Amitriptyline and Dry Mouth: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Chr...
• February 7, 2017

For Pain "I had an accident at work 5 years ago. This has caused mid-lower back pain and sciatica on and off for several years. Over time the injury has gotten worse. The pain is now also radiating into my groin area. I take co-codamol 60/1000mg 4 times a day, 500mg naproxen twice daily and now on 30mg of amitriptyline at night after the other medications weren't working. The pain hasn't gone but it is bearable. On bad days I was unable to walk. Since starting the amitriptyline, I have had a couple of side effects. Dry mouth and tiredness in the day (however, this has gotten better over time). My quality of life has significantly improved and I can live with the side effects."

• sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2019

For Pain "Have severe pain all over from fibromyalgia and burning pain in my feet and legs due to diabetic neuropathy. Pain level was up to nine. I have been on 25mg of amitriptyline for two months. Takes the edge off the pain and I can sleep. Side effects are dry mouth, somewhat tired during the day. Extremely tired by 8pm. Not much of an appetite, but I do crave sweets."

• Tom...
• July 27, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "5 years ago, my gastro Dr put me on this med for nerve pain. I was not having to take it each night, usually 3 to 4 nights of as little as 12mg, sometimes even less at 6.5 mg did the trick. I found that the medication made it a bit harder to wake up in the morning but I was able to sleep through the night. I am now having trouble sleeping due to increased stress and anxiety, and the medication has been helpful in helping me sleep. Only issue for me has been the dry mouth in the morning, which is manageable. I also try to eat right and exercise daily, which has helped my anxiety. In reading the reviews, I can certainly relate to what many of you are going through. Unless you've been through it, people have no idea what it's like."

• Dub...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 13, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Had a very bad experience with anxiety three years ago, couldn't eat or sleep properly, feeling nauseous, diarrhea every morning. Tried Lexapro for 3 nights but made diarrhea worse. Started on 10mg of amitriptyline each night, symptoms improved for a week and then started to come back. Went on 25mg every night and have been taking it ever since. Would not like to stop taking it now as I feel so much happier in myself, side effects were a dry mouth for about a week but nothing after that."

• 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."

• Ran...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 21, 2016

For Depression "Been on the drug for 45 years. I have tried several other ones but had no relief. I hate the cholinergic side effects, dry mouth, rapid heart rate, dry eyes, and constipation. Every time I try to progressively wean off, I get sick as a dog. Still, this drug has probably saved my life."

• 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!"

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2008

Amitriptyline for Burning Mouth Syndrome "I was very skeptical that an antidepressant would help with my persistent burning mouth syndrome. My symptoms were severe: burning tongue, roof of the mouth, and throat. After many tests and no results, my doctor suggested amitriptyline. It worked almost immediately, and after two weeks, almost all the pain is gone. The side effects are minimal: dry mouth and disturbed dreams, which seem to have diminished after a month or so. It's worth it for me."

• 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."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been taking this medication for about 6 months now to help treat my insomnia issues and my migraines, which have disabled me at 20 years old. It's helped a lot. I only take 10mg because I am sensitive to medication and have always been. Because it's a form of an antidepressant I was stressed to try it because Zoloft made me feel insane and I was afraid I'd react the same way to this. To my surprise, after going 6 years without any medication, this has worked really well. I have not experienced dizziness as with other meds. I do get slight dry mouth. If I wake up at night, it's short-lived, and I can go back to sleep easily. I don't feel 'doped' up when I wake up but am just able to fall asleep again. I would recommend this medication! Side effects: dry mouth."

• 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."

• Hkf...
• August 10, 2016

Amitriptyline for Pain "I've been taking 10mg Endep for 2 weeks for bladder pain. I may have a mild case of interstitial cystitis, but I haven't been officially diagnosed yet. I have found it has worked really well with the pain. I went from being in pain all the time to only a couple of times, and it's been manageable. I have dry mouth and an increased appetite from Endep, but the worst side effect is constant drowsiness and a general feeling of being drugged up."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Ort...
• January 23, 2016

For Pain "I have been taking amitriptyline on and off for over three years after a serious road accident, where my pelvis was crushed and I suffered major nerve damage. It really works, but I am trying to get off it permanently because of the side effects. It helps with pain and sleep, which are my two biggest complaints, but the side effects of constipation, dry mouth, and a weight gain of 50 pounds (from 120 to 170) are really quite terrible, especially when taken in connection with other side effect-causing drugs. I would be very careful about taking this drug. It's very important to weigh the costs vs benefits. Since I was a trauma patient, I didn't have much choice in the matter, and I am still living with the consequences."

• BBe...
• October 8, 2013

For Depression "My previous doctor put me on 10 mg to try and help me sleep but it stopped working. My new doctor increased it to 35 mg (25 mg and 10 mg). I don't fall asleep right away but I do sleep and have a good night's sleep. I feel better in general, not moody like I used to be. Along with anxiety, I must have had mild depression. I had side effects of a dry mouth but that has gone away."

