Amitriptyline and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jan...
• February 2, 2015

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "I have been taking Endep 10 for approximately 3 weeks and have used a variety of sleeping meds. Endep is the best by far. I take it 3 hours prior to sleep and have no problems getting to sleep, and if I do wake during the night, I go back to sleep straight away. It can make me a little drowsy in the morning, but nothing like other meds."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2014

For Pain "I started taking this medicine about 5 months ago for Neuropathy. The pain has gone away completely. I went from not being able to sleep at night and constant numbness in my toes and aching in my joints to no pain at all. BUT I am 20 and am not always able to go to bed before 10 pm so many days I can't take it because it will cause me to be completely unaware and sleepy for the entire next day. Even when I take it before 10 pm some days I just can't function the next day and that is becoming so inhibiting to where I don't take it. I literally fall asleep while driving."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2014

For Pain "I started taking this medicine about 5 months ago for Neuropathy. The pain has gone away completely. I went from not being able to sleep at night and constant numbness in my toes and aching in my joints to no pain at all. BUT I am 20 and am not always able to go to bed before 10 pm so many days I can't take it because it will cause me to be completely unaware and sleepy for the entire next day. Even when I take it before 10 pm some days I just can't function the next day and that is becoming so inhibiting to where I don't take it. I literally fall asleep while driving."

• McC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2014

For Pain "Systemic Lupus for 3 years, severe spinal issues and now a trapped nerve in my buttocks. After no sleep for 5 days, I became suicidal. Doc prescribed 10 mg's of Elavil...but it didn't work UNTIL I increased the dose to 30 mg's. NOW, I am finally getting sleep and pain relief. This medicine is more effective than Oxycontin, hydromorphone, and many other medicines I have taken for pain (ibuprofen and other OTC medicines). For me, the key was to increase the dose. Yes, there are side effects - constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness - but this is mild compared to suffering in so much pain that I did not want to live anymore."

• Sun...
• August 27, 2008

Amitriptyline for Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines my entire adult life. When I got the most recent pain, the doctors were quick to call it a migraine. I felt like my head would explode, and I had none of the other side effects attributed to migraines. My doctor instead now calls it 'severe head pain'. I had it every other day for about a month. I actually called '911' at one point because I thought I was dying the pain was so horrible. When I was first given Elavil I was skeptical since it was touted as an 'antidepressant'. I took it, and the first three days I actually had to take naps because it made me so sleepy. On the fourth day I realized that although I still felt a little sleepy, I was now officially four days headache-free. It has been a Godsend."

• Hud...
• April 9, 2015

For Pain "Been on amitriptyline for 2 weeks for nerve pain after shingles. It has reduced discomfort from an 8 to a 3 most days. I take 10 mg at night and other than some grogginess the first 3-4 days, no side effects. I sleep well on it too."

• KLO...
• October 28, 2011

Amitriptyline for Depression "I've taken Elavil for 14 years for irritable bowel syndrome and depression. I suffered with IBS for 5 years and had every test possible and even had my gallbladder removed. It really makes me sleep, but after taking it the first night, I KNEW it was the magic medicine for my irritable bowel syndrome. As long as I take 25mg each night, I have zero irritable bowel symptoms. It saved my life."

• fin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2013

For Pain "After 10 years of chronic abdominal pain, a bunch of tests, multiple doctors telling me to take omeprazole with no relief, I am now 90% pain-free. I started taking Endep 1 week ago and have increased to 20 mg. It makes me a little sleepy, but I take it 2 hours before bed anyway. My new doc narrowed it down to overactive nerves, and she nailed it. I'm now getting a better quality of life and am happy that I have found this med. For me, it's really worked well."

• 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."

• Bow...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2015

For Pain "Been on amitriptyline for 2 weeks for nerve pain following MRI scan, which revealed a soft disc touching main nerve. It has reduced discomfort from a 9 to a 3 most days. I take 2x10 mg at night and other than some grogginess the first 3-4 days, I sleep well on it too."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "I've taken amitriptyline for approximately 5 months now. I have an inflammatory autoimmune disorder and suspected fibromyalgia as a secondary issue. I've been dealing with both conditions for approximately 4 years. Life has changed significantly for the better since the introduction of amitriptyline, I take 25 mg at bedtime. I experience significant drowsiness in the morning, and I initially had a very dry mouth. The dry mouth subsided, but the morning 'hangover' feeling continues. I can live with it! I have almost no pain, I can eat again (previously had severe IBS), I sleep now (the quality is still questionable some nights), it reduced my mild anxiety, and I rid myself of my headaches. I pray it works forever!"

• ozz...
• August 11, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I'd had a bad experience trying an SSRI for anxiety (made me feel very ill!) so I tried 10mg of amitriptyline every night. I didn't think 10mg would do much for me but it's incredible how it's worked. It worked straight away in relaxing me and although groggy, I now have no anxiety! I feel like my old self again. The doctor said this isn't possible as it's not a high enough dose but it's worked for me so I'm going to carry on. I do wonder if all I needed was more sleep but whatever it is, it's worked for me. I do plan on increasing the dosage as recommended by my doctor but after 20mg I felt extremely tired so I think I tried it too soon. I've been on it just over a month now so maybe I'll try again now."

