Amitriptyline for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 3)

• sak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2019

"I'm underweight and sensitive to meds. So, a neurologist prescribed 5 mg for multiple ailments including insomnia, anxiety, neck and back pain, hormonal headaches, and now newly diagnosed with primary cough headaches. I've only been on it for a week now. I feel like the combo with Klonopin will help me to fall asleep, but I toss and turn with restless dreams all night. It hasn't worked at all for my headaches. I seem to have increased energy during the day, but started becoming angry and irritable around my family. Not sure how long I will give this drug a chance. (Still better than any SSRI that I ever tried)"

• Gem...
• October 30, 2018

"I've been a severe insomniac since I was about 11, being awake for days and then barely sleeping when I could sleep. Severe night terrors and PTSD didn't help matters. Diagnosed with PTSD, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, acid reflux disease, and hiatal hernia when I was 21; I personally believe it's due to the fact that I spent 10 years getting zero to maybe 2 or 3 hours of restless sleep a night. I started Amitriptyline at 21 and have been taking it almost every night since; I'm 37. This med saved my life. I would be up for so long that I would start hallucinating and would randomly pass out or fall for no apparent reason, and the pain from my illnesses was becoming uncontrollable. I still have trouble shutting down to sleep sometimes, and when the med stops working, it's a nightmare all over again, but I swear by this medication. I've tried everything and nothing has ever worked except this. The 5 plus hours a night I get now has made it WORTH IT! No side effects for me."

• Pau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 2, 2019

"Many sleepless nights due to chronic pain are solved with 50 mg amitriptyline and 100 mg slow-release tramadol. After living 30 years with a laminectomy -4 vertebrae - discectomy- 1---- 2 broken vertebrae- arthritis crept in. In the last 10 years. Bi-lateral shoulder reconstructions- bi-lateral hips & knees- replacements - and severe arthritis. I was unable to sleep 3 hours uninterrupted - subsequent- depression. Sleep apnea, combined with a CPAP machine, full face mask. 50 mg amitriptyline and 100 mg slow-release tramadol have changed my life dramatically. Now sleep 7 hours - only wake to go to the toilet - and can return to sleep for as long as necessary. The side effect is groggy for a few hours -- which soon will reduce dose. Energy has returned and motivated to a positive future -- amazing benefit after 6 months."

• Nel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2014

"I have tried many OTC sleep aids, to no avail. My doctor started me out at a 10mg dose, so my body would have time to adjust before we started increasing the dosage. I think that this was a good tactic because when I first started out on this medication, I felt zombie-like the following day. He gradually increased the dosage on weekends until a month and a half later I started taking 75mg. I get a full 8 hours sleep with my new 75mg dosage, however I was waking in the middle of the night with the smaller dosages. I'm happy with this medication, and no longer experience the post-sleep-zombification. I think however it deserves only an 8 because it takes me 6 hours after taking it to feel sleepy enough."

• Dag...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2013

"I have been on quite a few different sleep meds because of my head injury. I now have 'Alpha Wave Intrusion', so my brain won't shut down. Been this way for 16 years now. Amitriptyline is the only med that is able to get me to sleep and let me fall back to sleep if I wake up. I'm on 200mg and right now it seems to be okay. In a few months I'll probably have to adjust, but that's okay, I can deal with that. This is definitely an excellent choice for me."

• Tri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2015

"After trying many different antidepressants and sleep aids with little to no results, my doctor put me on 75mg of amitriptyline for severe postpartum depression and anxiety with insomnia. This was the miracle I needed. I sleep really well now and am back to my happy, healthy self. I have dry mouth as a side effect, but I have learned to chew gum and use Biotene at bedtime. This regimen has made that one side effect tolerable, and I don't mind it, considering what this medicine has done for me. I work out regularly and watch what I eat, so I have not experienced any weight gain."

• Les...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 10, 2019

"I have to take two 150 mg amitriptyline in order for me to sleep. And I sleep very well now. But even though I am supposed to only take one 150 mg a day, I have to take two because my body has gotten tolerant to it, and one was not working anymore. And FYI, I have been on this particular medication for 5 years now!"

