Amitriptyline for Depression User Reviews

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 29, 2025

"I have been using Ami for almost 1 year now. Last 2023, my mother died, and I was so depressed. My doc put me on escitalopram, but it got me worse, it made me suicidal. I tried everything after that-sertraline, lithium, exercise, and some other things just to feel better, but only Ami helped me to get out of the darkness. It took me 1 year before I decided to write my own review, but for me, Ami is the best med for severe depression. I don’t care if I am going to take this forever, as long as it keeps me sane and helps me to find happiness and purpose in life."

• Eha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 30, 2025

Amitriptyline "Elavil (or amitriptyline) changed my life nearly 40 years ago. I was still in high school and was tremendously depressed. When I saw my gynecologist for my routine appointment, he prescribed them to me, kind of as an afterthought (and a pretty new treatment, this happened in the 1980s). After using for a few weeks, I was completely changed -- and a much more popular young lady. Throughout my entire life, I have always taken some form of tricyclic antidepressant (imipramine, as well as amitriptyline). It is the most life-changing drug I've ever taken. I wish you the best."

• niv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2024

"Generally pretty good! I have 3 antidepressant meds, and this is the third I've been put on. It's rather recent. Fluoxetine made no noticeable effect, risperidone more keeps me less irritable, but this genuinely helps stop my suicidal ideation. Of course, I get very tired. Common side effect. But when I take it, I generally don't feel depressed. I also have manic-like states (possible bipolar instead of depression, bipolar runs in the family too), and if it gets overwhelming, I'll take this and it'll help calm me down. I generally feel pretty blank and out of it, but it's better than crying and cutting myself."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2024

"I tried 20 milligrams a couple times per week for postmenopause and have found it great at helping depression, insomnia, and anxiety stemming from postmenopause. Also helps with morning nausea and sweating. I recommend."

• Hri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 24, 2024

"Every time I return to amitriptyline because it is the most effective antidepressant I have ever seen (my experience). Please don't be afraid to take it. Give it at least 6 weeks, must, although it works really quicker than the time."

• Ree...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2024

"Last year, I was struggling with major severe depression, then my doctor put me on amitriptyline. After one month, the depression disappeared, and everything was great. It is the best."

• Mee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2024

"I started taking these after my last breakup. I normally would have been in extreme depression, but I feel good. Relaxed and less social anxiety when I need to speak to a stranger. SSRIs and SNRIs used to help sometimes, but the sexual side effects were too much to bear when I couldn't achieve orgasm. Amitriptyline lifts my mood, lowers my anger and mood swings. Helps me focus on tasks, sleep well, hop right out of bed in the morning, and yes, a strong sex drive. I don't even use Viagra anymore. When my sex drive hits, it hits very strong. And I'm more passionate and last longer while still enjoying the sensation and I still have the ease of achieving orgasm. No side effects. I can't think of any. I feel great. I get along with people better now, I'm a better father, husband, and all-around man in general. My social skills have improved too. Less crippling irritability. I have struggled with my anger all my life and lost every job and every relationship because I was such a hothead."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2024

"I started taking it one month ago and the only side effect is dry mouth. I'm hoping that I don't gain weight."

• ami...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2024

"I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression since I was 16 years old. My first antidepressant was Paxil, which was great. It made me calmer and relieved my depression symptoms. After about 10 years, Paxil 40 mg/day started to lose its effect and anxiety symptoms slowly came back. I increased the dose to 60 mg/day and it somewhat worked, but it came with side effects like weight gain and feeling tired all the time. So, I tried sertraline, fluoxetine, and desvenlafaxine, but none of them worked well for me even at the maximum dose. Then, my doctor prescribed me escitalopram, which worked great, but I still felt the need to use alprazolam 0.5 mg per day to control my anxiety. In order to stop taking alprazolam, my doctor prescribed me escitalopram 20 mg per day + amitriptyline 75 mg per day, and these medications worked very well for me. My anxiety is now under control and I'm feeling good. Amitriptyline is still a good medication till this day."

• Jen...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 20, 2023

Amitriptyline "It worked great for my depression and helped me sleep, but the effect is now not as strong as it was. While it lasted 15 years, it was amazing, a miracle! Now I'm on Prozac and my panic attacks are crazy. I think I will go back to Elavil!"

