Amitriptyline and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2016

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "Been on Endep 10mg for 4 weeks. For insomnia. Although it helps me sleep, the longer I take it, the dopier I get during the day. I feel like I am permanently sedated, like my brain is shrinking and my head is full of cotton wool all day. No motivation to do anything."

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I started having headaches about 2 and a half years ago. I had at least 3 per week. Then it got to the point where I had a headache literally EVERY SINGLE DAY. After 2 MRIs, countless blood tests, an eye exam, and seeing a neurologist, no one could tell me why I had a headache every day. It got to the point I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and couldn't get anything done. My head hurt so bad I couldn't move some days. FINALLY, a doctor prescribed me 25mg of amitriptyline once a day. I've been on it for 3 weeks now and have only had 2 light headaches since taking it. This medicine seriously saved my life. I got so depressed from constant pain. The first week I started taking amitriptyline I was drowsy but I'm fine now. I take it every night before bed."

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

For Pain "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."

• Lis...
• May 16, 2019

For Neuropathic Pain "I take 50 mg of this amitriptyline for diabetic nerve pains, and it does work for me very well. The only downside for me is dry mouth and a little groggy feeling, but that is small, and I can handle that better than the numbness and pain in my legs and feet."

• Bjs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed amitriptyline 2 days ago for insomnia, night sweats, headache, anxiety, and depression. Thinking that the cause of my symptoms was due to anxiety during the night. My doctor started me on 75 mg at bedtime. After reading most of these reviews, most doctors start at 10 mg. I literally have been high as a kite for 2 days now. I am just glad I decided to try it over the weekend because there is absolutely no way that I can work, drive a car, or even communicate with another human being. My mouth is dry, I'm shaking, I'm paranoid, groggy, and just completely out of it. The only good thing I can say about this medication is that I slept through the night for the first time in 10 years. I would rather go without sleep than to feel this way ever again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2014

For Insomnia "I have tried numerous sleep aids, from natural, over the counter, to prescribed, and this one by far works the best for me. I was prescribed 25mg to take at bed. It does help me fall asleep a little faster, because it helps my brain 'shut off', and it definitely helps me sleep better. I still wake up throughout the night, but not as much, and falling back asleep is a lot easier. It does make me feel slightly groggy in the morning, and I am having slight dry mouth. The benefit outweighs the side effects for sure. I've tried Trazodone, and that didn't help at all, and experienced the rare side effect of a painful erection...that was awful."

• Sai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2015

For Interstitial Cystitis "Started on 10mg of amitriptyline for my Interstitial Cystitis-related nerve pain. Went up to 20mg after a month, and it has been a miracle at reducing my pain for the last six months that I have been on it. I haven't experienced any weight gain while on it. I felt groggy at first, but that went away after a few weeks."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2010

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "I have a very high tolerance for a lot of pain medications due to pain issues. Your body always needs more and more to produce the same effect until almost nothing works. Fortunately, this type of medication doesn't affect me that way. Although I guess it is mainly used for depression. It has worked like a charm for me to get my body to sleep much longer. And I have never had to increase the dose. The only drawback for me with this medication is that when I do wake up I am pretty groggy for about 45 minutes."

• Pau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 2, 2019

For Insomnia "Many sleepless nights due to chronic pain are solved with 50 mg amitriptyline and 100 mg slow-release tramadol. After living 30 years with a laminectomy -4 vertebrae - discectomy- 1---- 2 broken vertebrae- arthritis crept in. In the last 10 years. Bi-lateral shoulder reconstructions- bi-lateral hips & knees- replacements - and severe arthritis. I was unable to sleep 3 hours uninterrupted - subsequent- depression. Sleep apnea, combined with a CPAP machine, full face mask. 50 mg amitriptyline and 100 mg slow-release tramadol have changed my life dramatically. Now sleep 7 hours - only wake to go to the toilet - and can return to sleep for as long as necessary. The side effect is groggy for a few hours -- which soon will reduce dose. Energy has returned and motivated to a positive future -- amazing benefit after 6 months."

• Pat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 1, 2019

For Depression "I have suffered from depression for over 20 years. I have been taking amitriptyline for about 15 years. I did try other meds that made me feel very drowsy the next day. I have managed, over the last six months, to cut my dose down from 150 mg a day to 50 mg (after talking to my doctor) and feel just fine. I will stick to this dose as I don't want to risk a backward slide into depression."

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

For Pain "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."

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2017

Amitriptyline for Interstitial Cystitis "39 years old. The first few days, no change. Urologist put me on 25 mg, twice a day. It made me so drowsy and thirsty. Only took 1 pill at night. On the 14th day is when I had no more pressure or frequency in my bladder. I was back to normal. So I made the mistake of drinking coffee. Huge mistake! Took medication the next day, this time morning and night. Symptoms disappeared. I suggest taking Prelief before drinking coffee or any acidic food. Be patient with this medicine. Takes a little while to work but it works!"

• Baz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2019

For Depression "Was suffering with chronic anxiety and depression. Pregabalin helped a lot with the anxiety, but I was still having low mood and poor sleep. I started on amitriptyline 25 mg to help with sleep, which it certainly did. However, over a few weeks, I noticed my mood was improving too! Just over 12 months, and I am now off the pregabalin, but I am still taking the amitriptyline just in case. Would definitely recommend. No side effects noticed apart from occasional dry mouth and drowsiness after taking, both of which have now stopped."

