Amitriptyline and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I don’t recommend this drug to anyone! I’ve been on it for almost 3 weeks now and I feel more anxious and easily irritated/aggressive towards others 24/7! I have had severe heart palpitations and anxiety, hot flashes, chest tightness, dizziness, and fatigue. I’m 35 years old and this medication is horrible!"

• Yor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2019

For Pain "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 for 4 months and still sleeping well. It helps with pain and has helped with menopause and watery eyes too. Initially, I put on about 8 lbs, but now I am losing it again as I 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."

• Fea...
• September 8, 2013

For 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 an 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 effect. A bit drowsy and had 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."

• Nem...
• February 26, 2013

For Pain "I would like to share my positive experience of taking Amitriptyline as it has truly helped save my life. I was prescribed this for acute and chronic pains in my legs which were also affecting my sleep. The pain was like searing stabbing pain. I was also suicidal. I was started on amitriptyline 10mg and was also told it would help with my other myriad of symptoms - Irritable Bowel Syndrome, weak bladder, insomnia, anxiety, etc. At first, it caused numbness in my fingers and toes and on waking and going to the bathroom I had dizzy spells, my vision was a bit weird. The doctor told me to half my dose to 5mg and although it took a few months, I gradually started to feel better and all of my symptoms improved. I hope to gradually take less so I am not dependent forever."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2011

For Pain "I have been in chronic pain for 11 years, worsening in the last year. Finally, a pain management doctor prescribed me 25mg of amitriptyline and it worked overnight. Magically, the next day my pain was down to a completely manageable level. I have my life back thanks to this medicine. Dizziness the first day or two, dry mouth only if I stay up long after I've taken the medicine. Don't hesitate to take this medicine if you have nerve pain, it is a miracle."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2016

For Depression "Have been on this drug for almost 3 weeks. Started out on 25 mg and am currently taking 50 mg. Helped tremendously with much needed sleep. Make sure to be in bed when the medicine kicks in. You will sleep a long time, but to me, it's worth it! I've seen small improvements. Believe it's causing me to be pretty dizzy. Will give it time though! Will update later on. I am very glad my doctor tried this type of antidepressant. Been on Lexapro, Zoloft, Cymbalta, and Wellbutrin. I believe they just aren't as strong as the older antidepressants. Good luck to you. Hold on even if you feel like there is no hope left!"

• Fin...
• December 9, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I have been suffering from chronic migraines for 18 years. Smells, sounds, and foods trigger them, and sometimes they last for 2 weeks. My doctor started me on 25mg of amitriptyline at bedtime. Instant relief. In the first 2 weeks, it would knock me out, and when I woke up, I would be drowsy and float through work. Not even a headache for 28 days! On the 29th day, the migraines were back, but not as bad. My doctor upped my dosage to 50mg. So far so good. Side effects I have experienced: Dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth."

• Lyd...
• November 14, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "This was a phenomenal find! I could not function in everyday tasks until beginning amitriptyline. I couldn't even try to upset myself or feel worried while on amitriptyline. I went from constant unknown fear and breathing difficulty to floating on a cloud without a fear in the world. The first few weeks had some challenging side effects. Blackouts, memory loss, numbness in face, lethargic, more sleepy than usual, dry mouth, and munchies. All those disappeared after a month or so. I did try to get off it to see how my anxiety could manage on its own. Withdrawals were pretty miserable. Two weeks of headaches, nausea, irritability, and dizziness. I did get back on it when anxiety came back full-blown. Slowly increased up to 75mg. Hope it works for you!"

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 3, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines with visual aura for years. Then, about 5 years ago, the dizziness set in too. Diagnosed with migraine-associated vertigo. Always felt dizzy, off balance, like walking on a boat. My vision was always off, like living in a dream state. Then I started amitriptyline 10 mg. It has helped me tremendously. I was so nervous about starting it from reading all the side effects, but I had no side effects, only benefits. My vision became clearer. The dizziness improved so much. Of course, I will still have occasional dizziness like before my period sometimes, but nothing like what it was. I also increased to 15 mg because I started having nighttime panic attacks, and at 15 mg, those have significantly improved as well. It knocks me out within half an hour of taking it, and even if I wake up in panic, I'm too sleepy to worry about it and just fall back asleep. I have been on it for about 1 year and a half. Not planning to stop it for now."