• Lam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 7, 2023

"I have taken it that long. I feel sure that I am getting adverse effects. I take a small dose in the morning, and it calms me down, but for the past year, when the sedative side of the pill wears off, I get terrible feelings of fear, and the anxiety kicks in. Does anyone else have this scary feeling? It is a feeling of doom and gloom, it is a very frightening thing."

• edw...
• March 9, 2023

Amitriptyline "I have been diagnosed with depression since college. Since then, I have tried every antidepressant and had no luck. My doctor put me on Elavil, and boom, depression is gone, though I have IBS-C big time. Tried to taper down from 100 mg, and got down to 60 mg, but am still constipated. It's a nightmare. I am now taking Linzess, Motegrity, Miralax, and coconut oil, which helps a little bit. Has anybody else had the same problems?"

• D88...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2023

"I took this for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I changed over from mirtazapine as I didn’t want weight gain. I’d rate it 8/10 for what it did for my mood, it lifted me out of hell within a week. Took between 10-30 mg. However, it had too many awful side effects, so I stopped after 5 weeks. I experienced a faster heart rate and getting out of breath, chest pain, insomnia (I either could not sleep at all, woke every hour, or would sometimes wake with my brain feeling like it was fizzing), significant impact on my libido, which also caused my vagina to go dry (resulting in painful sex and sores), some occasional emotional blunting, and dry mouth. I also constantly bit my nails as it was so stimulating for me. Horrible withdrawal is still ongoing 5 days after stopping, I still have insomnia (even though I’ve started mirtazapine), and I have body aches and a headache. I’ve never had withdrawals from any medication in my life."

• Mah...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 23, 2023

Amitriptyline "I was diagnosed with major depression in the early 1990s, and my MD put me on Elavil (amitriptyline). It worked great, although I put on quite a bit of weight. Over the years, I've been on virtually every other class of depression medication, as well as ECT, and none of them worked as well as Elavil. I take it for depression and anxiety, and it's amazing. It is an old, old drug, with lots of side effects, but it has pulled me back from the precipice every time. I currently take 150 mg at night, which is the max dose for outpatient treatment. I have an Rx for clonazepam for breakthrough anxiety and feel pretty good."

• S77...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2023

"Since 2005, I suffered a long battle with Raynaud’s disease and severe depression. I have been hospitalized many times for both ailments. This medication took all my pain away and gave me clear thinking. I was taking Cymbalta, which is horrible to wean off from and seemed to make me more agitated. Amitriptyline has made me feel normal again. Right now, I’m taking 25 mg at night, but I may have to increase it to 50 mg. I don’t know why or how it works, but it does."

• miz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2022

"I'm 18 and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety two years ago. I never thought I'd try medication for my depression, but I had gone to a doctor about my migraines and eye aches. They prescribed me amitriptyline 10 mg, which happened to also be an antidepressant. I could easily pick it up from the pharmacy for $10 for 90 pills. I've been on it for more than a month and have noticed my feeling of sadness is much better, as well as a decrease in my impulsive thoughts. Plus, my headaches are basically gone (except when I went off my meds for 5 days, LOL). Don't feel like I'm gaining weight from this, by the way, but I do have an increased appetite, as I'd never feel happy enough to eat. :) I would definitely recommend it!"

• Xal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 19, 2022

"Spent 4 years on it, it was prescribed first as a sleeping pill at 10 mg, and it should have stayed like that. But instead, my psychiatrist refused to put me back on Paroxetine, and we increased the dose to 150 mg (over multiple months). I gained a lot of weight, was extremely tired, driving was dangerous, and heart rate was really high. Even if it relieved my anxiety, the drug was not efficient enough and had too many side effects. It was not the drug for me."

• dmg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2022

"My depression/anxiety lasted almost a whole year, and I truly thought I was never going to feel better. Initially, my psychiatrist tried increasing Cymbalta (my medicine at the time), which only made me more anxious. I tried several different antidepressants, including Prozac, Wellbutrin, Clonidine, and Buspar before being put on Amitriptyline. Make sure you stay on Amitriptyline for 6 weeks before trying something else because that is how long it took for me to feel myself again. I am also on secondary antidepressants Seroquel and Trintellix. Initially, I was put on 100 mg of Amitriptyline, but I found that dosage actually increased my depression. My psychiatrist finally agreed to lower the dosage to 75 mg, which worked perfectly. It also helped my insomnia. I never thought I was going to get better and felt so hopeless. I was even ready to try ECT, but now I don’t need to. The only negative side effects are constipation and dry mouth."

