After hundreds of test and everything negative, doctors think I have chronic subjective dizziness or atypical migraine. He prescribed 25mg to take a night before bed. I am scared to take it with all the side effects. Anyone taken this for dizziness?
Anyone taken amitriptyline for dizziness?
Question posted by Jonesy1976 on 23 July 2012
Last updated on 18 July 2022
9 Answers
Prinny08
8 Dec 2019
Hi ive suffered with dizziness and off balance a whole year, went to a vertigo clinic in March 2019, and again in October. In October they said it wasnt bppv, she said she thinks its vestibular migraine. Ive got an ent appointment in January 2020. And neurologist in april 2020 so by then i will know what it is have you suffered like this when i bend down look up, lie to my left and right i go off balance and dizziness.. Im currently 31 weeks pregnant. They have prescribed me with amitriptyline 10mg to take at night. Just wondering if anyone had this before and what was it? Vestibular migraine as getting annoyed constantly feeling like this. Thanks
peggyvv
28 Feb 2019
I went through several specialists; many tests for severe vertigo which happened every 48-72 hours and lasted 2-6 hours at a time. I was beside myself. It was my family doctor who finally said she thought it wasnt Menieres but that it was vestibular migraine. She prescribed 10 mg amatryptiline. It took a week or so to work but it stopped the vertigo. That was 5 years ago, Last year she had me stop taking it to see if the episodes came back. Within 4 months I started having worse vertigo than before. Back on amatryptiline and they’re gone again.
Nypd18424
18 July 2022
Had severe spinning. Went to University of Miami Audiology dept. only a Neuro-Otologist can help you. Sounds like inner ear like mine. Taking diazepam 5 mg Ex daily following ear ablation. Has to do with the labyrinth in the inner ear. You will feel ok if you find a Neuro-Otologist. Highly recommend you do this. Good luck
Dottysue70
25 Jan 2019
My advice is not to take this medication. I was on it for 2 weeks. The 2nd week, I had dizziness and blackouts. Off of it for 4 days and still dealing with side effects.
Katie4vols
2 Aug 2018
I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines in May 2018 after suffering with severe vertigo for 3.5 years. I was prescribed Amitriptyline 25mg. The first 2-3 weeks were very difficult. I had a hard time sleeping it off (I have 3 kids) and I felt like I was in a never ending state of PMS. My friend that is a pharmacist really encouraged me to keep going and give it time. By week 3-4 I felt much better mood wise. Waking can still be difficult and I’m trying to take the meds earlier so I can be more alert earlier. But, the most important thing, my vertigo is much much better. Not cured by any means, but I’m definitely more functional in my day to day life. My advice is to give it a try for at least 2 months. You have to give your body time to acclimate to the full dose, I had to work my way up to that.
Cindith65
2 Aug 2018
I had vertigo and dizziness every day of my life for over 30 years. I never have known anyone who had such horrible vertigo (and I know a lot of people)
EllWest1
5 Sep 2018
I hope this post reaches you. I have suffered with constant bobbing feeling like being on a boat and lightheadedness for about a month and I am on day two of taking 10mg of amitriptyline at night. Could you please tell me how often and by how much you increased medication and was it 25mg that started working for you? How long were you taking it for before it started working? Thanks in advance
VertigoRN
28 July 2018
Has anyone found the Amitriptyline is still working or did it stop?
I’m on night 2 of taking it and just generally feel a bit tripped out (which I expected) seriously crossing my fingers this works.
It’s been a nightmare couple of years and especially few months.
Sarah
Cindith65
2 Aug 2018
Sarah. It’s a miracle pill. At first for about a month or two it made me unbelievably tired and blurry vision. Now, I can take it in the morning as it doesn’t make me tired at all. This little pill saved my life by giving it a quality I never had. I was dizzy every single day of my life and had constant vertigo for 30 plus years. I rarely made plans (like booking a plane trip) because I feared I would be too dizzy on any given day, to fly. I have had NO vertigo or dizziness since I started taking this. Hang in there - this pill is ‘the cure’ for vestibular migraine (constant vertigo). I’m absolutely amazed at how it works. My dosage is also still the same.
VertigoRN
2 Aug 2018
That’s brilliant, I really hope it works for me.
I’ve been off of work for 3 months, constantly off balance and have spins every few days and a severe vertigo attack almost religiously every 8-9 weeks x
Lex12345
22 May 2019
Has amitriptyline worked for you?
KWCIndy
30 Oct 2016
I am taking 10 mg of Amitriptyline for unexplained dizzy symptoms. I was referred to a balance specialist and after doing some rather unpleasant tests involving a spinning chair, a blindfold, and a blast of cold air in each ear my vestibular system was declared normal - apparently I had a strong reaction to the stimulation, in fact. So after ruling everything else out, it was determined that I suffer from something called "vestibular migraine".
From the age of 25 - 45 I had intermittent, mild (based upon how I know some folks suffer) aural migraines. My migraines were mostly visual disturbance followed by mild headache on the right side of my head.
