Amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 3)

• bar...
• September 7, 2009

Amitriptyline "I started on Elavil about 15 yrs ago for fibromyalgia. It brought me a lot of relief at first, but it stopped working for me. I still take it, but the doctor wants me to take a lesser mg. I was up to 100 mg, but now I am down to 20 mg. She said that the Elavil made my heart beat really fast. It can also make your blood sugar go up or down."

• Ver...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 8, 2023

"This drug gave me my life back. I had unexplained pain all over my body and lots of symptoms associated with nerves. I couldn't sleep at night, and I was so depressed to the point of having suicidal thoughts. After having all possible tests done, my rheumatologist put me on amitriptyline (starting with 10 mg). At first, side effects were making me feel like a zombie, so I stopped taking it (big mistake). After some time, I started it again feeling absolutely hopeless. I slowly increased my dose to 30 mg, and I no longer have sleep issues, in fact, my sleep is amazing now. Ninety percent of my fibromyalgia symptoms are gone now, and I'm virtually pain-free. The only downsides to it are your appetite increases, and you get constipation issues every now and then. This is an amazing drug, but it takes many months for it to kick in properly."

• Nik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2025

"I have been on amitriptyline for 4 years now. It did take a good couple of weeks for the side effects to go away, but this medicine has changed my life. I went from being unable to walk and sleep from pain to being virtually pain-free, having perfect nights' sleep and avoiding a flare for almost 3 years now. I tried to cut my dose from 30 mg to 10 mg, and I was in so much pain I couldn't sleep the next night. That's how I know it's working great for me. Give it a go, even if it works for your pain, it may do wonders for your sleep."

• jay...
• September 29, 2016

"I have been suffering with fibromyalgia for 6 years, officially diagnosed for two. I have IBS, RLS, insomnia, depression, and anxiety as side effects. I've been through the mill trying to find something that works to ease it. I had a winning combination of tramadol and mirtazapine taken at night, which eased the pain symptoms so I could sleep. However, it didn't help with the pain, but I could live with that. My doctor decided that I couldn't and took me off tramadol and put me on amitriptyline, and much like its name, I felt like I'd tripped. I was awake but had no control over my limbs, I could still feel the pain, the twitches. I felt like I was locked out of my brain and someone else was at the wheel. I will never take it again."

• Ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2017

"I am a 66-year-old postmenopausal female with fibromyalgia. I was given amitriptyline to treat my condition. After 6 days on this medication, I began experiencing lower abdominal cramping, and on the 7th day, started vaginal bleeding. I immediately stopped the medication, but the bleeding continued for 7 days. After researching, I found that in studies of 854 women, 2 experienced bleeding, both were over 60 years old."

• ama...
• October 19, 2009

Amitriptyline "I started on 25 mg of Elavil for 1 month and recently increased to 50 mg. The Elavil has worked well to some extent. I didn't have very many side effects, and I am hoping that it will continue to give me positive results."

• DBM...
• June 27, 2016

"I've had fibromyalgia since I was 14 years old. It was not diagnosed until I was 20. At that time, I took 3600 milligrams of ibuprofen a day and 40 mg of Prozac. After many years, I finally went to a rheumatologist who had me on Elavil 40 mg. I take that and my 40 mg of Prozac and have no fibromyalgia pain anymore. I do, however, have the side effects of fibro fog and short-term memory loss. It's very scary. I want to stop all medicine but am afraid. The Elavil acts like a prophylactic for complicated migraines for me, as well as helping me sleep. Any advice from anyone? I've been on medicine for 30 years now. Thanks."

• Jas...
• January 17, 2011

Amitriptyline "I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia, was beginning to feel like I am losing my mind. I am 29 years old and some days can barely walk, I hurt so bad. I have been on Elavil for headaches, 10 mg is all I can handle, as it knocks me out. It helps to prevent the headaches, but I hurt so bad still. Thankful to be rid of headaches, but wish the doctor would help!"

