Amitriptyline for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 2, 2018

Amitriptyline "It was the only antidepressant that worked for me way back in the 80s. They tried everything else but MAOIs. It has had no side effects for me in the past 35 years. BUT, in the 90s, a doctor (an MD) wanted to see if the newer SSRIs would work also so I said OK. Well, about 3 weeks into this venture, I got a headache so bad that I called her and said I can't live with this pain. Needless to say, she immediately got me back on Elavil. Don't try going off this medicine because it has a very bad side effect. That is OK for me though. I'm now 79 and figure I will always take it. Told my doctor if I ever go into a coma, please always give me this medicine until I die! I do take the generic now because of the price, and it works just as well."

• Jor...
• May 30, 2018

"I have taken amitriptyline in 2012 for 6 months and now again in 2018. For depression, it really is the best medication for me. I had moderate success with Effexor and fluoxetine, but the side effects, like night sweats, were a pain, and I always felt a bit numb emotionally. Amitriptyline makes me feel human again, and apart from a dry mouth and morning grogginess, it doesn’t have any side effects. I think it’s a shame that doctors are reluctant to prescribe this medication for depression, as it really is very effective."

• mam...
• May 24, 2018

"Experience is the best teacher, my journey with amitriptyline started last year. I was sick for a very long time with no single day of relief, antibiotics and antimalarials with no result. From the area I come from, people will term this unresolved issue spiritual. I went from church to churches, still no result until I went for a proper medical check-up when all test results came out negative. I was prescribed amitriptyline in December 2016, and this drug happened to be a lifesaver. I increased the dose from 25 mg to as high as 125 mg, at this point, I felt very good with myself, my life was blissful. After some time, my doc started to help me taper off it. I gradually tapered off the same way I increased using it. All was fine all the way I stopped using Endep the last week of last month. Right now, I'm in the depression stage. I am using 50 mg, but still no improvement. I sleep but wake up at intervals. Will increasing it help? This drug has really worked for me."

• Ant...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 18, 2018

"I was prescribed Elavil after 3 years of terror with SSRIs and SNRIs. I have to say that it helped me tremendously with sleeping, energy, and headaches. I suffer from anxiety/depression. It helped with anxiety a lot. I threw away the clonazepam after 2 weeks. However, for my bad luck, it didn’t give me the remission — my old self. I was disconnected for three years and a half. I was like circled, not living the daily routine. If I would feel my old self, I wouldn’t mind the dry mouth and weight gain. Anyway, I tapered it off, and after 4 months, I crashed. I tried Fetzima and Cymbalta without results. Now my doctor wants to put me back on Elavil, and I’m crying all day because I know it will help me with most of the symptoms except for not feeling my old self — just flat all day. I can’t imagine my life feeling disconnected from my children. What should I do?"

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2018

Amitriptyline "This helped me tremendously in a matter of a few weeks. I was so hopeless that nothing would work and that I would never be myself again. I’m so thankful for this medicine. It changed my life."

• See...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2018

Amitriptyline "I've been on probably every SSRI except Prozac, which all had short-lived outcomes. Finally, after 20 years, I've been put on an SNRI, and it's working. Started on 10 mg Endep for appetite, which didn't work, and given Valium for the shakes and tears. Valium stopped working in less than 2 weeks, so I stopped taking it, and the psych increased the dosage of Endep to 25 mg, and I'm actually feeling good. After 6 months of awfulness, this might be my answer. Sleeping well, lots of energy, memory and concentration are better, and no more teeth grinding. No real side effects except for the first day I started on the 10 mg, I copped a bad headache, but that was it."

• Pat...
• March 15, 2018

Amitriptyline "I dropped 50 mg of Endep cold turkey over 3 years ago. I ended up with 24/7 migraines for a month, collapsed, and was taken to the hospital, and unfortunately, the doctor started me back on Endep. He said they were good for headaches. Left the hospital on a small dose and started having panic attacks all day, every day, collapsed, and was put back in the hospital. They increased my dose of Endep. I am now trying to get off it again as it is not working, I am decreasing the Endep by 5 mg a week."

