Amitriptyline for Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ort...
• January 23, 2016

"I have been taking amitriptyline on and off for over three years after a serious road accident, where my pelvis was crushed and I suffered major nerve damage. It really works, but I am trying to get off it permanently because of the side effects. It helps with pain and sleep, which are my two biggest complaints, but the side effects of constipation, dry mouth, and a weight gain of 50 pounds (from 120 to 170) are really quite terrible, especially when taken in connection with other side effect-causing drugs. I would be very careful about taking this drug. It's very important to weigh the costs vs benefits. Since I was a trauma patient, I didn't have much choice in the matter, and I am still living with the consequences."

• Gon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2016

"Was given this medication after being diagnosed with herniated discs in the cervical spine. For years before, I tried all kinds of pain medication with no relief at all. Amitriptyline did what none of them did."

• THE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2016

"Used to sleep through nighttime back pain. When I wake up at night, it is easy to get back to sleep. I use 10 mg. Initially woke in the morning with headaches, but learned to take it 3 hours before bedtime and no more headaches. Sometimes slightly groggy in the morning, but short-lived. Sometimes wake up in the morning really stiff but had good sleep. Couple of stretching exercises and good to go."

• KYG...
• May 6, 2016

Amitriptyline "Have been taking for over 1 week now and after have all over fibromyalgia pain as well as night sweats, I am sleeping much better and my pain is 1/2 what it was. I was told to give it 60 days to really work but I felt better after one day."

• K8E...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2018

"The doctor prescribed this for sleep disturbances. I didn't believe it would work, but it absolutely worked! Not only that, it has helped with my hip and back pain. I just realized it had helped after reading the comments of people using it for pain. I've only been on it for a week at 25 mg. If you take it no later than 8 pm as intended, you don't really feel groggy in the morning. I've slept through the night every night without getting woken up by my pain. I've even been able to sleep on my side, something I could very rarely do before taking this. I'm absolutely blown away. I did read that something like 1 in 4 people will feel the benefits for sleep/pain. Someone suggested doing more testing, but I think it just comes down to trying it, and if it does work, keep taking it. It won't work for everybody. For the first time in a long time, I actually am looking forward to going to bed, not dreading it. And it's on the PBS in Australia, so about $6 for a pack of 50."

• Vio...
• March 12, 2016

"This can be a life-changer. I'm 22 and had gotten a concussion back in Nov. I was in bed every day for over 2 months, told to avoid ALL stimulation, lost a few lbs, hit with multiple migraines per day. My doc prescribed amitriptyline & within a few days of starting, I was easing back out of the dark and into the light (metaphorically and literally). This med gave me my life back and now I'm able to graduate on-time which was threatened then. Symptoms: a little more constipation than my usual, dry mouth, a dampened libido... they're all not bad sacrifices for me. Also, I've been aura-migraine-free since this medicine too! My aunt has been on it for almost 30 yrs and it's helped her chronic migraines as well. She's about 55 I think. Consider it!!!"

• Afr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2019

Amitriptyline "I was prescribed Endep for severe endometriosis. I was very hesitant with it being used as an anti-depressant in some cases, however, I must say it works wonderfully. I have been able to go back to work and get on with my life. I do still have outbursts occasionally, but it sure beats living on endone in agony! It is a little harder for me to get out of bed in the mornings, although I am fine once up. I sleep better and seem happier, of course with the reduced pain. I haven't lost weight drastically or had any fevers or chills as others prescribed. So far, very happy. I am 4 weeks in."

• Jul...
• February 25, 2015

"After recovering from a brain tumor and having it removed, I suffered from awful pains in my eyes. I think it was eye strain from reading and using the iPad while recovering. I was desperate for the pain to go away, trying all sorts of painkillers, sometimes taking more than I should have. Until my great doctor prescribed amitriptyline, after a few days I felt relief. I'm now pain-free and limit my time on the iPad."