• Iry...
• July 10, 2019

For Depression "Would start after chatting about amitriptyline with my friend. After chatting, we decided to do activism: 'Amitriptyline should be prescribed much more often!'. Once I started on amitriptyline (for depression), I even started working part-time. From the very beginning, I felt that it worked much better for my major recurrent depressive disorder. First of all, much more energy compared to escitalopram (esc.) that I had taken before. My friend also tried amitriptyline after being on esc. and found out that even in a small dosage like 50 mg daily is more efficient than esc. Important! It decreased my sexual energy - I needed it so desperately because I had nobody to have sex with! I received amitriptyline 5 years later than I started needing it! Particularly because of side effects that make doctors prescribe it only in cases when newer antidepressants don't work enough. So anyway, if you have long and strong depression, I highly recommend trying it. Side effects: dry mouth (later disappears), all the way - higher appetite. But it may be worth it! Cheap!"

• Per...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2015

Amitriptyline for Depression "I've tried about every medication out there for my anxiety and depression: Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Paxil, Cymbalta, Emsam, Xanax, etc. At 75mg, Elavil helped me sleep. I had more energy, I didn't feel restless, and I rarely got upset. I thought I had found the perfect cure until I started to gain weight. I decreased my calorie intake, increased my exercise, and the weight just kept coming. In 4 months, I had gained 26 pounds. I also started to have severe dry mouth; my throat was dry, and my voice was hoarse. I also started to have blurred vision. I really like this medicine but know I can handle the side effects."

• Gis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 10, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I was initially prescribed for migraine prevention (after taking nortriptyline years ago), but have since found and leaned on this medication to aid with several other conditions. It has significantly cut down my number of migraines, making them manageable. It helps mentally as I have fought mild anxiety and depression drug-free for years, and makes falling asleep and staying asleep much easier. All that said, the first couple of weeks of taking it were quite rough - I slept like a dead person and was on another planet for a good 12 hours after taking it, had a horrendously dry mouth, and was constantly fatigued. But nearly all side effects subsided after a few weeks. Highly recommend it to anyone fighting migraines, insomnia, or depression. Wonder drug."

• Vio...
• March 12, 2016

For Pain "This can be a life-changer. I'm 22 and had gotten a concussion back in Nov. I was in bed every day for over 2 months, told to avoid ALL stimulation, lost a few lbs, hit with multiple migraines per day. My doc prescribed amitriptyline & within a few days of starting, I was easing back out of the dark and into the light (metaphorically and literally). This med gave me my life back and now I'm able to graduate on-time which was threatened then. Symptoms: a little more constipation than my usual, dry mouth, a dampened libido... they're all not bad sacrifices for me. Also, I've been aura-migraine-free since this medicine too! My aunt has been on it for almost 30 yrs and it's helped her chronic migraines as well. She's about 55 I think. Consider it!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2016

For Insomnia "I was prescribed this for restless leg syndrome, which was affecting my sleep. I've now been taking it for 3 years, 10mg initially. It allows me to slip into sleep if taken about 2 hrs before I go to bed. If I do wake up, it allows me to get back to sleep easily. The initial dry mouth etc. soon went away, and I am delighted with the ongoing ease with which I can sleep."

• sdg...
• May 9, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "When I suddenly developed severe nausea/loss of appetite accompanied by severe acid reflux and abdominal cramps about a year ago, I thought I was sick with an acute illness. I could hardly eat for months. However, all the doctors I saw couldn't find anything particularly wrong with me, save some inflammation in my esophagus. I was at my wit's end after a particularly severe flare-up a few weeks ago, and my GI thought it might be a good idea to try a low-dose antidepressant since most food intolerances had been ruled out. Within days on 10 mg, the cramps were mostly gone, and now, a few weeks later, the nausea is also gone and my appetite is back (with a vengeance). It's truly a miracle! The only downsides for me have been some mouth dryness and urine retention, both mild, and trouble falling asleep despite the drowsiness, which has been slightly more difficult to deal with."

• 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."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2019

For Depression "Well, I'm male, 30. I have severe hemophilia A, severe arthritis, pain, and depression. Also, I'm underweight. I started using amitriptyline from 5 to 25 mg. Anyone using it should know it takes a month for it to work. At first, you will have dry mouth, fast to sleep at nights, and weight gain. All of these side effects were my solutions. Actually, I was very thin, now I'm at a good weight scale. I gained weight, I became more sedated, had fewer mood swings, less pain, and was more active. So far, after a month of 25 mg amitriptyline, I became really better, both on depression and pain (also better at anxiety). For me, it’s great. Negative things are dry mouth and a bit of constipation, but these wane off after a while."