Amitriptyline and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sli...
• November 5, 2017

For Pain "I fell in some grease and broke my back and herniated discs. I had surgery but was left with this crazy pain down my leg to my foot. I tried pain injections, gabapentin, and tramadol. Of course, I was depressed. My doctor, who always listens to me with all her attention, said, “I’m going to try Amitriptyline 20 mg at bed. I think it will help your depression and your pain.” She was 100% right, my leg feels great. I stopped the gabapentin and only use the tramadol on bad weather days. It helps me sleep as well."

• 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!"

• jay...
• September 29, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I have been suffering with fibromyalgia for 6 years, officially diagnosed for two. I have IBS, RLS, insomnia, depression, and anxiety as side effects. I've been through the mill trying to find something that works to ease it. I had a winning combination of tramadol and mirtazapine taken at night, which eased the pain symptoms so I could sleep. However, it didn't help with the pain, but I could live with that. My doctor decided that I couldn't and took me off tramadol and put me on amitriptyline, and much like its name, I felt like I'd tripped. I was awake but had no control over my limbs, I could still feel the pain, the twitches. I felt like I was locked out of my brain and someone else was at the wheel. I will never take it again."

• mar...
• March 3, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "It wasn't until last year, my sophomore year, I finally just couldn't take the headaches. They got so bad I had to go to the doctor, and they prescribed me amitriptyline. Let me say they started off as a miracle worker, and I definitely recommend it to prevent it. But it does have its side effects. I am suffering from depression, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and it makes me feel so tired and sleepy it's not funny. I'm a junior now in high school, my hardest and most important year, and I kinda hate that I took and am taking amitriptyline. I can't take this med anymore. My grades are so bad right now because I can never stay focused at school and feel so damn tired I don't want to do anything. Can't concentrate, I act different now, and I don't feel myself."

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

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "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."

• O D...
• February 22, 2018

For Pain "I took amitriptyline 10 mg for the pain, and after 3 days I was completely on edge. But also, I was in a dark hole that I felt I could never climb out of. I realized that all the anxiety and emotional pain I had those 3 days was just the amitriptyline, it was not me. I stopped immediately and I was myself again in a couple of days. (The next day, I was mainly shaking, completely terrified of what could have happened.) I just hope doctors and scientists start taking this seriously and run some tests before prescribing it."

• Mum...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 29, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I started using Endep, and my mood was terrible. I've never felt so much anger in my life. I have stopped taking it now, as depression was building, and the doctor suggested coming off it. Other people I know find it great, however, I definitely did not see an improvement, and the side effects were terrible."

• Tig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Amitriptyline 10 mg, did nothing for me apart from making me sleep for longer and also it made me dream some weird stuff. Other side effects were it also made me feel more depressed and tearful, making me feel tired all day, I had a dry mouth, I put on weight within 2 weeks of taking this. I was put on amitriptyline for IBS, but I was still bloated, it also made me more constipated. I had read all the reviews, thought I would try it, it may work for some but did nothing for me, these did not help me in any way. Thought about increasing the dose, decided against. So I am still looking for another alternative."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2019

For Depression "I suffered from headaches for 40 years until I started to get depression after some horrible life events. It did help with the headaches and does help with the depression, but I do have bad days which may last for 3-4 days. I take 125 mg, which I am told is a lot. I do get side effects. I have been on it for 12 years. I am going to ask if there is a better alternative."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on amitriptyline for 5 months. I take 20 mg at bedtime as prescribed by my neurologist for migraines I've been having for years. At first, there was a big relief. Now I'm noticing migraines are still there as well, with a fast heart rate at times, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog (lost a contract opportunity), depression, and now I'm retaining fluid. My right ankle and foot have been swollen for a couple of weeks. And I've gained 30 lbs. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow. I don't recommend this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Husband has turned into an angry hulk. I know most of these comments are positive on here. But my husband raged and changed into being abusive, and blowing up at the drop of a dime. Don't recommend at all. He is only 30. Stopped headaches but turned into depressed, paranoid, and angry."

• ang...
• February 15, 2012

For Pain "I was prescribed this for breakthrough pain, but it did not help it at all. I also got severely depressed the first day I started taking it, and it did not let up. However, the one thing it did help with was my MAV (migraine-associated vertigo)! Immediately after taking it, I was no longer dizzy! Every day I took this, I wasn't dizzy and could actually function normally. I would have stayed on it for this reason, but the depression was too much. My sleep specialist also almost prescribed this for my insomnia, but I was already on other antidepressants at the time. I'm no longer on any of those (It was PMDD the entire time), but still this wouldn't have helped anyway (like every other sleep medicine I've tried)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2017

For Insomnia "After probably a little less than 2 weeks, I started having auditory and visual hallucinations at night. It also hasn't really improved my sleep or helped my fibro pain. It has significantly worsened my depression and possibly worsened my anxiety, which I somewhat expected while my body adjusted to the medication change, but I cannot deal with the hallucinations and am planning on changing it."

