Amitriptyline and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Gar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2020

For Neuropathic Pain "I used amitriptyline for about 7 years. It was very helpful for sleep. But this is a 'dirty old drug' according to my PhD wife. Over time, I suffered constipation and dry mouth. The dry mouth destroyed my teeth enamel. So far, my dental work has cost me $16,000 and counting. Beware of this!"

• Eng...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 11, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Got put on amitriptyline for bowel problems. Doctors say I have IBS-C, but also I have some scar tissue from a previous surgery, which causes issues in my colon. At first, amitriptyline was great as it reduced nerve pain to almost nothing, and I could, for the first time in years, go out and not be housebound, but this honeymoon period quickly faded as I was hit with severe constipation. The medication seemed to bulk form my stools, which I could not pass. I bled daily and eventually had a high fever and started to hallucinate and vomit, plus my heart would race. Even on laxatives, I could not pass. I have now taken myself off of this medication."

• Jod...
• May 22, 2013

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I am not much of a prescriptions type person, but I tried this medicine at 50 mg each night. WOW! I am feeling normal for the first time in 20 years. My insane thirst and aches are gone (most days). The side effects are severe constipation, and all my old injuries are flaring up. I don't mind though. I'd rather not have bowel movements and a bad ankle than irritable bowel syndrome."

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2019

For Pain "I have a love/hate relationship with this drug. I started taking it 2 months ago for neuropathy from MS in both my legs. I’ve had some pain for over 5 years, but it turned on high 2 years ago. I tried all the drugs my neurologist had me try, but nothing would work. So I started researching and found this drug. The good: pain free at 150 mg at night. The bad news: horrible side effects at this dose. Extreme dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, balance issues, and my brain is acting like I have dementia, i.e., asking the same question multiple times. Aphasia and sense of taste made everything taste metallic. So I’m in limbo until I find another drug to try."

• Cdo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2017

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "I've had insomnia for 2 years now. I think I've been on every prescribed and OTC med out there. I was frustrated. Until I asked about Elavil, and it was a godsend. The only side effect I noticed was constipation. Maybe an increase in appetite too."

• rev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 21, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Suffer from IBS that seems to be drug resistant. I've tried 30+ different meds (every class of psychotropics, all IBS drugs available, including off-label drugs and even opioids), every diet, supplement, and treatment available with virtually no response at all. Pain was extremely constant and severe. At some point, could not work for over a year, would literally spend weeks hunched over in pain with very few short pain-free breaks. After seeing dozens of medical and other specialists, gastroenterologists, and taking every test imaginable, there was no organic cause, it was just IBS, C, and mixed, but pain was the predominant symptom. Amitriptyline was one of the last few meds to try, as I feared it may make constipation worse. It's not a perfect solution, but 100 mg a day definitely makes a notable positive difference. It took months to work for pain, with higher doses being more effective. Rating it a 10 because nothing else has worked at all, and amitriptyline is moderately effective."

• Sop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I was having migraine headaches anywhere from one to four times a week. I have been taking 10 mg, and I am down to one a month. This has been a lifesaver. The side effects are manageable for me. I've had dry mouth, constipation, and the first month I had difficulty waking up in the morning."

• TS0...
• July 22, 2015

For Vulvodynia "This was the first medication I was prescribed once I was finally diagnosed with vulvodynia. I have experienced a tremendous improvement after two weeks of taking this medication. I was originally started on 10 mg with no relief after 2 months of use. My doctor increased it to 50 mg last month, which has really worked. My personal regimen includes 50 mg amitriptyline at bedtime, Estrace topical, B complex vitamin, and alpha-lipoic acid. My pain went from a 7 to 2 in a matter of two weeks. It makes me constipated, so I use fiber supplements daily. I was very drowsy initially, but you will adjust in a few days. Exercise and a healthy diet have greatly decreased the side effects (sleepiness, weight gain, constipation) associated with this drug."

