 2010
Good information here from everyone. I don't think its the med making my stomach sick but I don't like that I wake up during the night, go to sleep fine but don't stay asleep. I'll have to see if the Dr puts me on 50mg Monday & if that makes a difference.
27 Jan 2011
i have also been prescribed Amitriptyline for back pain as well as a sleep aid. I'm not sure if this headache I'm getting is worth it thought... I have only read a few pages that have said anything about a headache, but the pharmacist did mention it to me. Does anyone else get headaches with use of this drug?
Anonymous 27 Jan 2011
I took Amitryptaline as a sleep aid when I was on othter anti depressants that made sleeping difficult. I found it very effective and I didn't have any groggy feeling in the morning, however it raised my heart rate noticebly. I discontinued it for that reason. I will say every person is different thus medications effect every person differently. Have a good relationship with your doctor. I have found benefit from trying drugs over the years that have scary side effect warnings. You should always read the warnings about what could happen but try to keep in mind that it is what COULD happen not what WILL happen.
27 Jan 2011
what one drug will do for one person then it can have a totally different effect on another man or woman, I was not given it for back pain, and I am sensitive to several medications so just because of what I say I don't want to give this drug a bad name, what might not work for me might do wonders for you, I had muscle twitching ( which I understand is not uncommon) then I suffered a seizure, the doctors did get it under control and I was not left with longstanding effects, I just told you this because you asked a question and it deserved an honest answer, sometimes it is necessary to take medications because we have symptoms that need to be treated and to write this drug off as being no good or ineffective would be unfair. I wish you the very best
21 Sep 2011
I take 1 at nite and I was awake all nite with headache I will not take another pill of this type, Plus I had suicidal nightmares where I am driving and dive off the interstate into oblivion. My Dr. told me to take 1/2 instead of 1 and it still does not agree with me. as u posted it has too many dangerous side effects. Good luck. I already take Cymbalta and Amitrip is horrible, my opinion.
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Buddy1971
GenericsA...
caringsonbj
Ohiobuckeye
Buddy,
Well, at least you have given me some insight on what this drug does to people. I will give Amitriptyline a try for one month and hope I will receive
a benefit from my back pain. I will follow my physicians instructions to show him that I am making the effort to try this medication out. It is just that I won't see any results from Amitriptyline until 4 weeks later.
I am going to start a low impact exercise program along with taking this drug to help ease my back pain. Prescription and over the counter drugs are supposed to help patients ease their pain but I am find out by using www.drugs.com that prescription drugs have too many side effects.
I might have to find another way to ease my discomfort.
Thank you for your response,
Lisaswtlady
I take it to,but not for pain,that's a new one to me... I take it for bipolar and sleep,doesn't really work for me..hope this helps someone.
I've been using Amaitrip. medication for 3 days now and only take one tablet before I go to bed and it does a good job of letting me get a full night sleep. I am still in pain during the daytime. To get my mind off this pain I am going to start doing exercises to ease my back pain. I am do some research online and see if there is alternative method I can use.
I know I have to give this medication a chance to adjust to my body and
I will probably see good results after one month later.
I was given Amitriptyline for pain. I've taking it for one week now. It does help me to sleep better but in the morning I don't to get up! I had read that this medicine was prescribed for depression. When I asked my doctor about it he said that back in the sixties it was used for depression only. But nowadays it is used for many causes. One being for Fibromyalgia.
I also read that Amitripyline is used to treat patients who have PHN or
nerve pain due to having shingles. I am not depressed.
Hi my only input is I was prescribed amitriptyline 25mgs 2xdaily for migraine pain. It took a week, but it did stop the pain. It also allowed for a great sleep and improved my mood too!!
I'm just interested in answers for this drug also, just been given the perscribtion today, for pain, not depression, can't wait 4 weeks for pain relief, also why antidepressant for pain controll??
Kimberly Sue my answer WAS ABOUT PAIN NOT DEPRESSION. thank you and have a great day
Thanks Buddy1971 for your response regarding taking Amitriptyline at
25 mg. I read this medication is used to relieve neropathic pain in patients.
I took my first pill ( 25mg.), last night, my pain IS GONE, but I've been in a fog all day long! I'm usually insomnic, but all i've done today is sleep, Has anyone else had this reaction? The pain relieve is great, but I have the energy & IQ, of a slug now, will this side effect go away?
I have back pain and leg pain, I was prescribed amitripylin 10 mg. I take at bedtime and it keeps me awake and have severe headache at the same time. I also had suicidal dreams, I called the Dr. and he said to take 1/2 at nite and it still is not working for me, I already take Cymbalta. My Dr. will not listen to me b/c I asked for some pain meds, ie tylonol 3 or vicodin, he said no. I have high tolerance level for pain meds but Norco is the only meds that releive my pain. I am sick of Drs. under estimatin my pain. I've had 3 spinal injections which did not help.
I take it for bipolar and depression but so far it hasn't seemed to do much for me and I have some side effects-bad taste in my mouth and loss of feeling in my feet as well as involuntary movements in my extremeties (feet and hands). Also, have noticed some anxiety. Not sure if it's the amitryptilene, but didn't have it before. Also involuntary shaking in the hands.
13 year old son takes Amitriptilyn for neuropathic pain 25mgs X 2 day, it makes him very drowsy. Re pain not sure as he is deafblind and cerebral palsy
and is nonverbal. Any help or advice much appreciated