• LKR...
• March 1, 2015

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I use this medicine as an antidepressant and for my Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It works miracles. I am sleepy a lot because of it and at first I had dry mouth, but compared to the cramps and upset stomach pains I was used to before this medicine, I could deal with the sleepiness and dry mouth!"

• Gem...
• December 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking 25 mg of amitriptyline for 3 weeks now. It has stopped my migraines in their tracks. I feel a little groggy in the mornings, and I have a dry mouth, but the biggest side effect is loss of appetite and weight loss!"

• sib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I've been a migraine sufferer for many years-usually it occurred around menstruation. However, I saw my GP this year following five months of continual migraines (including the aura)-the constant cycle of auras, migraine attacks, postdromes, and continual pain in my temple was very debilitating and was ruining my life. My GP prescribed amitriptyline 10 mg to take at night, and although I was skeptical (I am already taking Depakote and it has done nothing to prevent my migraines), it has completely changed my life. I thought it would take weeks to make a difference, but I felt the effects within a couple of days-the continual pain in the temple and auras disappeared. I have had one severe attack since (and used a triptan), but it is nothing compared to what I was going through previously, and was most likely triggered by other factors. I feel mild sedation at night, but this is all. I cannot recommend this drug highly enough and would urge others to try it!"

• Bun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 29, 2019

For Insomnia "I only take a pill when I really want some sleep. I have trouble staying asleep due to my arms falling asleep at night and waking me up. It works great, I sleep much better, but the next day, I'm useless. I feel groggy for hours after I wake. I have to work, so I don't take them during the week."

• Sas...
• April 5, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I have lupus and am in pain and tired most of the day. It didn't matter how much sleep I got (which was interrupted most nights). I just started Elavil and found that it helped me to finally be able to sleep through the night. I felt a lot better during the day. I will note that it should be taken about 1/2 hour before bedtime because it will make you drowsy. It has also helped my mood and pain during the day."

• Bro...
• November 11, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "So far, I am amazed. I have had chronic migraines for the past 15 years, at least twice a week on a good week. I am 45 now. Before, it was occasional, like once a month since I was a teenager. I work in a fairly high-stress professional office environment. It has affected my work and mood negatively. I have absolutely tried everything before I recently tried amitriptyline: acupuncture, diet, meditation, homeopathy, blood pressure pills, massage therapy, and 3 neurologists. Imitrex works, but I was too reliant on it. I was very groggy the next day for one week on 25 mg of amitriptyline at night around dinner time, which didn't go well with my career, and I thought I would have to stop it, but I read here that it does go away, and it did! Three weeks in and no migraine."

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2012

Amitriptyline for Persistent Depressive Disorder "I was taking an SSRI antidepressant and other depression medicines but they didn't work. I started taking this and felt way better than I did before. I've been taking it for a while and got used to the sedating side effects, and it's helped me from the first time I took it."

• Gib...
• September 28, 2015

For Insomnia "I give it an 8 or 10. The other end would be a 1/10! DO NOT take this during your waking hours. Yeesh! This was prescribed for pain related to neuropathy. I was told to take one before sleep and I would be good to go. Suffice to say, I have no idea if I hurt in my sleep because this pill is the proverbial sledgehammer. I have an odd metabolism. I take one around 4 pm and I start yawning by 9 pm and do not wake for a minimum of 12 hours. So! If you need sleep, this will do it. If you need pain relief at night, well, I suppose if you are unconscious, that works as well! Sometimes I wake with back pain from having to pee so badly. If your bladder is weak, you may have other issues."

• Pdu...
• December 6, 2012

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I have suffered with irritable bowel syndrome for over 15 years. In the last two years, it got so bad I could not continue working. Seventeen months ago, my GP gave me a prescription for 100mg to take at bedtime. The first night, I slept 14 hours and woke up high as a kite. The following two nights, I took a half, and the next night a quarter with the same results and decided this medicine was not for me and returned to suffering. Three months ago in desperation, I took another 100mg pill and had the same experience for three days on just the one dose. After reading reviews stating that IBS patients were taking 10 to 20 mg, I started on lower doses with success. I am now trying to determine my best dosage."

• Tay...
• January 11, 2016

For Chronic Myofascial Pain "Started taking this for chronic myofascial pain. At only 10 mg, it's hard to notice a big difference in pain reduction, but it has definitely made it more tolerable. A little groggy at first and dry mouth, but it goes away within a few weeks. Absolutely no weight gain, although I did feel early on I was really craving carbs. If you stay disciplined, those cravings will go away. I haven't gained even 1 lb and have been on it for over a year."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "After I had kids, I started getting migraines. I've had them for over 5 years. I started taking this medication, and I've been on it for a little over a month. The first few days (2 or 3) I slept like a rock. I even felt weird, like I was in a dream. Those side effects went away after the third day. I haven't had one migraine since I started taking this medication, and I'm able to sleep through the night too. I would recommend this to anyone with migraines."

• ana...
• June 18, 2015

For Interstitial Cystitis "I started at 10 mg on this, but quickly went to 25 mg, as the pain was too much. Now I’ve leveled it to 20 mg per day, in the evening, and it has been wonderful. This, along with a careful diet, has helped and almost put in remission my IC symptoms. Side effects for me include grogginess, but that’s wearing away the more I take it and, for sure, a huge spike in my appetite, which I’ve had to be careful about as I don’t want to gain weight on it. It’s not a miracle drug, but it worked for me, and I think anyone suffering from this condition should give it a try."