Amitriptyline for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 4)

• Nicolas
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 22, 2018

"It is important to know that research shows that even very low doses amitriptyline increases the risk of dementia/Alzheimer’s when taken for an extended period. See: Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia, JAMA Intern Med. "

• Shiba...
• April 16, 2017

"I was prescribed these for insomnia and anxiety. I've been on every anti-depressant you can think of, all with awful side effects. I do get a dry mouth, tiredness, headaches and mild anxiety with Amitryptaline, but it's much more manageable - I was suffering from daily, pretty constant anxiety before starting Amitryptaline. I'm on 30mg. My sleep is 90% better (which after 12 years of chronic insomnia is a amazing)."

• akamal
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 2, 2018

"I have been on amitriptyline for 10 years. Initially for depression, later on for sleeping, as could not sleep without it. Recently it started to play up a bit. I have been taking 25mg on every other night. One night it did not work, tried 50mg still no response. On a odd occassion I tried breaking in half and took 12.5 mg, I noticed sleeping was better. Is it possible that my body is rejecting the higher dose and accepting lower dose for sleeping. My GP could not answer that. He thinks higher doses should be more responsive."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2016

"My sleep cycle got disrupted due to stress. Was not happy with ambien or lunestra, I felt like both knocked me out and I would not know if the house was burning down. Take 30mg of elavil. Now I just sleep like a regular person. I can wake up, take a leak, go back to bed, sleep away. I regularly sleep 8 to 10 hours with this, which I never had previously in my lifetime. I do get super sticky tongue due to the dry mouth. However, that is a small price to pay to sleep. I am extremely happy with the medicine. I have been to Europe twice from the west coast with the least amount of jet lag ever. I actually slept on the plane! Works for me."

• fin
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 26, 2018

"yes, it was wonderful for insomnia while I was taking the medication (5 years) I had a good night sleep every night. Because of side effects I came off the medication a year and a half ago, it was the hardest thing I've ever done, horrible. Now my sleeping cycle seems permanently damaged, can usually fall asleep ok, but struggle staying asleep. Usual have 4 - 5 hours sleep a night. Think very carefully about starting this medication, I do not recommend it."

• John...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2017

Elavil (amitriptyline) "I told my doctor about my symptoms and he told me that my symptoms did not appear in his medical handbook so he disregarded my symptoms completely. He said it was mandatory for him to report any symptom not listed in his book to the proper health authorities to update the handbook. However, he didn't report the side effects that I told him about because it was "too much paperwork." Instead, he tried to convince me that it had nothing to do with Elavil and in a threatening demeanour tried to change my mind about my symptoms so that he would not be forced to do any paperwork. After reading this site on Elavil, I see the symptoms that I told my doctor about. I find that my doctor acted in an unsafe, unprofessional, and negligent manner."

• EvaMB
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2017

"I took Trazadone for depression and insomnia. Stopped taking it, because my weight would not go down and I was always depressed and "out of it". Started taking Amitriptyline I feel full of energy and not depressed. I also sleep better. I have lost 10 pounds since I started taking it 2 weeks ago. Everyone is different, so please consult your Doctor or Pharmacist. I take 25 mg at night."

• LM76
• December 26, 2020

"Had extremely daily morning fatigue episodes over the last 9 years that will not improve without rest. I think it was due to misaligned circadian rhythm. My fatigue would start from the transition of the sleep to the wakefulness straight after opening my eyes. Nothing worked to relieve the malaise and fatigue I was getting and all due to my shift working patterns years before all started. Tried sleep pattern adjustment, melatonin, bright lights to no avail until recently my doctor prescribed 10 mg amitriptyline to take before bed. From day 4 I started to feel my morning fatigue improved. I am on tablet 17 and I can attest that I have never felt as good as I feel in the last 9 years. I understand this drug is normally used for depression but now is used more widely as off label for many other disorders. I never though this would give me such a great quality sleep. I never write in forums but I think anyone on circadian disorders like mine should speak to its Dr and perhaps give it a try."