• gin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 4, 2018

"I took Elavil for a year and a half. It worked wonderfully well for me, I thought I was cured of my depression and weaned myself off. A few months later, I could feel it creeping back, so I'm in the process of getting back on it. I did gain some weight, went from 130 lb to 176 lb, but I don't care, I'm so desperate to feel good again. I'll be fat, but I'll be happy."

• mag...
• February 28, 2018

"I was prescribed this drug for migraine prevention, and when I took the first dose of 10 mg, I could not wake up the next day and then stopped. But I did notice for about 5 days after that my mood was better. I was having all these undiagnosed health problems, and doctors thought I was having silent migraines, but now, I do believe I was battling depression. I did have a few bouts of depression over a 20-year period and was taking Zoloft, and that helped, but this time I did not feel like the last time when I was depressed, as I did not have the 'classic' depression symptoms. I am also going through menopause, and I believe this is what is causing my depression. I cut the pills in half and started with 5 mg until I got used to the effect, and then upped them to 10 mg after a week, and I feel great. After 6 months, I feel like myself again. It has only been 2 weeks, but I am hoping that this is the answer."

• Bab...
• February 23, 2018

"I normally don't write reviews, and it's been over 3 years since I had a depressive episode, but I wanted to post something to let people know that there is always hope. I had a major depressive episode and couldn't sleep. I tried SSRIs and other antidepressants that either didn't work or caused side effects too great to tolerate. I was prescribed amitriptyline, and I went back to my old self. I did have side effects such as weight gain and increased heart rate, but these calmed down after a few months so worth waiting it out. My sleep returned first, and it was restful and refreshing. Then my mood improved along with the anxiety. I was at a desperation point by the time I went onto amitriptyline, and I remember googling forums like this to help me maintain hope. The sad thing about depression is that it takes away the hope that you'll ever get better or lead a 'normal' life again. I wanted to post this because I did get better, I returned to work, and I resumed my life as it was before."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2018

"Since being on this for nerve pain, I have not had to go on my antidepressants, and my mood has evened out too. Not sure, but I definitely think it works for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 20, 2018

"Was prescribed for bipolar depression. At first, it helped with insomnia (and relieved constipation!), which was a godsend, but faded after a few weeks. After 1 month, I had crippling fatigue, and it seriously jacked my heart rate up, so lowered from 75 to 50 mg. Spent another month developing akathisia before finally ditching it. I’m sure it’s great for some, but my body hated it. Not to mention it did squat for my mood."

• Mol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2017

"This drug has changed my life. I wish it hadn't taken going through 7-8 medications and 2 years of feeling like a test subject, but I finally found the one! Doctors tend to use SSRIs for the first line of defense against anxiety and depression (also insomnia). I tried Lexapro, Hydroxyzine, Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Zoloft (again), and a variety of over-the-counter supplements. I also did yoga, CrossFit, all the natural cures to mental instability. The SSRIs helped significantly but resulted in bad side effects such as sexual, feeling like a robot, and wearing off over time. After a few meltdowns, 3 doctors, and 2 years, I tried amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant). Now, I feel fantastic - happy, sleeping well, anxiety-free."

• bpm...
• August 17, 2017

"I have taken many SSRIs, none were all that great. Fluvoxamine helped my OCD some. So my prescribing psychologist put me on amitriptyline. It really works for me. Helps me sleep some, and I'm not having the chronic depression and low mood. Sometimes the oldies are the best."

• cw2...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 28, 2017

"Most effective antidepressant. Works way better than SSRI and Effexor."

• Mig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2017

Amitriptyline "I was prescribed Elavil for depression and migraine prevention. After taking only two 10 mg doses of Elavil, I had a severe manic episode. (Note: I am not bipolar.) I was shaking, pacing, unable to sleep, talking a mile a minute but making no sense, full of anxiety and rage, unable to eat or keep anything down and in a total panic. My husband took me to the ER when my heart rate went through the roof and I became short of breath. The hospital kept me overnight on a heart monitor and gave me sedatives to calm me down. My doctor wants me to try another medication, but I am terrified at the prospect. Honestly, I'd rather be depressed and have migraines than try another antidepressant. One bad experience was ENOUGH."