• D88...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2023

For Depression "I took this for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I changed over from mirtazapine as I didn’t want weight gain. I’d rate it 8/10 for what it did for my mood, it lifted me out of hell within a week. Took between 10-30 mg. However, it had too many awful side effects, so I stopped after 5 weeks. I experienced a faster heart rate and getting out of breath, chest pain, insomnia (I either could not sleep at all, woke every hour, or would sometimes wake with my brain feeling like it was fizzing), significant impact on my libido, which also caused my vagina to go dry (resulting in painful sex and sores), some occasional emotional blunting, and dry mouth. I also constantly bit my nails as it was so stimulating for me. Horrible withdrawal is still ongoing 5 days after stopping, I still have insomnia (even though I’ve started mirtazapine), and I have body aches and a headache. I’ve never had withdrawals from any medication in my life."

• Boo...
• March 13, 2015

For Insomnia "I had been on this medication in the past and discontinued usage after I got pregnant. I started back a few months ago, not realizing what the side effects were. I started gaining weight incredibly fast with no change to my diet and exercise and wasn't going to the bathroom unless I used a laxative. I was stumped and depressed about it up until yesterday when I spoke with a GI doctor. Finally, I had an answer only after many visits to my family doctor and many co-payments, which added up quickly (with no solution). Needless to say, I am so relieved to finally know what is going on with me... 20 lbs later, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope this helps."

• reg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Been suffering from severe right eye and top of the head pains, which normally develop into excruciating migraines and last for hours, so I'm forced to take Migraleve, which helps sometimes, and go to bed with lights off and just rest. My doc prescribed me amitriptyline, and I took it five times in a month so far. I get a few side effects (insomnia, depression) and can only take them a few hours before bed, as they still affect me the day after (sleepiness, tiredness, inability to focus). It does work almost immediately, and the effect lasts for a week even, which is great. I feel very relaxed, but I noticed that I started feeling without reason rather depressed, to the point that one day I actually felt a bit suicidal, so I stopped taking them for a week."

• Pin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I’ve been having IBS-related symptoms for the last while and was finally put on amitriptyline by my GI doctor. It somehow has made matters worse. I’ve never been this depressed in my life (I spent all last night sobbing with suicidal thoughts), my IBS has been acting up more than ever, I’m nauseous all the time, my sleep schedule is all out of sorts, stomach pains, heat flashes, and the urge to run to the bathroom at all times of the day. I take one capsule at night (10 mg)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2012

Amitriptyline for Migraine Prevention "I took it for 6 weeks. First week 25 mg increased to 50 mg second week. After 10 days, I didn't have a single headache. I loved that! After months of headaches, 70% of the day and 2-4 migraines a week, it seemed heaven-sent. Only thing is, it put me into a deep depression. So now I can't take Elavil. Trying Topamax 75 mg, and it's not cutting it. Back to frequent headaches, 70% of the day!"

• Gre...
• March 14, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "Since my diagnosis of acute bipolar disorder, I've been getting severe migraines almost constantly, or if there was a short respite, it lasted only hours. I was put on a self-titrating dose of amitriptyline by my GP, and at around 50-60 mg daily, I was getting no migraines. However, I found that several weeks after finding my 'correct' dose, I was finding myself in constant anhedonia and ennui. I'm now off the amitriptyline, and my migraines have returned, but my mood is back to normal."

• Hho...
• July 13, 2019

For Chronic Myofascial Pain "I was on Lexapro 20 mg for 10 years. Then I suffer from nerve pain acute. My doctor suggests amitriptyline 25, in combination with Lexapro, but I became worse and worse with panic attacks, high heartbeat, and severe depression. I stopped amitriptyline and took around a month to recover. Really, I have to say it was a magical treatment for pain but bad in depression and social life."

• ran...
• March 19, 2021

For Depression "It is the worst drug ever. Tryptomer I have been taking this for one month. Initially, it was 10 mg for 1 week, then 25 mg. This drug has made me more depressed. My neuropathic pain has also increased."

• Ash...
• October 25, 2015

For Insomnia "Absolutely the worst medicine I have ever been on. I've been on antidepressants for years, and they all suppressed my emotions. I was on trazodone for depression/chronic insomnia, but unfortunately, the medicine quit working for me, so my doctor prescribed me amitriptyline 25mg, and when I tell you every single horrible emotion was brought forward, I'm not even lying. Everyone around me noticed a difference, and I felt trapped but was expressing externally. I had a psychotic break on this medication, however, I was not suicidal. If I had the power to take this medicine off the market, I'm sorry I would. The range of emotions I had was sadness to anger to agitation, and it was on a repeat cycle, and I couldn't control it no matter how much I wanted to."

• TjB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2023

For Interstitial Cystitis "After suffering from everyday flare-ups with my Interstitial Cystitis (IC), mostly urethral pain and burning all the time. I started on 10 mg of amitriptyline, it changed my life. I had no more pain, but I was tired and grumpy and it has made my depression worse. After a year, I had to increase the dose, which in turn made the weight gain and mood worse. I had to make the decision if I stay on it and be pain-free but moody and gain weight or if I keep my weight normal and be stable mood-wise but still be in pain. I decided to stop the medication and try instills. I am also going to start gentle exercise to see if that can help. I may reconsider trying amitriptyline again in the future."

• Bla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

For Depression "I’ve been taking this amitriptyline medicine for over a month, and I feel really, really depressed, sad, wanna cry, and angry, and a horrible person to people. Plus, I’m constantly in pain."

• Bla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

For Depression "I’ve been taking this amitriptyline medicine for over a month, and I feel really, really depressed, sad, wanna cry, and angry, and a horrible person to people. Plus, I’m constantly in pain."