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "So, I am an individual who is afraid to try medications almost always. I read many of the reviews and decided I would wait to post my review and fill in the information I wish I had before starting. I have also been on an SSRI. This medication has saved my life! I have horrible anxiety, health anxiety, and panic attacks. I am on 25 mg taken nightly. First day I was groggy and weak. I almost felt heavy. By the fourth day, I felt less groggy, and by day seven, I felt off balance a little but the groggy feeling was bearable and decreased quite a bit. I have now been on 25 mg of amitriptyline for 4 weeks. I am not groggy during the day, all side effects are gone. I genuinely sleep amazingly, I get more than 6 hours of sleep a night. I don’t have any panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, or obsessive health anxiety thoughts. I’ve been able to go to the store, drive, and do all sorts of things on my own, and I haven’t had one single panic attack. I feel really good."

• tri...
• August 30, 2007

Amitriptyline for Pain "I have been taking Endep for about 20 years for pain and to help me sleep. I have seen many specialists and GPs over the years, and none of them warned me about chronic periodontal disease because of dry mouth. I was on 50mg per day. I had to have three teeth removed. I am now on 25mg. I have many health problems, apparently due to a seronegative autoimmune disease. I am also experiencing symptoms of headaches, vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, etc."

• tri...
• August 30, 2007

Amitriptyline for Pain "I have been taking Endep for about 20 years for pain and to help me sleep. I have seen many specialists and GPs over the years, and none of them warned me about chronic periodontal disease because of dry mouth. I was on 50mg per day. I had to have three teeth removed. I am now on 25mg. I have many health problems, apparently due to a seronegative autoimmune disease. I am also experiencing symptoms of headaches, vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, etc."

• tri...
• August 30, 2007

Amitriptyline for Pain "I have been taking Endep for about 20 years for pain and to help me sleep. I have seen many specialists and GPs over the years, and none of them warned me about chronic periodontal disease because of dry mouth. I was on 50mg per day. I had to have three teeth removed. I am now on 25mg. I have many health problems, apparently due to a seronegative autoimmune disease. I am also experiencing symptoms of headaches, vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, etc."

• Tha...
• January 8, 2019

For Insomnia "I've been on this drug for a few months now, and I have finally been able to get some sleep. I started this drug in September, thanks to the recommendation of my neurologist, and it is now January, and I am sleeping between 6-8 hours a night. I had tried other drugs, including Ambien, Sertraline, Trazodone, Ativan, and OTC medications, but once my insomnia was in full swing, none of these proved effective for me. Although this drug is not perfect, in the beginning, I had some dizziness and drowsiness in the morning that at times could last throughout the day. I will say it was a complete game-changer for the insomnia, and I could wake up once during the night, go to the bathroom, and within a few minutes, I would fall back asleep. Eventually, the side effects wore off, but thankfully not the effectiveness of the drug."

• Maz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 25, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Migraines 1/2 month & regular headaches from 16 until 40, after car accident 10 months ago getting terrible migraines 2-3 a week & headache around the clock, having trouble working & doing anything productive, addicted to pain medication. After everything physical came back clear, prescribed amitriptyline 25mg which got rid of migraine/headaches but left me foggy/dizzy and with very dry mouth. Went back to 10mg, has gotten rid of the side effects, in the 7 or so months I've been taking it have had 1 migraine and handful of headaches that have been eased by aspirin or ibuprofen. Has given me a new lease on life, risk of weight gain has been reversed by having energy to exercise and have actually lost 20 lbs & put on bulk"

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

For Pain "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."

• Fir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Took 20 mg at night as prescribed for 7 days. On the third day, I had a pain in the top of my back. Like a stiffening. My heart was racing uncontrollably. I felt dizzy and sick. Doc put me on these to help me sleep, but because my heart kept racing, every time I was ready to nod off, my heart would wake me up. My anxiety only got worse with the lack of sleep and pounding heart, so I stopped taking them. These pills made me feel like I was coming down off ecstasy."