• sha...
• April 6, 2015

"I stopped sleeping totally at some point in my life, and after a lot of struggle, my doctor put me on amitriptyline. I hated the thought of being on a psychotic drug, but with my body clearly denying me sleep, I had no choice. Amitriptyline felt like a miracle. My first night, I slept a deep volume of dreamless sleep. My eyes wouldn't even open. Aside from having a dry mouth and having a really irritating taste in my mouth, it was perfect. Four years down the line, I am still on amitriptyline. The 50mg dosage works well for me. I have increased dosage and reduced it over the years, but 50mg has remained my regular dose."

• Gai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 20, 2016

"I've been on 20 mg of amitriptyline at bedtime for insomnia for 6 years now. I had been on Valium after a bout with acute stress disorder, but found it highly addictive and found myself going to my shrink not for therapy, but just to get my Rx renewed. I knew then that I had to get off the Valium. My GP suggested the amitriptyline, and it is great. No side effects, and it lets me sleep, it doesn't make me sleep. It also lets me get back to sleep if I have to get up at night to use the bathroom. My doc told me to start with 10 mg and move up by 10 mg increments until I found a dose that worked but that didn't leave me hung over the next day. 10 mg worked. 30 mg put me in a fog until noon the next day. 20 mg has been perfect!"

• Dut...
• August 16, 2017

"I have been taking amitriptyline for about 9 years now. I always take 10 mg. I read there are people who take a very high dosage. In a high dosage, it does not work for insomnia but for depression. It is better to start with 10 mg. When you start taking them, you can have side effects, but these will disappear in time. When you are very busy in your head, it is possible that it won't work that night. But don't give up. I take it about 2.5 hours before going to bed. But don't use a high dosage, it won't work for your insomnia. It is an excellent painkiller as well, in a lower dosage. And with 10 mg, it is very easy to stop taking it, I did that a couple of times without any problems."

• daw...
• February 25, 2015

"Nothing I tried helped me at all. But when I went to my doctor for sleeplessness and bad headaches with migraines, I was given Amitriptyline 75mg before bed. I sleep so soundly now. This stuff was a Godsend to me."

• Fou...
• November 1, 2016

"I have a depressive disorder called dysthymia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and have been struggling with sleep/insomnia for a while. I was on zopiclone and temazepam, but could only take them 3 days at a time with a break so as not to become addicted to them, etc. After a few months of this, my doctor gave me amitriptyline, and it also boosts my antidepressant. I have a couple of pills at about 8 or so, and it's been great. I fall asleep at the right times - start yawning around 11 pm, jump into bed, and get to sleep. I wake up about 7 or 8, and I'm able to get up. It has also been great for my moods. I love it."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2019

"I've been put on 50 mg amitriptyline for my bad insomnia. I've been suffering with not sleeping for the past 7 years on and off since my 23-year-old son died and have been on different antidepressants. Last year it got really bad, actually chronic. I'm 52 and also going through menopause, which can also cause bad sleep problems. My doctor put me on zopiclone, this worked very well, but the doctor won't prescribe anymore because of the addiction side of the pill. One week ago, after I had done a lot of research about it, I asked my doctor if she could prescribe me amitriptyline, it's really honestly worked for me. I'm so, so grateful for it. I take 50 mg about 2 hours before I go up to bed. The first night I took it and went to bed way too early, it didn't work, so that's a good tip if you need this drug to help you get off to sleep. One side effect I get at the moment is a dry mouth, which I can tolerate. Hopefully, after a while, my doctor will reduce the dose and one day I won't have to take it."

• Lis...
• December 7, 2016

"I have had insomnia and chronic pain for 24 years. I've seen every specialist imaginable, and no one could seem to help me. But I was still taking sleep aids every night, sometimes doubling up on the dosage. At my worst, I was taking a handful of pills just to fall asleep, and my family worried that someday I would not wake up. I went to a lung specialist, and he prescribed Elavil. I have been on it for about 4 months now at 100 mg, and I RARELY need to take a sleep aid. I just get sleepy and go to bed, like 'normal people'. =) I also noticed a great reduction in my pain levels. So it's either the Elavil that is helping the pain directly or it's the restful sleep. Either way, I am thrilled with the medication!"