• kjg...
• May 28, 2009

Amitriptyline "This medicine did not help my fibromyalgia at all. I had doctor after doctor ask me to take it as I searched for answers and relief. I finally had to stand up for myself and refuse to take it because it has such a strong effect on me. I felt like a zombie each time I tried it. This is regardless of how small the dose was. The medicine did nothing to ease my pain or any of my other fibromyalgia symptoms."

• mal...
• September 29, 2015

"After reading some of the reviews, I just want to say that amitriptyline is not prescribed to help with the daily pain of fibromyalgia. It is used to help ease the other symptoms it can cause. If you are taking it in hopes that your daily aches and pains are going to go away, then I suggest you see a different doctor and try something else. I take Savella also, and that has helped me a great deal. But I am using amitriptyline because I suffer from tension headaches and migraines. Out of the month, I can go every day with a headache. I have not been on it long enough to give you a full review, but since I have been on it, I can say that I am sleeping much better and my headaches are getting better. I have been on it for a little more than a week."

• min...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 4, 2022

"This drug is amazing. It changed my life in days as I had fibromyalgia brought on by long-term insomnia. I started with 10 mg, and within 2 days, my inflammation had drastically reduced, I was sleeping, and had no carpal tunnel pain that I had suffered with for months. I cannot recommend this highly enough. I rarely take it now - 4 years on - but occasionally take 10 mg to break a spell of not sleeping."

• JJ8...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2015

"Used it for a month, started at 10 mg-20 mg. One of the worst drugs I have used. It left me so sedated that I couldn't wake up in the morning and wanted to sleep all day. It helped with headaches, but I couldn't concentrate, felt overly emotional, crying and angry. I found it hard to drive from lack of focus 18 hours after taking the pill. I had a deep sleep, but not a restful one, the dreams were bizarre. Dry mouth and irritable too. Not worth not having a headache to have all of these problems. I am very sensitive to medication as I don't drink, so it was not for me. Oh, and I gained three pounds in the first two weeks using it."

• epi...
• November 26, 2015

"I've used this drug two times for pain and spasming due to focal dystonia. The first time was ten years ago, and I had no response to it at all: not better, not negative. Then recently for focal dystonia and arthritis pain, and I'm happy with the results. I've been in constant creepy pain for a couple of decades, and for the first time, I have actually walked down the street a couple of times, breathing freely and comfortably in my skin. I use 100 mg with tramadol, but the Elavil is the closer. Weight gain and itching are side effects, but if you start out knowing you'll crave tubs of ice cream, you can discipline yourself, and the food cravings become manageable instead of being a toss-up between 50 lbs overweight or pain."

• Jel...
• April 27, 2020

"I have tried Cymbalta and Lyrica for fibro pain... both caused severe cognitive fog and memory loss. Gabapentin didn't help the pain. Amitriptyline worked for the pain until I started gaining more and more weight. I have scoliosis, and the weight gain was excruciating for me. So I guess I'm back to T3s every 4 hours. The only thing that seems to work for the pain and doesn't cause side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2012

"Took this for leg pain that was from an unknown cause, possibly a pinched nerve or peripheral neuropathy. It seemed to help some with pain, maybe a 30% reduction at a 25mg dose. But I was sleeping 20 hours a day, really groggy when awake, and having severe stomach pains and constipation. I stopped after 2 weeks of this. I thought it was just side effects, but my doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction."

• It ...
• November 5, 2015

"I also have fibromyalgia and stenosis, and for five years, my doctors prescribed many different medications. Finally, I have a combination that puts me to sleep, keeps me asleep (before, I'd wake up a dozen times a night) and I have no side effects. I'm taking 90 mg of Cymbalta once a day, 7.5 Norco three times a day, 10 mg Valium three times a day, and Elavil 25 mg at bedtime. I still have pain and stiffness, but I can sleep through the night. My mood has improved, and I'm better able to deal with my health issues and life situations. It took a long time to get to this point, but it was well worth the wait as I am sleeping 8-10 hours a night now, my dark circles are nearly gone, and I'm happier because I feel rested."