• Ats...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2015

"I was prescribed this for vulvodynia after seeing 2 gynecologists with no clue what 'disease' I 'had'. My third gynecologist put me on 25mg each night, after a year of experiencing excruciatingly painful intercourse for no apparent reason. After just 2 weeks, Amitriptyline successfully took away the pain! I'm so thankful for my gyno's knowledge of this drug and her shot into the dark on prescribing me this, despite it rarely being prescribed in an OBGYN clinic!"

• Mis...
• May 29, 2011

"I'm diabetic and I've been taking amitriptyline hydrochloride for five weeks for pain from peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands. I'm amazed at how well this medication works. I'm on 30mg daily and my hands are 90% improved, and the pain in my feet has vanished for the first time in years. I do have a few of the more common side effects... vivid dreams, occasional dry mouth, and once in a while, I feel lightheaded if I stand up too quickly. I can live with all of these if I can be pain-free."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2013

Amitriptyline "I have been on 75mg of Elavil for over a year now for degenerative disc disease and 2 bad knees. It helps me sleep, but the pain is still bad even with a morphine patch and oxycodone. Maybe my case is a rare one."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2017

Amitriptyline "I was given this medication to help my daily chronic headaches. I started it a little over a month ago. Three days in, I had one of the worst headaches ever. After that, the headaches started to diminish. I now have weakness and loss of feeling in my hands, arms, legs, and feet, seizure activity, confusion, and I am sleeping all the time. I don't feel like myself, and I'm super miserable all the time. The doctor doesn't want to take me off this medication, but I cannot live life like this. I don't recommend this medication."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2015

Amitriptyline "I was prescribed this after a severe TBI and broken neck. It was supposed to help my headaches. After about a week, it turned me into a rapid cycling bipolar suicidal freak. One second I was driving singing happy, the next second I was trying to swerve in front of a semi."

• Sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2016

"I have severe pain due to a deteriorating ankle joint. I had great difficulty sleeping at night with the pain associated. I take a 25 mg tablet at bedtime and not only does it help me sleep, it stops those painful leg jerks that would make my ankle react in painful spasms. It is an absolutely wonderful drug for stopping the night pain."

• She...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 21, 2015

"This is the only medication I can take that gives me some relief from the pain I suffer in my back and leg. I have disc damage and nerve damage. I at times can be taking 75mg per night and other times only 20mg pain dependent. The only side effect I suffer is the chronic munchies the next day until I have completely flushed the drugs out of my system and a slight drowsiness. Without these, I would not get any sleep at night. These guarantee me 3 solid hours and some pain relief."

• Rev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2017

"After 12 years on T3s twice a day so I can walk with less pain following a broken back caused by a drunk driver, I am starting to see the light (not that one!). I am really noticing a big difference in pain and am even skipping T3 doses (unheard of)! I am elated, hoping the doctor will be too. I am even noticing that I am not hungry and have stopped eating regularly scheduled meals until I am. Maybe I'll drop a few pounds too! Love and light, Rev T."

• Eed...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2019

"Started taking this drug at 10 mg for neuropathic pain from cervical stenosis. Little to no effect. Increased to 45 mg. Excellent pain effect but breasts enlarged so much, super sensitive like when I was breastfeeding. Stomach bloated to the point where I had to recline to get comfortable. Pain in upper right abdomen. Stopped taking it, and within days, breasts were back to normal and stomach so much better. Will have to live with the pain as side effects too debilitating."

• Ran...
• June 19, 2016

"My experience with amitriptyline: I take 20mg in the evening, and it helps my pain tremendously. I can't take Lyrica or gabapentin due to edema side effects. My only complaint is that I can't wake up! It's causing problems with my marriage and other family relationships. It's a catch-22. Do I take a medication that allows me to function on a daily basis with my chronic pain, or live in pain to maintain family relationships? :/"

• Lul...
• October 23, 2016

"I developed a prolapsed disk during pregnancy, which caused burning and throbbing sciatica all down my right leg. I could only sleep for a maximum of two hours at night before the pain woke me up, and it was also pretty grim throughout the day. I worked my way up to 20 mg of amitriptyline (5 mg more every few days) and found that after several weeks, the pain had reduced greatly. After a few months, I tried reducing the dose to 15 mg (due to side effects of tiredness and feeling groggy in the morning), but the pain returned, so I increased the dose back to 20 mg, and the pain has gone again. This drug might not suit everyone, but for me, the benefits of this medication definitely outweigh the side effects, and I shall be continuing to take it."