• Ano...
• July 22, 2019

"I started taking amitriptyline in my early 30s. At first, just 10 mg/night as an experiment for connective tissue pain. I told the doc, 'Don't know if it helps my pain, but I had the first solid night of sleep in my life EVER!' I've been a light sleeper since childhood. I've gradually ramped up and now take 40 mg/night. Been on this dose for over a decade. Can't sleep without it, so I expect I will be on it for life. The sleep is worth it to me. I tried to wean myself off of it once and lasted about a month, then I could not sleep AT ALL. Worse than before I started the drug. So, in that sense, it is addictive for me. For the last decade, I have also taken trazodone and a tiny dose of Klonopin or lorazepam, in addition to the amitriptyline. If I take the amitriptyline only, I feel dizzy but don't sleep solidly. So, all three are necessary for me."

• SML...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 6, 2021

"This drug has really improved my sleep. I’ve had horrible insomnia since high school, and amitriptyline helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. I feel refreshed and energized during the day. It’s definitely worth a try if you have chronic insomnia."

• CP3...
• March 9, 2013

Amitriptyline "I was put on Elavil to treat sleep deprivation and for pain relief. Took it for four days. It did not help with the pain, and it kept me up instead of putting me to sleep. For the first two days, I slept for maybe 3 hours total (slept for one hour, woke up for about an hour, fell asleep for an hour, up again, etc.), then the last two days, I went for two days straight with no sleep. Very frustrating."

• Bun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2019

"I only take a pill when I really want some sleep. I have trouble staying asleep due to my arms falling asleep at night and waking me up. It works great, I sleep much better, but the next day, I'm useless. I feel groggy for hours after I wake. I have to work, so I don't take them during the week."

• AAa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2020

"I was taking 25 mg for insomnia. It didn't work at all. I was still up until 2 or 3 a.m. every night. I was still waking up in the middle of the night about 5 or 6 times between the time I fell asleep and when I woke up at 6 a.m."

• Red...
• April 5, 2017

"Been on it since 2008 -- went through 5 days withdrawal from OxyContin and Vicodin by choice by myself in a cabin - yes, I had a prescription for both meds - I was working out of state at the time - coming home every month for my legal fix. I was messed up mentally and physically after I stopped taking meds. I also quit drinking and smoking cigarettes and weed. Doctor prescribed tramadol which took a month to kick in. I take 100 mg 2 hours before I plan to sleep & Amitriptyline HCL 100 mg. It is the best thing I ever did. I was self-medicating with alcohol because I had insomnia ever since I was a teenager and now I am 65 years old. The cons - dry mouth in the morning, no big deal - it's worth having a good night's sleep, no hangover effects for me. I recommend this medication, thank you."

• sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2019

"Didn't work except for the first night. Then back to insomnia. Also, it gave me an irregular heartbeat. I stopped taking the tablets, no irregular heartbeat. Then I went back on them and the irregular heartbeat started again. I stopped taking them."

• sle...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 15, 2016

"I slept well as a young adult, but by my mid-forties I was only sleeping about 4 hours per night, and only 2 or 3 hours if I was under stress. It finally got to where I was having a lot of anxiety, grinding my teeth at night (with a sore jaw in the morning), and even started showing symptoms of OCD. I started Elavil (brand name in Canada) 10 mg at bedtime six years ago, and it has made my life so much better. I sleep a solid 6.5 hours every night and feel great. The teeth grinding and the OCD symptoms both stopped within the first 2-3 weeks. It took a few days to start taking effect. I also had a slight tremor during that first few days only. I had a somewhat dry mouth for the first two years or so, but not at all now. 10 mg still works for me."

• aka...
• 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 I could not sleep without it. Recently it started to play up a bit. I have been taking 25 mg every other night. One night it did not work, tried 50 mg, still no response. On an odd occasion, I tried breaking it 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 the lower dose for sleeping? My GP could not answer that. He thinks higher doses should be more responsive."

• Shi...
• April 16, 2017

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

• Gib...
• September 28, 2015

"I give it an 8 or 10. The other end would be a 1/10! DO NOT take this during your waking hours. Yeesh! This was prescribed for pain related to neuropathy. I was told to take one before sleep and I would be good to go. Suffice to say, I have no idea if I hurt in my sleep because this pill is the proverbial sledgehammer. I have an odd metabolism. I take one around 4 pm and I start yawning by 9 pm and do not wake for a minimum of 12 hours. So! If you need sleep, this will do it. If you need pain relief at night, well, I suppose if you are unconscious, that works as well! Sometimes I wake with back pain from having to pee so badly. If your bladder is weak, you may have other issues."