• Kri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 18, 2019

"I have never felt truly 'well' taking amitriptyline, but it made me feel better than being on nothing. My pain was reduced but not eliminated. However, it has not helped me reduce my brain fog, fatigue, or insomnia. I believe that amitriptyline has made all of my other fibromyalgia symptoms, excluding pain, worse. Additionally, I had many side effects associated with taking amitriptyline. Most notably, I gained nearly 40 lbs. Since the extra weight made it hard to exercise and caused me to have more pain, I asked my doctor to reduce my dosage. Now I have more pain, less weight, slightly more energy, and I am searching for a new medicine for my fibromyalgia."

• Lee...
• May 19, 2017

"I was only prescribed amitriptyline a week ago. I used it for the first time on Monday night, and my experience was horrible. I felt like I had no control over my body, it really was a trip. I felt almost paranoid because of it, and the dry mouth (which my doctor warned me about) was unpleasant. I made up my mind that I would rather go back to Xanax or lorazepam for my depression and recently diagnosed PTSD."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2022

"After trying several epileptic drugs, I ended up settling for dihydrocodeine. Months later, after several job changes, I was pretty much losing the ability to work and walk. I stopped taking that drug and went on to amitriptyline. Five weeks later, my legs have energy, I’m not falling asleep in the day, it could be a fluke, but I don’t think so. I feel alive and hopeful."

• JJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2021

Amitriptyline "Two days after taking Endep 10 mg, 50% of my pain was gone. Lasted three days, then the pain came back. Up the dose to 20 mg and pain reduced again, but legs feel twitchy and restless in the day. A weird feeling, usually happens at night. Will keep trying and see if it goes away. Next step up to 30 mg. So far, it’s better than being in constant fibromyalgia pain 24/7. It did take 4-5 days to get used to the sleep side effect. Within an hour of taking, go straight to bed and try to sleep. Able to sleep with only waking once. Does make you tired in the morning, but again it’s better than the pain. Worth a try. Good luck."

• TKN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

"I just took the first dose of 10 MG last night for Fibro (which I've had for 20 years). It's now 10 am and I can't get out of bed (I usually get up before 6 am). I have a 6-year-old and struggled to get up to get her ready this morning. There's no way I can make it to work this morning. I'm so out of it and I feel horrible. Hope the groggy sleepiness wears off soon! I cannot see me continuing to take this. I cannot speak to whether it would work for Fibro, but my experience with fibromyalgia is anything that lets you get sleep will help. This used as a sleep medication is not a good option in my opinion, it lasts much too long."

• gee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2023

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few months ago and was immediately put on this medication for fibromyalgia and for my existing IBS and depression. It works for all three, but it doesn't cure anything completely. It doesn't take long for it to work, however, if I miss a dose or two, my symptoms come back pretty quickly. My pain dulls to almost nothing, and what I'm left with is an uncomfortable feeling sometimes instead of pain. I've had trouble sleeping my whole life, and I will say that I do sleep very well after being on this medication for about 3 months now. Amitriptyline makes me feel more human again."

• Lot...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2025

"Was prescribed amitriptyline when I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and the first thing I noticed was the fatigue, but it went away after a couple of weeks, and it definitely helps with pain. I came off of it because of an interaction but went back on it a year or so later, and it has massively helped my headaches. I’m now on 25 mg."

• Tak...
• June 23, 2017

"I haven't noticed any help in pain with this medication thus far. I am taking 25 mg. The only thing I've noticed is that my sleep is actually worse. I am sleeping less and staying more tired during the day, even though I'm taking it at night. I'm really starting to think nothing is going to help my pain."

• cry...
• May 8, 2011

"I was so excited when my pain started to get better after slowly tapering up to 100 mg nightly after trying countless medications that did not help. I have been on it for 5 months now, and have gained 30 lbs even while dieting, and the past couple of weeks my pain had been coming back and I am lying restless in bed at night."