• Ano...
• July 22, 2019

For Insomnia "I started taking amitriptyline in my early 30s. At first, just 10 mg/night as an experiment for connective tissue pain. I told the doc, 'Don't know if it helps my pain, but I had the first solid night of sleep in my life EVER!' I've been a light sleeper since childhood. I've gradually ramped up and now take 40 mg/night. Been on this dose for over a decade. Can't sleep without it, so I expect I will be on it for life. The sleep is worth it to me. I tried to wean myself off of it once and lasted about a month, then I could not sleep AT ALL. Worse than before I started the drug. So, in that sense, it is addictive for me. For the last decade, I have also taken trazodone and a tiny dose of Klonopin or lorazepam, in addition to the amitriptyline. If I take the amitriptyline only, I feel dizzy but don't sleep solidly. So, all three are necessary for me."

• Bry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I was on Elavil 10mg previously for a few years and had only a handful of migraines in all that time. I decided to stop it for a year to see how I would feel, eventually, I went back to 4-5 migraine days a week. I've been on it for two weeks again, most of the initial side effects have subsided (dizziness, fatigue, and dry mouth - nothing unbearable), and I have not had a single migraine since I took the first pill. I'm now on 20mg, I take it to also help with arthritic pain and symptoms of Crohn's disease. I feel better than I have in a long time. I sleep amazingly and wake up feeling good and energized. I have never experienced weight gain on this medication - however, I do eat very healthy and exercise regularly."

• sar...
• March 3, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I was given 100 mg a day to treat migraines. I ended up not having migraines but chronic tension headaches, which it did not help. BUT it helped my anxiety. I was having daily panic attacks, and slowly, they were reduced. I gained 20 pounds in a few months and decided to stop taking it a month ago, feeling fine. This week the anxiety has started coming back-dizziness, shortness of breath, panicky, etc., so I started back on 25 mg. Other than the weight gain, the other side effect was dry mouth, so the trade-off of being able to live a normal life was worth it."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 12, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I started amitriptyline over a year ago. I started at 25 mg, progressed up to 75 mg, it has helped me a lot. I can sleep at night now. The pressure in my head has not totally gone away at times, but it is an amazing drug for me. It has helped me a lot, and I would recommend taking it for over 2 weeks before deciding it is not working. It took time to start feeling a difference, but I am not one who likes medication. This one, after trying so many other drugs, is the first one that actually worked for me. I never want to stop if it means the migraines, head pressure, and severe vertigo will come back."

• BUT...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2014

For Depression "I take this for bipolar disorder 2, with severe depressive episodes. Helps tremendously for my depression symptoms, as well as aiding in controlling mood swings along with a mood stabilizer. Helps with insomnia tremendously. Sometimes the daytime sedation can last a long time at higher doses, and you'll probably get dry mouth, constipation, or blurry vision/dizziness, at least at first. This medication works great for a lot of people when other things fail, just be aware that the trade-off is that some annoying side effects are fairly common. Myself, the benefits far outweigh the negatives."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "Absolutely awful. Five weeks in and I’m a walking wreck. Can’t function, am so angry with everyone and can barely walk through weakness and fatigue. Head is dizzy and everything gives me a fright, even someone calling my name. I am so spaced out. Don’t understand why this medication hasn’t worked for me. It’s truly awful."

• SAm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2018

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "The worst pill I've ever taken for insomnia. I got prescribed Elavil 25 mg to take before bed. I took the first tab, and it made me very sleepy and dizzy, but I could not fall asleep. I was in a state between sleep and awake. Very dry mouth, very restless, and the second morning I felt that I could not move. It also caused me headaches. Will be throwing the rest in the garbage. Terrible drug."

• meg...
• May 31, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "Amazing medicine. I had migraines for 20 years, and they had worsened to twice a week with no relief from Axert, which had worked relatively well in the past. I tried Topamax and experienced horrible mood swings, anger, and hyperactivity. I went on Amitriptyline and gradually moved up to 50 mg as it wasn't fully effective at lower doses. Once I reached 50 mg, my migraines went down to twice a month. Even better, the Axert works much more effectively when I do have a migraine. I had dry mouth early on, but this went away. The only other side effect is occasional dizziness when I stand up (but this only happens about once a week and clears after a few seconds), which is common on this medicine. It has totally changed my life."