Amitriptyline for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 4)

• 5mg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2024

"I have been an extremely light sleeper since having children 30+ years ago. This developed from the odd night waking up and struggling to sleep to more often than not struggling to get back to sleep. I usually got to sleep but would wake up at least three times and then lie awake from 3 am. I have a hectic job and was fed up feeling tired and grumpy. The menopause made things even worse. A colleague of mine was prescribed Amitriptyline. I literally rang my doctor and told him that I had done my research and wanted it. He duly prescribed me 10 mg on a month’s trial. I felt drowsy the next day but did sleep well. I am a small person, just over 8 stone. I don’t know if weight comes into it but I decided to cut my tablets in half. This works for me. I have no trouble getting up and no dry mouth. I’ve been on them six weeks now and my anxiety around going to bed because of my night time wakefulness has gone. I still wake up for a wee but I go back to sleep."

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2017

"I took Trazodone for depression and insomnia. Stopped taking it because my weight would not go down, and I was always depressed and 'out of it.' Started taking amitriptyline, I feel full of energy and not depressed. I also sleep better. I have lost 10 pounds since I started taking it 2 weeks ago. Everyone is different, so please consult your doctor or pharmacist. I take 25 mg at night."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 27, 2016

"My sleep cycle got disrupted due to stress. Was not happy with Ambien or Lunesta, I felt like both knocked me out and I would not know if the house was burning down. Take 30 mg of Elavil. Now I just sleep like a regular person. I can wake up, take a leak, go back to bed, sleep away. I regularly sleep 8 to 10 hours with this, which I never had previously in my lifetime. I do get super sticky tongue due to the dry mouth. However, that is a small price to pay to sleep. I am extremely happy with the medicine. I have been to Europe twice from the West Coast with the least amount of jet lag ever. I actually slept on the plane! Works for me."

• fin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 26, 2018

"Yes, it was wonderful for insomnia while I was taking the medication (5 years). I had a good night's sleep every night. Because of side effects, I came off the medication a year and a half ago, it was the hardest thing I've ever done-horrible. Now my sleeping cycle seems permanently damaged, I can usually fall asleep okay, but struggle to stay asleep. Usually have 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Think very carefully about starting this medication, I do not recommend it."

• Mr ...
• March 21, 2014

Amitriptyline "I took Endep 25 for headaches. I felt drowsy even the next day, so I went to Endep 10. I need to take it about 2 hours before sleep. Side effect - ear noise, which has been going on for over 1 week now after 1 tablet. I'm going to stop it for a while due to the side effect."

• Anonymous
• June 12, 2017

"I was prescribed 20 mg per night for insomnia, anxiety, and panic attacks. After taking it for only a few days, I felt 100% better. I'm sleeping so much better, no anxiety, and no more panic attacks. I have a lot more energy as I'm sleeping now and feel altogether much healthier. I love it."

• mss...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 24, 2016

"To me, amitriptyline is a miracle. For me, I would not sleep after detoxing off tramadol and loratabs and menopause. The first pill was 50 mg, worked fine. Then after a year, I went on 100 mg. It is a calming drug, and I don't have anxiety. I go sometimes without, but after 3 days, I'm back not sleeping. Take one pill and I'm like a normal person, so calm."

• SAm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2018

Amitriptyline "The worst pill I've ever taken for insomnia. I got prescribed Elavil 25 mg to take before bed. I took the first tab, and it made me very sleepy and dizzy, but I could not fall asleep. I was in a state between sleep and awake. Very dry mouth, very restless, and the second morning I felt that I could not move. It also caused me headaches. Will be throwing the rest in the garbage. Terrible drug."

