Amitriptyline for Irritable Bowel Syndrome User Reviews (Page 4)

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2024

"I am on day 2 of taking this drug and I already notice a difference. I feel so hopeful I can live a normal life again. I will forever be grateful to my gastroenterologist for prescribing me Amitriptyline. I am 37 years old and felt like my life was over. That I could never travel, go out for dinner, and barely work. Today, after 2 nights on 10mg, I feel like I'm a teenager again. Highly recommend."

• Jna...
• April 26, 2016

"Before starting this, most mornings I always felt sick to my stomach, and whenever I went out, I always had to make sure a bathroom was nearby. My doctor prescribed this to me at 5 MG a day to start, slowly, I got up to 10 MG a day, and that is what I take now. The only downside I've had with this pill is it makes me very tired, for this reason, I take it at night. We experimented with taking 10 MG one night, then 5 MG the next. It helped the tiredness, but I was willing to deal with the tiredness in exchange for less pain. I still have to stay away from foods that make me sick, and it doesn't take away all pain but has helped tremendously, and I'm very grateful for it."

• KBk...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2015

"Second medication I tried after years of issues, definitely helped, but didn't help completely, and issues have been slowly returning here and there. Works much better if I make sure to take it at the same time every day."

• Hul...
• July 30, 2018

"I've had IBS my entire life, with predominantly moderate to severe stomach pain and diarrhea. Amitriptyline has helped with the IBS symptoms a lot, especially during a major flare-up that I could not control with a restricted diet or Imodium. However, I do get side effects taking this. I took it just before bed, as instructed by the doctor, and was an absolute zombie the next day. I fell asleep on a bus! I've never done that in my entire life, and it was pretty scary feeling so out of control. So I started taking it much earlier-around 6pm - and have had no drowsiness since. There are other more subtle side effects; I feel sort of 'spaced out' most of the time, a bit out of body. I think this is the anti-depressant side (I don't have depression) kicking in, and I don't like the feeling at all. All in all, if you have severe IBS that's controlling your life, I would recommend giving this a go. If it had no side effects, I'd say it was a wonder drug!"

• Soi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 19, 2018

"I've been suffering all my life with irritable bowel syndrome. Having gone to different doctors and being prescribed everything under the sun, nothing seemed to work. Until one day, my doctor finally decided to give amitriptyline a try. Looked like my last option. 10 mg at night, as I need it, does wonders."

• bas...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2023

"I used to go to the gym every day and ended up taking supplements/fat burners for a few months. I used to eat everything and anything from the street and restaurants, and I was very careless. My first attack was in 2020 and I probably went to the restroom 10-20 times. I was on antibiotics for a month (I don't know why I was prescribed - the infection was high), which further destroyed my gut. In a span of 6 months, I lost 25 kgs and had no answer to my issue (I tried allopathy, homeopathy, psychiatric medicine, Unani, yoga). Nothing worked. I came to this thread, read about Amitriptyline and, along with a few other medications, was able to get my life back. I have regained the weight, I still have bouts very rarely, and I can eat anything again (still a bit careful here), but the fear of going out is no longer there. This medicine truly is a godsend for IBS-D. I highly recommend it, but you need to be a bit patient in seeing the magic unfold. Also, I mix it with Sboulardi when the attack is severe. I can say I am 90% back to my previous life."

• Lik...
• June 20, 2014

"I started with 2 days of bad indigestion, then nausea and frequent small movements all day: soft but tiny amounts. After a few days, I took amitriptyline, and the next day I was completely fine and had no motion all day. Downside: had a very dry mouth. Doctor said to try going back on voiceless, which I had taken some time before and was okay for 5 days, but then irritable bowel syndrome came back. So I will try amitriptyline again."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2017

"Be careful if you have IBS-C, as this can make it worse, particularly at high doses. Try and take it at a low dose if you do for anxiety, which is good for numbing in IBS in general. However, seeing as IBS-C is basically an issue with bowels not moving fast enough, you can imagine how adding a sedative essentially isn't really the best thing to add. Lol, made mine so much worse after a year. Anyways, what works for some doesn't always work for others. Good luck whatever you do :-)"

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2017

"Started taking this a few days ago, and the difference is unreal. No more pain, can eat what I want (no dairy and no gluten made no difference). I'm taking this med for nerve pain, and this added bonus is amazing."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2025