• LBr...
• March 15, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "I've been taking amitriptyline since January 2013 after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I tried Cymbalta for a week, and my doctor decided that since it kept me awake 24/7, it wasn't a good fit for me even though it relieved my pain. I started with 25 mg. After 2 weeks, I had some breakthrough pain, so my doctor increased my dosage to 50mg, and I'm still on that dosage today. For the first full year I was on this, I never had pain and felt 'cured'. As time went on, it seems to help control my pain. I do still have pain, but at a low manageable level. I take this around 7 pm each evening to avoid feeling overly drowsy in the mornings. This med allows me to have a fairly normal life."

• cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2015

For Insomnia "I am in my late 60s. I have been having awful nights for about a year now, waking frequently with vivid and disturbing dreams that stay with me all day. Doctor prescribed 10mg of Amitriptyline and after just two nights, the difference is unbelievable. Last night I slept dreamlessly (well, I wasn't aware of any) for 10 hours, only waking once for the toilet. I feel fine today, although a bit 'dopey' for the first hour. Only time will tell if this will last. Does anyone know if it is a drug that can develop dependency and increasing doses?"

• Smu...
• November 4, 2015

For Pain "Have been suffering nerve damage pain in my leg after having three slipped discs for more than 1.5 years and tried a lot of pain relief tablets but didn't like the side effects from them. Plus, I still had the pain. My doctor prescribed me these. I must admit I really didn't think they would be any good, but I was surprised from the moment I took the first tablet. The pain had greatly decreased, so after a week, I started to take two every evening after dinner, and I hardly recognize myself. Pain-free. And the only side effect is feeling a bit sleepy, hence taking them in the evening."

• Shi...
• June 17, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I have never been able to take any kind of antidepressant comfortably. I was put on Elavil to start at 50mg; after three months, I was raised to 100mg, always taken at night of course. I was pretty depressed about several issues in my life, not the least of which was the fact that my father was dying. I also take meds for anxiety/panic disorder as well as pain. I was disabled before 1994 when I was hit by two cars, already disabled. This made the pain from fibromyalgia worse and messed up my spine and neck, etc. Now when I run out of the small amount of anti-anxiety medicines, I don't have a meltdown like before. I do get sleepy, miss the tail end of movies I want to see, and have dry mouth, yes, however the trade-off is worth it."

• 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."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2016

For Pain "Sleepy like a baby! Two days into taking it for my endometriosis pain. Doc said to start with 10mg at first which does seem to knock me out. I take Citalopram too, but this is for that midnight pain and excruciating pain in the early hours. It's swings and roundabouts as each person reacts so differently to drugs. This for me is a 10 out of 10."

• CJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2020

For Depression "I've tried pretty much every antidepressant. Amitriptyline has been the best. I was on 10 mg anyway for tension headaches, and it worked a treat. After jumping through hoops and trying the first line of defense meds for depression, like SSRIs and Mirtazapine, my doctor let me try Amitriptyline. I started on 25 mg, then 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg on the fourth week. I now feel like my normal self. Mirtazapine just sedated me too much and gave me a ridiculously high appetite. I have none of that with Amitriptyline. I think most of the older meds work the best, it's just doctors don't like using them as much anymore with increased risks of side effects like MAOIs."

• Jor...
• May 30, 2018

For Depression "I have taken amitriptyline in 2012 for 6 months and now again in 2018. For depression, it really is the best medication for me. I had moderate success with Effexor and fluoxetine, but the side effects, like night sweats, were a pain, and I always felt a bit numb emotionally. Amitriptyline makes me feel human again, and apart from a dry mouth and morning grogginess, it doesn’t have any side effects. I think it’s a shame that doctors are reluctant to prescribe this medication for depression, as it really is very effective."

• 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."

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2019

For Pain "I suffer from vestibular migraines. After a hospital referral, my consultant prescribed me 10 mg amitriptyline. I took it a few hours before bedtime, as recommended. One hour after taking it, I became restless and irritable. It took me a few hours to settle before I finally fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, I felt groggy, hungover, lightheaded, and generally yuck. Being a slight build (petite) and very sensitive to any medication, I knew 10 mg was too much for me. So the following night I halved the dose (bit one tablet into two). I personally feel this is more manageable to cope with as a starting point. Once my body is used to it, I'll up the dose to a full tablet (10 mg). I can't imagine many people being as sensitive as me, but I highly recommend halving the dose to start with if you are. And yes, with amitriptyline, I'm migraine-free. Awful dry mouth, but the benefits far outweigh a dry mouth!"

• Soc...
• July 22, 2014

For Anxiety and Stress "Although I have gained 20 lbs on this medicine, I feel much better overall. I take 125mg at bedtime and haven't slept so well in 25 years. I started on a dosage of 25mg which did nothing, not even make me sleepy. I had immediate relief after the dosage was regulated. This, in conjunction with anti-anxiety medication, has helped tremendously. I just have to exercise daily and keep a watch over what I eat. But that is a small trade for the drastic change in my overall well-being and frame of mind."

• Scr...
• January 5, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've had migraines for 30 years and was increasingly relying on Zomig - taking about 12 per month. Propranolol doesn't agree with me and was very skeptical about trying amitriptyline but it has been miraculous. I used to wake every morning with a headache at about 4 am often developing into full blown migraines. Now I sleep like a baby and have been virtually headache-free. I hope that it continues to work as bad migraines are so debilitating and were ruining my life. I've had no real side effects apart from feeling a bit sleepy in the morning but that soon wears off."

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

For Pain "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."