• Yel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Went on 10 mg of amitriptyline daily for migraine prevention, and it’s changed my life. I’m free! Very occasionally, I can feel when a migraine is trying to get through, but only because I know the signs so well, and then it just goes away. I have no pain and no nausea whatsoever! It’s also massively reduced the stiff neck and shoulder pain I was living with. The only side effects have been slight constipation (easily solved with extra fruit and veg), and it stopped my bladder from being overactive and always having to go for a wee in the middle of the night, which was a good thing. It hasn’t had a sedating effect on me at all, although I’ve been sleeping better when I do go to bed. It’s just win-win-win! So happy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2012

Amitriptyline for Migraine Prevention "Helped my migraines a lot! However, had severe constipation, gained 45 lbs in 6 months, gave me night terrors, and caused me to have slight depression. For migraines, though, it was great, but due to all the side effects I was having, I have since switched. I would recommend Elavil to migraine sufferers, it worked for me!"

• lif...
• January 19, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "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)."

• lou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Elavil 10 mg at bedtime for now 2 weeks. I like the sedation effect. I have no side effects such as dry mouth or increased appetite. But I do have constipation, and my major concern is that I have more headaches."

• Ame...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2017

For Pain "Horrific. First thing, 1st pill was extremely dry mouth with a dry cough that lasted a couple of hours. 2 days same, but now accompanied by an internal anxiety accompanied by insomnia. Within a week, felt like every adverse reaction mentioned in the pamphlet and online was applicable, plus some not mentioned (dry mouth, blurred vision, centralized stomach pain/gut, constipation, and blurred double vision... OH! Not to mention the vivid racing dreams anytime I could fall asleep.) When I mentioned it to the doctor, his feeling was for me to continue the meds. Issues would work themselves out within a couple of weeks more. 'Ok, doc. I'll give it a couple of weeks more of this torture these pills have put me in.' Went home and tossed them in the garbage."

• Jen...
• March 24, 2023

For Pain "I suffered from a stroke, and I use this for nerve pain. I have to say it's been a lifesaver for me. I've been taking it now for almost 4 years. The only side effects I've experienced are constipation and a little weight gain."

• Syn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2021

"I started taking amitriptyline for bowel issues along with PTSD stress. I was currently taking 3 mg of clonazepam TID. With 10 mg of amitriptyline at night, after 4 days, I was in a state of profound confusion. I could not walk straight or think clearly. I slept a lot. It did nothing for anxiety and made me constipated. I stopped after the 4th night because I could not function. Combined with clonazepam, there was a serious synergistic effect. I would not recommend this combo. Compared to SSRIs, there are a lot more side effects. Both TCAs and SSRIs do not help me with anxiety. They often make it worse. I did not take amitriptyline for long enough to say it gave me anxiety. I can hardly remember the 4 days or the following week."

• Chr...
• October 22, 2016

Amitriptyline for Anxiety and Stress "Been taking it for 6 years, initially for depression, then anxiety and stress, and it's one of the worst things to happen to me. Constant eczema where my skin gets very itchy and sore, that I have scars all over. Constipation is probably the worst, as I've had periods of vomiting, my stomach being sore and bloated, blurred vision. It's addictive, contrary to what doctors say, as I have been trying to get off it for 2 years slowly and have been admitted to the hospital twice in that time for substance abuse relating to Endep. Doctors can't understand why I have been on it for so long. Take mine at night as you get drowsy during the day on higher than 50 mg (the most I took was 75 mg), now on 10 mg and still get constipation."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "Took this for leg pain that was from an unknown cause, possibly a pinched nerve or peripheral neuropathy. It seemed to help some with pain, maybe a 30% reduction at a 25mg dose. But I was sleeping 20 hours a day, really groggy when awake, and having severe stomach pains and constipation. I stopped after 2 weeks of this. I thought it was just side effects, but my doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction."