• Mag...
• July 6, 2022

"I do not usually leave reviews but felt I had to share my experience. Firstly, I was on amitriptyline 25 mg once a day before bed for depression and anxiety. After 3 weeks, my life came back. I was laughing and, most importantly, living again. No side effects. I have just successfully come off this medication by tapering 2 weeks on 10 mg and 1 week on 5 mg, no withdrawal problems, just a very pleasant surprise that I am feeling wonderful, sleep great, have bundles of energy, and I am so positive. I was really bad with depression, could not talk, could not eat, wanted to end my life. Amitriptyline is a very old medication, very therapeutic, and most importantly, very few side effects. I wanted to share this with others, I am proudly standing tall. So anyone out there, please try this medication if your doctor will prescribe it. It will help you, and it will help you to be you again. I hope this review will help, and I wish to send all my love and strength to all sufferers of depression and anxiety."

• STA...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 11, 2022

"Why don't they start 'cocktails' with Elavil? Over the last 10-15 years (of misdiagnosed 'anxiety' when really I had Graves' disease), only Ativan or Xanax helped. Yes, I still take Xanax, but no SSRI had helped at all (severe reactions to those, probably due to my hyperthyroidism, but one SSRI pill would land me in the ER); I went through the laundry list of stupid 'tricyclics' (Remeron, which was okay for 25 days, then my usual easy-going self got enraged for no reason, so my doc pulled me off that: I'm not an 'angry person'; trazodone). After I got my thyroid diagnosed, I still had panic attacks and needed Xanax, but the doc said he had to put me on something else. I expected a failure, but said I'd 'heard of' Elavil and could I try it. It's been a few years now, I take 25 mg/night, knocks me out but not 'hard' (I get good sleep), and I feel like 'me' again. START with this one! It's GREAT!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 9, 2022

"Please don't be afraid to take amitriptyline. It has taken control of my major depression disorder and helps me sleep, as it relaxes the uncomfortable, painful symptoms of my daily major depression disorder. Amitriptyline is for anyone that suffers from daily serious major depression disorder and anxiety disorder, and everyone please don't be afraid of amitriptyline daily. I've taken it for at least the last 10 years, and I get full relief from my daily serious major depression disorder from amitriptyline 150 mg once daily. I feel blessed, and I'm happier with my life day to day than ever. Thank you, amitriptyline, for making me have a happy life every day."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2022

"Well, I have only taken it for 2 nights as of today. The first night, I took around 50 mg, and I felt like I couldn’t get up for most of the day and was dizzy, so I halved my dose again for tonight. I have to say I’m a little scared of this medicine, but I have read some good reviews on this page, so I am going to keep taking it and see if some of the side effects let up. I was also pretty moody and feeling angry for the day, so I hope all this passes, from what I read, it will hopefully. I will post again in another week and tell my results, hopefully, they are good because I have tried everything for my depression and lack of motivation."

• Mir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2022

"Am on amitriptyline for 10 years and now am on 100 mg. I am 30 years old, have weight gain, tiredness, some nightmares, vivid dreams, but apart from all side effects, amitriptyline is a very effective antidepressant and good for other mental illnesses. I have tried other meds for depression, but they don't work for me. Give this drug a chance, be patient, and it will amaze you. God bless you all, viewers."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2022

"Amitriptyline 150 MG once daily every night when he goes to bed is a lifesaver and helps him with his daily chronic depression disorder and daily chronic anxiety disorder. He takes it with his anxiety medication Buspirone 10 MG three times in the morning, afternoon, and night, and he gets the complete total daily protection with both medications every day. They really help a lot and say goodbye to his daily depression and daily anxiety, and if it weren't for Amitriptyline and Buspirone, it would be really difficult to get through his days, especially with this crazy COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic crisis this world has been going through 24/7 for nearly 2 years already. I think COVID-19 is going to be the daily normal thing that everyone is going to have to face day to day for the rest of their life every day and pray that this COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic crisis would go away for life and forever!!!"

• abd...
• November 11, 2021

"I'm taking this medication for 1.5 months, no side effects except dry mouth sometimes. Literally, it's a great med, it gave me the hope again to get in full remission. My power increased, obviously, my mood is much better. It literally saved my life, just give it enough time."