• LM7...
• December 26, 2020

"Had extremely daily morning fatigue episodes over the last 9 years that will not improve without rest. I think it was due to a misaligned circadian rhythm. My fatigue would start from the transition of sleep to wakefulness straight after opening my eyes. Nothing worked to relieve the malaise and fatigue I was getting, and all due to my shift working patterns years before all started. Tried sleep pattern adjustment, melatonin, bright lights to no avail, until recently my doctor prescribed 10 mg amitriptyline to take before bed. From day 4, I started to feel my morning fatigue improved. I am on tablet 17, and I can attest that I have never felt as good as I feel in the last 9 years. I understand this drug is normally used for depression, but now is used more widely as off-label for many other disorders. I never thought this would give me such a great quality of sleep. I never write in forums, but I think anyone with circadian disorders like mine should speak to their doctor and perhaps give it a try."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2011

"I have been on this for 6 weeks. The first 4 weeks 25mgs at night and now the next two weeks 50 mgs at night. I have multiple herniated and torn discs from an accident and could not sleep. I have tried many other sleeping aids (Ambien, etc.) and none of them are even close. This medicine is amazing. I sleep through the night now (6-9 hrs) amazing. Once in a while a little groggy in the morning for about 20 minutes but that's it. Unbelievable. In a league of its own for sleep."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 9, 2024

"I've been dealing with sleep problems for a long time. I've tried a lot of things that brought help but usually only lasted a short time. I finally decided to get a prescription of amitriptyline and tried it. I found that 25-50mg consistently brought great sleep. I didn't quite like the 'drag' I woke up with, so I tried other options. I took it off and on during the worst times due to concerns over side effects. However, I've now decided to use it for getting and staying asleep because when I can't sleep, I have lots of problems worse than the side effects of amitriptyline. I will mention that melatonin in higher doses (10-40) has helped but hasn't been as consistent as amitriptyline. My doctor suggested I try finding something else due to the information about heart arrhythmia that can occur. This led me to try melatonin, but I was also adding more supplements, as well as THC, vagal tone improvement, and probiotics. Amitriptyline was the only thing that came close to working. After 2 months, I'm back on amitriptyline and wow, I feel better."

• hun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2024

"Really helps with sleep. A little trouble with dry mouth and constipation. I trust my primary care physician 100%. This medication has helped and is not habit-forming. I have nothing to say but good things. It is so great, and my doctor counseled me all about how to get the best rest along with prescribing this wonderful medication. It makes you unable to keep your eyes open and turns your brain off from thinking random thoughts that were keeping you awake."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 22, 2018

"It is important to know that research shows that even very low doses of amitriptyline increase the risk of dementia/Alzheimer’s when taken for an extended period. See: Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia, JAMA Intern Med."

• sjk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2021

"Starting on amitriptyline was a godsend. It helped me with my sleep tremendously. Before I started this, I used to wake up every 2 hours with bad nightmares, and now I'm able to sleep through the night. I'm very thankful for this drug."

• Bou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

"Previously, I had been using Ambien with a good result, but it is not good for long-term use and, worse, it became unavailable in my country! I can't sleep without help and eventually tried amitriptyline. It helps a lot, and for me, the effects the next day are manageable. Unlike benzos, you don't get the jitters when they wear off."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2018

"Between the ages of 15-38, I struggled with severe insomnia. 23 long years. I had seen sleep specialists for sleep studies, I took a scary cocktail of sleep aids nightly, I tried meditation, hypnosis... I tried pretty much anything doctors could think of. I was desperate. For some reason, no one thought to have me try Elavil. It was actually a lung specialist who suggested it. He started me on 50 mg, and it helped a little. So we increased it to 100 mg, and I am now sleeping somewhat like a normal person! In October of 2018, it will be 2 years that I've actually been sleeping. I don't need sleep aids anymore, and I didn't think that was possible. My life has improved because of this medication. I'm active, and I wake up actually feeling like I got restful sleep. Unfortunately, I did gain weight from taking Elavil, but I just try to be more cautious about what and when I eat. I will deal with a little weight gain if it's in exchange for good, restful sleep!"

• wil...
• June 28, 2015

"For years I couldn't sleep properly, I could get to sleep most nights but woke every 2-3 hours or to any slight noise. It all caught up with me, and I was an anxious, sleep-deprived freak who was on Prozac. I went to a new doctor about constant migraines, and he started me on amitriptyline 75 mg. The first few days I felt so weird, but after a week or so, it kicked in. My migraines stopped, my anxiety was so much better, and a strange side effect was that I could finally sleep through a whole night! I am so grateful this drug is around, I am no longer a sleep-deprived freak :D good for my depression too, mixed with 40 mg Prozac. Yay Endep."