"I've been taking amitriptyline for just over 3 months, starting at 10 mg, then 20 mg, then 30 mg. I've had IBS-D for ten years, but after a stomach bug, it suddenly got much worse, with diarrhea every day alongside frequent nausea. I asked my GP if I could try amitriptyline, and they agreed, and I would say I started to notice a positive difference in bowel habit within about 4 weeks. I didn't have any side effects with 10 mg, but with each bump-up from there, I've had about a week of fatigue and a sort of drunken feeling, which has then subsided (and is worth pushing through!). I do sleep heavily now too and can easily sleep for 9 hours uninterrupted every night, but that's not such a bad thing. I no longer have diarrhea/pain/discomfort every day, don't suffer from urgency, and so my anxiety has eased up as well. I still have to be careful with trigger foods, unfortunately, but I'm definitely able to eat more variety than before! I highly recommend trying this drug if you suffer from IBS-D."

• Sno...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2018

"I had been suffering with debilitating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to the point where I was missing 1-2 days of work a week. Having gone through a colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, MRI, and CAT scan, my doctor determined I had IBS. After I changed my diet and still had horrible issues every day, I was prescribed 25 mg amitriptyline. This medicine has been a godsend to me. I can now have a life! I don’t miss work anymore due to IBS, I can eat salad again, every day if I want to, and I don’t need to worry every day about an IBS attack coming on at inopportune times. I still have nights where I need to take my Librax for acute attacks, but that’s not often. It also helps with my anxiety issues to a certain degree. Side effects for me include dry mouth/dry eyes, a bit of weight gain, and I did find there was an interaction with my thyroid medication (levothyroxine) which had to be increased."

• hay...
• October 30, 2014

"My doctor prescribed me Elavil 10mg for irritable bowel syndrome and migraines. It helped tremendously with the IBS symptoms, the migraines are still there, though not with the associated symptoms such as the vomiting, etc., but still severe head pain. A major disadvantage I found was it ruined my sleep completely. I have to actually take it in the morning, or I can't sleep. It doesn't make me tired or groggy at all when taken in the morning, although my doctor finds it strange that it ruins my sleep, therefore, that maybe isn't such a common occurrence."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2020

"I like the positive effects of the medication, but hate the weight gain that seems to come with it. Using a 1,200 calorie diet to lose the extra 15 lbs gained (for no obvious reason). Other than that, it's a good medicine for me."

• sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2022

"I have suffered with IBS diarrhea for about 13 years and nothing helped me until I came across this site and found amitriptyline was recommended for IBS. I asked my doctor, and he agreed, so I started at 10 mg and gradually increased to 30 mg, which is still a low dose for amitriptyline. I'm so much better, it's unreal. No more rushing to the toilet and avoiding going out due to being worried. I even started suffering panic attacks that ruined a holiday. I have just had a bad flare-up, so I will increase to 40 mg. Best thing I have ever done, and I combined it with the FODMAP diet. I have my life back, give it a try, no side effects either!!!"

• ras...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2023

"This review is for my daughter, who is 13 years old. She has suffered from SIBO/IBS since she was about 6 years old. It's been a nightmare. She has missed out on so much. We initially tried various prescription and over-the-counter drugs to manage her condition, but her symptoms of nausea, gas, bloating, burping, and dizziness have only gotten worse over the years. We then tried various natural treatments, with some results, but still not much better. My daughter (and myself) were feeling pretty hopeless and discouraged. Then I somehow read about amitriptyline in all my research and asked our gastroenterologist to prescribe it. These reviews on this website really strengthened my resolve to give it a try. We started on 5mg with a bit of improvement and have worked up to 10mg with more improvement. She takes it at 6 pm with no side effects. We will try to go to 20mg in small increments because I think she could benefit from some more. For us, it's been great so far!"

• lif...
• January 19, 2018

"After enduring chronic, excruciating abdominal pain for months (and taking virtually every test known to man - including, but not limited to, a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and MRI scans), my GI diagnosed IBS-D (nervous mind = nervous stomach) and prescribed amitriptyline. Within 4-5 days, the constant, unrelenting pain, bloating, discomfort, and diarrhea significantly subsided. The relief brought me to tears. (The only negative reactions included dry mouth, some weight gain, mild constipation, dizziness, and middle of the night panic attacks - however, I'm not sure if those midnight attacks were related to the medication in any way)."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2024

"I started with 10 mg, and it helped dull the symptoms after about 3 weeks. My doctor upped the dose to 20 mg after 6 weeks. One week into taking the 20 mg, nearly all symptoms of IBS are gone. I'm able to eat foods I normally would never be able to eat. I've also noticed a change in my anxiety levels and migraine occurrence. I am sleeping so well. The only side effect is slight drowsiness, which I'm hoping will balance out once I've been taking the higher dose for a longer period. This feels like a miracle drug for me, as I was in so much pain with a very restricted diet. I hope this review helps someone. You need to give it time to work and find the right dosage for you."