• Baf...
• December 4, 2016

"I used to read these reviews all the time while trying to figure out a med that would work for me. I promised myself I would write a review if I ever found one that was working for me. I have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant clinical depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. I have been hospitalized twice in the past two years. It has made my life a living hell. After 15 ECT treatments and 150 mg of amitriptyline, I am finally doing much better. My point in writing this is, please don't ever give up!"

• Ran...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 21, 2016

"Been on the drug for 45 years. I have tried several other ones but had no relief. I hate the cholinergic side effects, dry mouth, rapid heart rate, dry eyes, and constipation. Every time I try to progressively wean off, I get sick as a dog. Still, this drug has probably saved my life."

• ail...
• August 18, 2016

"I'm a 58-year-old male. I've had depression problems for most of my life. I have a normal home life and am a fairly normal person. I've had doctors give me probably 100s of different meds to combat depression. I have educated myself on how to deal with the symptoms. Every doctor I have seen for this always told me that I just need to find the right medication and they were right. It's taken years but amitriptyline has changed my life. I'm amazed the difference it has made. My thinking is clear and my mood stable. I believe if I had this medication early in my life many things would be different. Finding the right med is everything. Good luck."

• Mat...
• August 15, 2016

"When I was about 15, I started getting these feelings of what I can only explain as 'An Impending Doom.' I wasn't sad, but whenever I tried to do something that I thought was fun, my whole brain started to freak out, and all I wanted to do was shut down. There was nothing I could do about it. Apparently, this sort of thing happened to most of the people in my family and on my mother's side. So, I talked to my doctor, and he said it sounded like a chemical imbalance, seeing as I wasn't sad about anything and I was healthy, so he asked me to try Amitriptyline. Once I started it, all of my symptoms basically vanished, and after 2 years, I've fully adjusted to its effects on my body."

• Abd...
• August 5, 2016

Amitriptyline "I have been using Endep for 14 years for my depression. It has been very effective for me. I take 100 mg every night. I feel very good and sleep very well. My mind is clear, I am not sad, just relaxed. Thank you."

• 5ca...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 20, 2016

"I've been on 300 mg of Effexor for depression and anxiety for years. Last year, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My rheumatologist gave me amitriptyline because I couldn't sleep. Wow!! What a difference. I can sleep. I'm upbeat. I feel great. I am one of the few who has hallucinations - only at night, only when I wake up not long after I've fallen asleep. Usually, I see bugs - bees, spiders, etc. They are always black because it's dark in the room. Once, I saw white feathers coming from the air conditioner. They usually stop as soon as I become coherent. It was scary at first, but now I'm more conscious of it, so I usually just fall back to sleep. It's worth it to have my fibro and depression under control."

• lad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2016

Amitriptyline "I am a mother of 3 kids, 33, and have anxiety/depression. I was on Effexor 150 mg. This should be illegal! It didn't work and if a dose was missed, it felt like a few hours of a drug 'rush' like speed or cocaine... intense night sweats, highly addictive. AVOID! Celexa had bad sexual side effects. Zoloft is a 'robot drug'. I am getting back to Elavil 10 mg. Elavil is great, I feel happy on it. It makes me enjoy life and the little things again. I don't need to take much for it to work and I have no side effects at all on a 10 mg daily dose. I felt sleepy for two weeks when I started but it resorbs and you can then feel its full beneficial effects quickly, general mood elevation, and good feeling. Anxiety is under control on it and I sleep better."

• poe...
• May 23, 2016

Amitriptyline "I have only been on this drug for two weeks, and as yet, I have not noticed any difference with my depression. My anxiety levels are up, I have swooshing, buzzing noises in my ears. I even feel dizzy while seated and even just turning my head from side to side. I have noticed tingling in my fingers. My balance is affected, feeling like a drunk person. My head throbs."

• Tin...
• March 2, 2016

"Drug worked like a miracle on anxiety and depression - but it made my ears ring and caused hearing loss. Now more depressed than ever. 75 mg for 6 days, and ear went numb. Nightmare scenario, and I'm living it."