• Jun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2018

"I had weight loss surgery, and a few months after, my spinal problems went from semi to disastrous. My herniated disks started to degenerate. I have 5 degenerated disks currently, 2 fused and 2 herniated to bulging. I have nerve pain and all the wondrous pain that comes with injuries in each zone of my spine. Pain down legs and arms. No sleep, depression, yada yada. Lyrica and gabapentin cause me anxiety, as does methadone. I can't take a lot of stuff. So for pain, I take oxycodone, and my doctor had me try amitriptyline. Amitriptyline, if it works for you, it's an amazing life changer. It doesn't work for everyone, but for me, amitriptyline gave me sleep. It helped dull the headache from nerve pain, it has helped in so many ways. It's a game changer for me. I can get more than 1 hour of consecutive sleep and smile at my family sometimes. It is cheap per dose, so it won't break the bank."

• Bes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 11, 2018

Amitriptyline "I started on the dose 25 mg at bedtime so I wouldn't wake up with a sore back and shoulder. This was a year ago. Best pain regimen to date!!! Side effect of restful sleep and joint pain almost gone every day!!! Why did it take so long to find this???"

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2017

"I have had chronic pain since I was about 11 years old. I'm 43 now, due to a genetic blood disease. It's caused arthritis that's led to neuropathy, spine degeneration, and many damaged joints. I have been taking Toradol and Gabapentin for nerve pain for almost 3 years. Recently, a bleed in my feet caused extensive nerve damage that would make my feet burn at night. My doctor added 50 mg of Elavil to my bedtime meds, and after 6 weeks, I noticed a significant improvement. It has been 3 months and 90% of my foot pain and numbness is gone. I have also noticed an overall improvement in my face pain and back pain. I am lucky enough to not have any notable side effects."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2016

"I was put on amitriptyline 10 mg to help with severe back pain and a trapped sciatic nerve affecting the lower right leg very badly. I had to stop driving. I started to sleep extremely well, but I had not really had much pain to cope with at night, so there was nothing special to note there. Daytime pain seemed unchanged until about 5 to 6 weeks into the course. I did notice that daytime pain had lessened. However, I also noticed that in weeks 6 to 7, I was feeling extremely low, depressed, lifeless, and started to have dull headaches. I reread the side effects and decided to stop the drug immediately. I am a different person, feeling so much more alive, and for me, the drug caused an effect more serious than the back and leg pain."

• Jaw...
• December 20, 2015

"After years and years of self-medicating and over-medicating on co-codamol, chewing ibuprofen, and even nasal surgery to relieve severe sinus pain, I was prescribed amitriptyline 10mg at night. Immediately, or at least the next morning, after the best night's sleep I'd had in years, the pain was GONE! It became apparent, though, after a few weeks that my sex drive had also GONE! What a dilemma for a 45-year-old, normally virile bloke. If I'm honest, after all the years of pain and worry I'd had over taking so many painkillers, it was a small sacrifice to make. Unfortunately, my partner didn't see it in the same light, understandably... Oh well?"

• DKN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2017

"I was prescribed amitriptyline 10mg nightly for nerve pain. I have had spinal surgery involving a C5/6 discectomy, while C4/5 and C6/7 are prolapsed. With the C6/7 prolapse worsening, the pain through my neck, upper back, shoulder, and arm was becoming unbearable. Although the initial pain at the C6/7 disc site has not completely gone (due to the disc nearing surgery stage), I have found it gave me great relief from my peripheral pain, allowing me to get some sleep. The side effects in the first few days were a bit of confusion, I felt a bit dizzy and tired. My husband saw me through the first couple of days, it was worth it. I have had cortisones and am now coming off all tablets. Headaches, but not bad."