• MDcra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2019

"Have battled insomnia for at least 10 years on my own. I can usually fall asleep but can't stay asleep. Wake up at least 3x/night. I caved and went to doctor for a sleep aid. Since I also deal with fibromyalgia and am currently under a lot of stress, she prescribed 25 mg amitriptyline. Should have known it was a bad idea. I've failed with 5 antidepressants. Had super restless sleep until 3 a.m., waking every hour and hungry. Then slept so hard, I was late to a 9 a.m. appt. By noon, still so groggy that I shouldn't have been driving. I was also in a bad mood and depressed. Based on all of the positive reviews for this drug, I tried cutting a pill in half the next night (12.5 mg). Today, really pissy and depressed, can't get anything done. There's a warning in the literature: If amitriptyline makes you depressed or angry, stop it. I'm definitely stopping! I'll take insomnia and fibro pain any day of the week."

• sjk
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2021

"Starting on amitriptyline was a godsend it helped me with my sleep tremendously, before I started this I used to wake up every 2 hours with bad nightmares and now I'm able to sleep through the night I'm very thankful for this drug"

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2017

"I was prescribed 20mg per night for insomnia , anxiety and panic attacks . After taking it for only a few days I felt 100% better . I'm sleeping so much better , no anxiety and no more panic attacks . I have a lot more energy as I'm sleeping now and feel altogether much healthier . I love it ."

• Bou
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

"Previously I had been using Ambien with a good result but it is not good for long term use and, worse, it became unavailable in my country! I can't sleep without help and eventually tried amitriptyline . It helps a lot and for me the effects next day are manageable, Unlike benzos, you don't get the jitters when they wear off."

• msshi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 24, 2016

"To me amptripline is a miracle, for me i would not sleep after detoxing off tramadol an Loratabs an menopause .the first pill was 50 mg worked fine then after a year I went on 100 mg .it is a calming drug an I don't have anxiety. .i go some times without but after 3days I'm back not sleeping .take one pill an im like a normal petson so calm."

• Insom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2016

"I have been on 20mg amitriptyline for some years now due to really bad insomnia. I don't really know if it works as some nights I sleep ok and others hardly at all. However never felt groggy in morning nor had a dry mouth (unlike when I have taken zopliclone and other sleeping pills). This week for example has been awful. Every night hardly slept a wink. So went docs yday and he said to increase dosage up to 50mg. Took 40mg last night and will see how that goes. Insomnia is just the worst thing ever, really envy those people who can sleep on a washing line!"

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2011

"I have been on this for 6 weeks. The first 4 weeks 25mgs at night and now the next two weeks 50 mgs at night. I have multiple herniated and torn discs from an accident and could not sleep. I have tried many other sleeping aid (Ambien ETC.) and none of them are even close. This medicine is amazing. I sleep through the night now(6 -9 hrs) amazing. Once in awhile a little groggy in the morning for about 20 minutes but that's it. Unbelievable. In a league of it own for sleep."

• Eugenio
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2016

"I have had sleep issues for a long time. Strong sleep medicines left me groggy and really out of it. This year, when anxiety issues caused some serious sleep problems, my doctor prescribed 25 mg of amitriptyline, and my pharmacist said to start with 10 mg the first couple nights. It has worked well, returned me to my normal sleep patterns, and now I occasionally take 5 mg if I have had a difficult or emotion-laden day. Works very well for me."

• Phinter
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2013

"I have been on Amitriptyline HCL 25 mg at bedtime for less than one week and wake up groggy for about 20 minutes. I fall asleep but will wake up at least twice during the night but I will fall back to sleep. And talk about the vivid and wild dreams which I have never experienced before! I think I am very sensitive to this type of medicine."