• Red...
• May 13, 2016

"This has worked very well for me. I still have bouts now and then, but nothing like before the medication. I take 25 mg per day. If I am having cramps and/or frequent loose stools, I'll take an additional 12.5 mg (split a 25 mg tab) during the day. I take the 25 at night, which also aids in sleep. Only negative side effect is some mild to moderate urine retention. This is in part due to also having BPH. But the goods outweigh the negatives."

• Nix...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2018

"Like many others here, I suffered IBS symptoms for years and tried many types of natural therapies and diets with minimal success. It got bad last year - severe gut pain, cramping, gas, dizziness, and more. A gastro specialist recommended this treatment following tests. Started on 5 mg morning and night and felt flat. Switched to 10 mg at night and no more symptoms!! I had my first Christmas of indulging and put on weight. Still have some bloating. Can enjoy a daily coffee and a little chocolate."

• Val...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2015

"It was both heartwarming and very frustrating reading all the posts on the amazing results that sufferers of IBS found from this medication. I suffer from a disease called chronic radiation enteritis, which is a possible late effect of having radiation to my abdominal area when I was 12 -- I am now 53. After only 2-3 days of taking the drug, I became extremely anxious, moody, and eventually, a general feeling of hopelessness settled on me that was absolutely horrible. I have taken the 30 pills as asked, but not only did it not help my gut, but made me generally miserable for the entire month. So IBS people, I am so happy for you, and pray that something will come along that will help me even half as much as the testimonials I read here."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2022

"I am 65 years old and have had IBS-D for most of my adult life. I saw many GI doctors who prescribed probiotics or heartburn medications that did nothing. I found I was able to function by controlling what I ate. As terrible as it sounds, fruits and vegetables caused symptoms, and I usually did fine with highly processed foods. However, a year and a half ago, things changed and the symptoms got so bad it did not matter what I ate. I had excruciating pain, bloating, urgency, explosive diarrhea, and feeling like I was going to pass out, and I essentially became housebound. I saw another GI doctor, had the usual tests, and everything was normal. He prescribed 10 mg of amitriptyline. Being sensitive to meds, I am presently on 5 mg. It started working on day one. I have had two flare-ups in the last four months, but no pain with it. I am still experimenting with various foods but can eat almost everything. It has changed my life and I will be forever grateful to this GI doctor."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 20, 2016

"I was on Accutane for acne. However, it caused my IBS. I was in severe pain. I tried diet changes, and that seemed to help. My doctor gave me this wonderful pill! If I take it every night, I have almost no pain. I would recommend this to anyone! The only side effect that I have is a dry mouth, but I can handle that any day!"

• Meh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2024

"I take Amitriptyline 20 mg per day for my chronic intestinal pain. I've been suffering every day for 15 years, and since I started taking Amitriptyline, it's a miracle - I no longer have pain. Thank you! It's a relief, I feel alive again. It's a miracle drug for IBS."

• Sen...
• October 18, 2018

"I started getting really sick after starting college. It got so bad that I would be sick for a day to a month. I saw a specialist who had me do blood tests, stool tests, allergy tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CAT scan, ultrasound, and a HIDA scan. She came to the conclusion that I have IBS-D. We tried several medications and came to amitriptyline. It seemed to help, but then I started getting sick 1-3 times a month. Wasn’t sure if it was working, so I stopped. The day after I ate something that really messed up my stomach, and I ended up sick for a month. My doctor had me start taking it again, but double the dose, so I went from 25 mg to 50 mg. So far, I’ve gotten sick once while taking the 50 mg. The only side effects I’ve had are dry mouth, and it makes me really tired. I think it helps my IBS, but I still need to be careful with food and stress."

• Mea...
• February 17, 2022

"Oh my gosh, miracle drug right here!! I have been taking amitriptyline for years now, and it has made all the difference. When I first started, it took about a little over a month to kick in, but it has been great! No longer having to worry about the pain, diarrhea, and discomfort. I take 10 mg before bed each night. I did gain about 30 lbs within 3 months of starting it #yikes, but it has stayed the same since. And though the weight gain wasn't too fun, the positive side effects outweigh the negative 100%. Dry mouth, fatigue, and dizziness are manageable, but pooping every 10 min isn't. So a big shout out to whoever created this drug because it is a miracle!"