User Reviews for Amitriptyline to treat Pain
Amitriptyline has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 222 ratings for the treatment of Pain. 72% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 14% reported a negative experience.
“Scared to death of taking it but broke tabs in half to 5mg in order to increase dose slowly. I have developed a bit of chronic tooth pain so taking it for pain. Took it at 7 pm and felt mildly sedated by 11pm. Actually didn't sleep well but I think I was on high alert for the side effects which didn't happen. A bit groggy in morning but nothing special that I can't deal with. I think the way to go is to build up if you are scared of meds like me. I wrote this to encourage others to try the medicine because I am as scared as anyone to take drugs like this. I”
“I suffered with extreme leg pain for two years only when I was lying down. I was on Panadol (No good) then Tramadol (No good) I had so many sleepless nights or nights where I had to sleep sitting up. I was fine walking around but the moment I laid down the pain started. My doctor put me on Amitriptyline 10mg and after a week of being on it I have had no pain at all and sleep all night. I have been on it for just over a year. Happy person.”
“I've been on this medicine for a week now, and its changed my life. I have been suffering with chronic nerve pain, severe depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and borderline personality disorder for a very long time. Now I am sleeping well, feeling cheery, no suicidal thoughts, anger, less pain, no anxiety, or obsessions. Its a miracle, to alleviate pretty much all of my issues and I'm only on 10-20mg at night. No side effects.”
“I have been on 50mg a night for 18yrs. I suffered nerve damage to my forehead after a head injury and would suffer from chronic headaches which were so bad I had to go to a dark room and try to sleep as no amount of pain killers would help. Eventually nerve damage was diagnosed and I was put on amitriptyline. It is a life changer for me. No more headaches and I can enjoy life again.”
Elavil (amitriptyline): “I have been on Elavil for 7 months now. I take 20mg every night for severe pain in my shoulders, arms and neck and also for depression. It's the best thing I have taken and I have tried loads of medicine but none have worked. I also couldnt sleep, but now I don't have pain. I am a lot calmer and I have never slept as good. I haven't put weight on either. It's the best tablet that I have been on.”
Elavil (amitriptyline): “I have been experiencing tremendous constant pain in my right arm and shoulder caused by Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain. I've never experienced such pain before. Not being able to sleep for 5 days a doctor recommended that I take Elavil. I've only taken it for 2 days but I did sleep almost 6 hours last night with little pain. I'm confident that this is going to save my sanity and help with the nerve pain. So far very happy.”
Frequently asked questions
Elavil (amitriptyline): “This medicine is AMAZING for pain. I have trigeminal neuralgia and I take it at night. It gives you a calm feeling and makes you not care about the pain. I just had my dose doubled and it takes a few days to get used to the medicine and/or new levels and the higher dose knocked me out for literally two days, just like when it was first prescribed. But I can't rave about it enough.”
“I started taking amitriptyline 10mg on 1st Jan 2019, initially I slept 12 hours a night had weird dreams and was groggy and a little dizzy, this passed though after a couple of months. I have now been on it 4 months and still sleeping well, it helps with pain and has helped with menopause and watery eyes too. Initially I put on about 8lbs but now I am losing it again as feel so much better and have lots of energy. My only regret is I didn’t start taking it 10 years ago. My advice persevere as you get used to it and it will help.”
“After 16 years of back pain I've had every medication and treatment possible - even holistic and NOTHING has worked. I am three weeks into taking 20mg of this and already feel blessed! Pain almost gone, head feels happier and feel positive I can get back to keeping fit at last! Amen to Amitriptyline !”
Elavil (amitriptyline): “This was prescribe to me years ago in the late 1980's for pain, insomnia and stress. It was a blessing for me being able to sleep, no more pain and stress diminished. I slowly stopped taking it after being on it for three years with no problems after that. I was going through a lot of stress in my life, deaths, empty nest, break ups, job changes, etc.”
“I have suffered with excruciating pain in my toes for 3 years almost, suicidal pain was so bad, codeine had no effect, a new Doctor put me on 10mg of Amitriptyline, wow, what a result no pain and I am sleeping and feeling much better”
Elavil (amitriptyline): “I use Elavil for fibromyalgia...it has worked wonders for my sleep issues. My overall quality of life has dramatically increased simply because I am able to get the sleep I so needed and its helping with depression/anxiety. It works better than Ambien. My dose now is only 50 mg...so glad I tried this medicine. I am very scared of antidepressants due to a horrible reaction from Cymbalta but Elavil is an older medication and its chemical makeup is different than most of the newer SSRIs. I went from sleeping on average of 4 to 5 hours a night...now I can sleep 10 without ever waking up..literally something I haven't been able to do in 5 years. This medicine is the best medicine for me, and I've tried everything out there as I have had Fibro for 8 years.”
“I have had severe pain in my stomach for the last 5-6 years. Sometimes the pain was so bad I could not even move in my own bed. I started this medication after I was told that I have a nerve disorder. I am so pleased to say I have not felt any pain in over 7 days! Not only am I not in pain but I am sleeping so much better! I can also wake up easier and I feel less stressed. This medicine is amazing and it has saved me from more years of pain!”
Endep (amitriptyline): “10mg used to provide a pain free nights sleep. I have a pinched sciatic nerve. After cortizone injection under general anesthetic I experienced cramps that disturbed my sleep. This medicine is now giving me a good nights sleep and I wake refreshed in the morning.”