• Dr MJP
• August 20, 2016

"Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, not an hypnotic. It causes significant orthostatic hypotension, so when getting up in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip, it is a common cause of hip fracture in the elderly. One should have a cardiology work-up before starting, and since it passes through the liver, is hepatotoxic. When used for "sleep" - it generally is given in lower doses than when treating depression. Is is a common agent for overdosing, not necessarily for the patient, but for grandchildren who grab Granny's meds. Since hypnotics are not recommended for use beyond 30 days, it is a very bad choice. As off-label, there are medico-legal consequences for the prescriber with untoward events"

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2011

Elavil (amitriptyline) "After my sister died when I was 12 years old I had a hard time sleeping. Only only getting 3 hours of sleep at a time. My doctor prescribed Elavil and it worked immediately. I can finally concentrate on task that I could not do before. I am taking 200 mg of Elavil."

• carol...
• October 13, 2016

"I had horrible insomnia for about a year and tried a number of pills, but none of them seemed to work. My doctor prescribed me 25 mg Amitryptyline, but it took about 3-4 weeks to actually kick in. I take it about an hour or two before bed, and it has helped me fall asleep and stay asleep. It's important to try and get 8 hours of sleep on it though, because it can make you feel groggy. I'm glad that I have finally found a medicine that has regulated my sleep schedule."

• wilsal
• June 28, 2015

"For years I couldn't sleep properly, i could get to sleep most nights but woke every 2-3hours or to any slight noise. It all caught up with me & I was an anxious sleep deprived freak who was on prozac. I went to a new Dr about constant migraines & he started me on amitriptyline 75mg, the first few days I felt so weird but after a week or so it kicked in. My migraines stopped, my anxiety was so much better & a strange side effect was that I could finally sleep through a whole night! I am so grateful this drug is around, I am no longer a sleep deprived freak :D good for my depression too mixed with 40mg prozac. YaY Endep"

• sezgirl
• April 22, 2011

"I was put on 25mg of amitriptyline because of my dependence to zoplicone (a horrible sleeping pill). It took a few weeks for the amitriptyline to kick in but once it did I was able to easily fall asleep, stay asleep for 8-10 hours and wake up feeling refreshed. I am happy to say that it's been 3 months and I haven't had to take any zopiclone which is a big deal for me. I only take 10mg now a night but actually feel like I don't even need it. I plan to completely stop it next week. "

• Lis
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2018

"Between the age of 15-38 I struggled with severe insomnia. 23 LONG years. I had seen sleep specialists for sleep studies, I took a scary cocktail of sleep aids nightly, I tried meditation, hypnosis...I tried pretty much anything doctors could think of. I was desperate. For some reason, no one thought to have me try Elavil. It was actually a lung specialist who suggested it. He started me on 50 mg and it helped a little. So we increased it to 100 mg and I am now sleeping somewhat like a NORMAL person! In October of 2018 it will be 2 years that I've actually been sleeping. I don't need sleep aids anymore, and I didn't think that was possible. My life has improved because of this medication. I'm active and I wake up actually feeling like I got restful sleep. Unfortunately, I did gain weight from taking Elavil, but I just try to be more cautious about what and when I eat. I will deal with a little weight gain if it's in exchange for good, restful sleep!"

• Chris...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2017

"I suffer manor depression anxiety and insomnia. I was on trazadone 100mg, which I cut back to 50mg because it's very sedating. I switched from trazadone 50mg to amitriptyline 10mg to start 2 days ago. It is not as strong as the trazadone but does the same job, although I may need a higher dose eventually. I don't wake up as groggy as with other meds and sleep well. So far so good not many side effects but some dry mouth. But I am also switching from cipralex to Effexor so it's hard to tell which side effect is coming from which med. But I do think this med is helping for sleep and anxiety. Btw I was addicted to benzodiazepines for years so this is a good substitute for addictive meds."

• shayla
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2015

"I have taken over the counter sleep aid for 7 years and the past year they stopped working for me and I would fall asleep but would wake up several times a night and it would take me 2-3 hours to go back to sleep so I asked my doctor for something better and she started me on this medicine 25mg a night at bedtime for sleep and pain and I've been taking it for 2 weeks now and I sleep so good and if I wake up I go right back to sleep and I wake up in the morning with no pain and feeling refreshed."