• car...
• October 13, 2016

"I had horrible insomnia for about a year and tried a number of pills, but none of them seemed to work. My doctor prescribed me 25 mg amitriptyline, but it took about 3-4 weeks to actually kick in. I take it about an hour or two before bed, and it has helped me fall asleep and stay asleep. It's important to try and get 8 hours of sleep on it though, because it can make you feel groggy. I'm glad that I have finally found a medicine that has regulated my sleep schedule."

• MDc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2019

"Have battled insomnia for at least 10 years on my own. I can usually fall asleep but can't stay asleep. Wake up at least 3 times a night. I caved and went to the doctor for a sleep aid. Since I also deal with fibromyalgia and am currently under a lot of stress, she prescribed 25 mg of amitriptyline. Should have known it was a bad idea. I've failed with 5 antidepressants. Had super restless sleep until 3 a.m., waking every hour and hungry. Then slept so hard, I was late to a 9 a.m. appointment. By noon, still so groggy that I shouldn't have been driving. I was also in a bad mood and depressed. Based on all of the positive reviews for this drug, I tried cutting a pill in half the next night (12.5 mg). Today, really pissy and depressed, can't get anything done. There's a warning in the literature: If amitriptyline makes you depressed or angry, stop it. I'm definitely stopping! I'll take insomnia and fibro pain any day of the week."

• Eug...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2016

"I have had sleep issues for a long time. Strong sleep medicines left me groggy and really out of it. This year, when anxiety issues caused some serious sleep problems, my doctor prescribed 25 mg of amitriptyline, and my pharmacist said to start with 10 mg the first couple of nights. It has worked well, returned me to my normal sleep patterns, and now I occasionally take 5 mg if I have had a difficult or emotion-laden day. Works very well for me."

• Ins...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 8, 2016

"I have been on 20 mg amitriptyline for some years now due to really bad insomnia. I don't really know if it works, as some nights I sleep okay and others hardly at all. However, I have never felt groggy in the morning nor had a dry mouth (unlike when I have taken zopiclone and other sleeping pills). This week, for example, has been awful. Every night, I hardly slept a wink. So, I went to the doctor yesterday, and he said to increase the dosage up to 50 mg. I took 40 mg last night and will see how that goes. Insomnia is just the worst thing ever, I really envy those people who can sleep on a washing line!"

• Bas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2019

"Dr. gave me 20 mg of amitriptyline for sleep. I also take on Zopiclone and clonazepam. Slept the first night great. Next night, wide awake on and off all night and then bad panic attacks. Upped it to 50 mg but still not sleeping. They added trazodone but still not sleeping and still getting panic attacks. Has anyone else had this issue?"

• sez...
• April 22, 2011

"I was put on 25 mg of amitriptyline because of my dependence on zopiclone (a horrible sleeping pill). It took a few weeks for the amitriptyline to kick in, but once it did, I was able to easily fall asleep, stay asleep for 8-10 hours, and wake up feeling refreshed. I am happy to say that it's been 3 months, and I haven't had to take any zopiclone, which is a big deal for me. I only take 10 mg now at night, but I actually feel like I don't even need it. I plan to completely stop it next week."

• sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2015

"I have taken over-the-counter sleep aid for 7 years, and the past year they stopped working for me. I would fall asleep but would wake up several times a night, and it would take me 2-3 hours to go back to sleep, so I asked my doctor for something better. She started me on this medicine, 25 mg a night at bedtime for sleep and pain, and I've been taking it for 2 weeks now. I sleep so well, and if I wake up, I go right back to sleep, and I wake up in the morning with no pain and feeling refreshed."

• Anonymous
• August 12, 2011

Amitriptyline "After my sister died when I was 12 years old, I had a hard time sleeping, only getting 3 hours of sleep at a time. My doctor prescribed Elavil, and it worked immediately. I can finally concentrate on tasks that I could not do before. I am taking 200 mg of Elavil."