“So you live in horrible pain and I was since 1988. Since 1988! 29 years of agony. Endless worthless 'specialists'. I cannot tell you this unless the 'broken neck' ( as I call it, that's how it felt). I need you to understand how it was. I would have chose cancer over this endless pain. I read about aimtrip for pain. I said let's try amitriptyline. Quietly and without fanfare, this drug came to me. My pain is completely gone. If you have endless pain, ask your doctor to give you this drug.”
“I suffered with chronic pain for about seven years. Went to many specialist who told me either nothing was wrong or I had fibromyalgia. I tried all medications out there for pain, muscle relaxers, anti-depressants and medication for epilepsy. As well as meds for fibro. Nothing helped. Finally I found a new Nerologist who put me on a combo of Amitriptyline and Prozac. I am on both the smallest doses. It has been a miracle for my pain. I wish I would have known about this 7 years ago. My biggest problem with it is weight gain like 13 pounds. My diet has not changed and I took up running. But no weight comes off. I guess I rather have less pain and be a little over weight then skinny and in tons of pain:)”
Endep (amitriptyline): “I am 37 years old I started getting headaches at 13 from what I can remember I went on day to day year after year when I was 26 I was put in hospital with all the drugs Well I was getting headaches monthly bad ones I couldn’t even handle light As the years went on I got them once every 6 months putting me in hospital Then they started coming on every couple of months then once a month all the way down to 3 a week By this stage my face was numb I couldn’t talk or walk could not have any light, losing memory about 3 months ago I went to a brilliant doctor and I couldn’t see so I needed help going there and walking to him He said to me have you heard of ENDEP I have taken my endep every night since for over 3 months now And only had two very very small headaches I’ve been given a second chance at life I’m very grateful I thank my doctor so very much”
Endep (amitriptyline): “I am taking Endep 100mgs at night for nerve pain in my lower left leg & the outer side of my right leg. The nerve pain was intolerable and I seriously was suicidal. I have been on Endep as well as Baclofen and Epilim, for 7 years & can now enjoy my life so much more. The down side is loss of libido and dry mouth, but without Endep I could not enjoy my life at all.”
Endep (amitriptyline): “My dr prescribed this as my pain from arthritis was constantly waking me up every night from day 1 it has enabled me to get a full nights sleep I will keep taking it as nothing else has worked it does not in any way interfere with daily work, a god send”
“I had exhaustion, roving pains, burning eyes, and tummy troubles for 5 months and it was starting to interfere with my daily life. We did blood work and ultrasounds but nothing showed. The Dr. decided to try Amitriptyline. The first few days I experienced dry mouth and random prickly sensations. That went away and I was left with slight constipation, and a near constant craving sensation, BUT... I am 3 weeks into it now and even though I'm not exactly back to 'normal', I do have a happier outlook, more of my playful self, and I'm kinda.. "detached" from my pain. I dream more, but sleep more soundly. I do feel it 'hit' me about half an hour after I take it but it's not enough of an effect to knock me out or anything though. Overall, I am very happy with the results so far. I take 10mg between 8 and 9 pm (any later and it's a bit too hard to wake up in the morning). I'm very happy we tried this and I'm hopeful that it will continue to improve my daily life.”
“I was prescribed this medication for insomnia and depression. I suffer from Lupus, Hashimoto's disease, fibromyalgia, CFS and C-PTSD. I"ve been on it for about four weeks. I've noticed a significant drop in pain on many days than not. I sleep a solid eight to nine hours a night. I've noticed that I'm calmer, but I'm on a very low dose of 10mg, but will requesting an increase. I also hope to drop my narcotic pain medication intake to ZERO, if this continues to work as well as it has. Getting sleep is a MAJOR issue and one that cannot be undermined when considering the elements that contribute to chronic illness of any kind. This is AMAZING. Dry mouth and night time vertigo during the first few weeks of use.”
Elavil (amitriptyline): “I started taking this medicine 4 months ago for my nerve pain in low dose of 10 mg twice a day and maybe a bit for depression. It does not help at all for the pain but it does help to fall asleep faster and for my mood.”
“I've been taking Amitriptyline for 10 years plus for severe neuropathic pain, increasing the dosage to 200mgs as the pain increased. It has really helped with the pain relief. Although I started on a relatively small dose of 25mgs, I felt totally spaced out and sedated. It took my body a few weeks to get used to taking it. I do experience constipation and a dry mouth but it's better than severe pain.”
“I can't believe that after 3 years of severe widespread neuropathic pain of unknown origin, I am sleeping 8-10 hours and have had total pain reduction from about a 8 at worst to now a 1.5 I've only been on 10 mg at night for 3 days. I hope it's not coincidence or placebo affect. A bit drowsy and a dizzy spell today. But completely worth it. I'm falling asleep faster now. My mood seems to be more calm as well. I hope to get off of oxycodone now.”
This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
Learn more about Pain
- Pain / Fever Drugs and Alcohol Interactions
- Pain Management: Types of Pain and Treatment Options
- Pain Relief
- Top 9 Things You Must Know About Naproxen
- Tramadol - Top 8 Things You Need to Know
- Understanding Opioid (Narcotic) Pain Medications
Symptoms and treatments
More about amitriptyline
- Side effects
- Drug interactions
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy or Breastfeeding
- Reviews (1,634)
- Patient tips
- Drug images
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- En español
- Drug class: tricyclic antidepressants
“I have been on Amitriptyline for only 5 days for chronic low back and leg pain that has plagued me for years, to the point of sleep and work related disruptions. I've popped a zillion pain killers and anti-inflammatories. Now taking only 10 mg of this medicine at night, no other medicines, and I feel better than I have in years, am virtually pain free and feel very energetic. I'd say it's a miracle. I wish it had been prescribed years ago.”