Then the migraines just sort of stopped. No explanation. The balance doctor said that balance specialists are starting to diagnose former migraine sufferers who experience dizziness later in life (age 50 for me), with this disorder as a diagnosis of exclusion.
He did not really explain the mechanisms of the attack on my vestibular system (inner ear), nor could he explain the mechanism for how a tiny daily dose of amitriptyline corrects the symptoms. I am not sure medical professionals even understand it yet.
But I can say the amitriptyline sure did work for me. I take one 10mg tablet as I am getting into bed each night, and now I have virtually no symptoms. Amitriptyline also has the pleasant side effect of helping me sleep better (less waking during the night). Like all medicine, I am sure this won't work for everyone, and perhaps it will not always work for me, but it has been a magical pill for me so far. Best $8/month I have ever spent... I hope this helps someone, and good luck with your search.
Mom 2 Twins
2 May 2017
Hello KWCindy. Hope this still reaches you as your original post was 4 and 1/2 years ago. I just went to House Ear Institute for vertigo/dizziness problems. The physician I saw there tentatively thinks I have Migraine (though I never had headaches with regularity in my life) and dizziness associated with that, vs. Menieres disease. She prescribed me Amitriptyline without explaining what the drug was. She was sort of rushed in the consult and told me she would give me something for dizziness. I was shocked at the pharmacy to discover it is an anti-depressant. I don't have depression. If it works off-label for dizziness/vertigo, I will consider trying it, but am just leery of starting anything that is psycho-tropic and your body gets habituated to (you cannot get off the medication without tapering off).
Please tell me how this worked for your dizziness and balance issues over time?
Thank you.
Cindith65
3 Oct 2017
In response to mom2 from May 2017 - I suffered exact same issue as KWCindy (funny. Y name is also Cindy and I am 51). After 30 years of chronic dizziness unsteadiness vertigo I went to a. Ent who diagnosed me with vestibular migraine. It's not like regular migraine - I never get headaches. It's been about 4 weeks of10mg at bedtime. It doesn't make sleepy however I sleep like I never have before. I never could sleep more than 2 hours without waking up all through the night. I am tired at first when I awake but once I'm up I'm good. Side effects are slight dry mouth (no big deal) and blurry vision (not terrible). Does it work? I feel like it's a miracle. I used to say with 100 percent seriousness that I would cut off my leg if I never had another vertigo attack. Thank God this medication is available. Don't be worried
Try it. Good luck!
VertigoRN
28 July 2018
Is this still working for you?
Sarah
Jessica43
8 Oct 2016
Hi, I am also diagnosed with an atypical migraine which is mostly the dizziness, Doctor wants to start nortriptyline . How did it work for you? I am worry about the side effects, i failed Topamax
HeadStarter
26 July 2012
Hi Jonesy - At the 25mg level, you shouldn't have an issue with the more severe side effects or really much of an issue at all because you are taking it at night. My doctor told me that it can become troublesome with doses of 50mg and higher. Now, I for ONE can tell you that is so true!!! I was on it initially some 35 years ago when I was experiencing a terrible loss in my life and other life altering experiences. I was hallucinating unbelievably bad and seeing people who weren't there. Well, today, I am on it again but just at the 25mg dose and I haven't had any issues... not one issue. If anyone should be afraid of using this med again, it would be me. But my doctor assured me that at the dose being prescribed... it really would help me and it HAS! I don't want you to worry yourself into not taking something that potentially can help you because of all the side effects.
ALL MEDS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS! There isn't a single prescription medication on the market that doesn't have side effects. But rest assured, the way it is being prescribed to you... shouldn't even give you a hiccup. I really was afraid at first. But I was on a high dose and for different reasons. Back then it was also used as a mood stabilizer. I was on 100mg. Today, I am taking it for nerve damage and the "soothing" effect it also has. It is working for me and I am not experiencing any adverse side effects. The fact that you are taking this at night is also helpful. When you take it... it is helpful that within an hour or so that you don't watch TV or do computer stuff or read. That is what I have found to be helpful to me. If I take it too early and proceed through the night doing what I normally do... I get a headache and dizzy. That did happen once and only once when I went from 10mg - 20mg then up to 25mg. That first night at 25mg I took it took early because the other doses were already making me tired into the next day. (I am on sleep aids as well which have since been adjusted.) So, that was my only problem... take it just before bed and then let yourself relax and unwind. The "eye" movement bothered me that is why I am saying don't read or watch TV or do computer stuff where your "eyes" are busy moving... that can add to the dizziness.
I hope this works for you. I hope you will let us know how you are doing along the way, okay?
Mary
Inactive
23 July 2012
Amitriptyline is a head med, a tricyclic type and has many off label uses since it's been around so long. I personally haven't heard of it being used for dizziness, have for migraines, and if you take it at night, you shouldn't experience much in the way of s/e. It takes a while for your blood levels of this med to reach therapeutic one.
Peace,
Sweet Hippie
Related topics
migraine, amitriptyline, doctor, chronic
Further information
- Amitriptyline uses and safety info
- Amitriptyline prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Amitriptyline (detailed)
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