• dmg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2022

For Depression "My depression/anxiety lasted almost a whole year, and I truly thought I was never going to feel better. Initially, my psychiatrist tried increasing Cymbalta (my medicine at the time), which only made me more anxious. I tried several different antidepressants, including Prozac, Wellbutrin, Clonidine, and Buspar before being put on Amitriptyline. Make sure you stay on Amitriptyline for 6 weeks before trying something else because that is how long it took for me to feel myself again. I am also on secondary antidepressants Seroquel and Trintellix. Initially, I was put on 100 mg of Amitriptyline, but I found that dosage actually increased my depression. My psychiatrist finally agreed to lower the dosage to 75 mg, which worked perfectly. It also helped my insomnia. I never thought I was going to get better and felt so hopeless. I was even ready to try ECT, but now I don’t need to. The only negative side effects are constipation and dry mouth."

• chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 10, 2018

For Pain "Have been taking 25 mg Endep for 6 months to help alleviate sleeplessness due to arthritic pain. Have tried various sleeping pills and opioids, but nothing works for me like Endep. I have gone from getting about 5 hours of sleep per night to a wonderful 7-8 hours per night free of pain. The only slight side effect I get is constipation, so keep up the fiber and drink lots of liquid."

• Naj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "It has miraculously treated my IBS-D symptoms. Overall, it's the best medicine to be used for IBS symptoms, especially D predominant, likely preferred almost by IBS patients. It can ease abdominal pain, diarrhea, urgency, and gives constipation as a side effect, which could easily tackle IBS-D symptoms. Amongst you, try this medicine if it works and be patient for some time, and don't give up. It will give positive effects."

• Kar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 15, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed amitriptyline for Odie Sphincter dysfunction, which is a spasm in the gallbladder sphincter. The wonderful side effect is my migraines were cured by this as well. NOTE: The smallest dosage of generic amitriptyline is 10 mg. I have gotten the dose down to about 1.5 mg by breaking each 10 mg into eighths. This has eliminated the constipation I was experiencing at the higher dose and costs me about $10/year for prescription."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have been battling with weight gain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn for years. I have watched what I eat, and I am a very active 50-year-old. Finally, my GI scheduled me for a colonoscopy. That is when he found severely ulcerated ileum. It was so bad that they thought I had colon cancer. I had surgery and removed all infections. About 2 1/2 months later, I started to have cramps and diarrhea again. It was so bad that I had missed work again. My GI did another colonoscopy and endoscopy to make sure I did not have Crohn's. I do not have Crohn's. I have IBD with diverticulitis and regional colitis. My doctor prescribed 100 mg of amitriptyline. At first, I felt woozy (lack of better terms) and dry mouth. It has been only a week, and my pain has subsided. I felt apprehensive about taking an 'antidepressant' until I came to this page. I am so glad I am finally getting relief and that I don't have to find a bathroom every 5 minutes or not eat out because of how my stomach acted."

• Thu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2013

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "Since taking this medication, I am not reaching for the narcotic pain meds as much as I used to, but am more constipated and tired. It's worth the trade-off of some of the higher pain medicines for my condition."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I started with 50 mg, and had about 7 migraines each month for the first 2 months. The neurologist increased the dosage to 75 mg, and I only have 3 migraines in a month. Before I started to take amitriptyline, I had migraines every other day. The neurologist said the migraines are rebounding and my brain was screaming for Maxalt or Imitrex. I haven't needed to take Maxalt and Imitrex for 3 months now. Amitriptyline doesn't affect my mood, but I feel my body is retaining water and have constipation too. I'd rather have these side effects than migraines."

• int...
• December 7, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Took the drug for post-concussion syndrome migraines. Did NOT work. Also had constipation and dry mouth, it elongated my periods from 6 days to 9.5 days, and at 20 mg, this drug immediately gave me a strong, persistent neck spasm that has not gone away months after withdrawal. This drug CAN INDUCE DYSTONIA and torticollis, and I believe if I were on it longer, I might have developed those conditions. I think that people who already experience fasciculations or muscle spasms are more at risk of developing these conditions because the drug made my muscles twitch a LOT. I was on 10 mg for 5 days, then on the 6th day I took 20 mg, and that's when the spasms began. I was on the drug for maybe 6 weeks."