Amitriptyline and Dry Mouth: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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."

• Mis...
• May 29, 2011

For Pain "I'm diabetic and I've been taking amitriptyline hydrochloride for five weeks for pain from peripheral neuropathy in my feet and hands. I'm amazed at how well this medication works. I'm on 30mg daily and my hands are 90% improved, and the pain in my feet has vanished for the first time in years. I do have a few of the more common side effects... vivid dreams, occasional dry mouth, and once in a while, I feel lightheaded if I stand up too quickly. I can live with all of these if I can be pain-free."

• Amn...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2015

For Insomnia "I have had sleeping issues since a teenager and was finally diagnosed with Childhood Onset Insomnia. At times less than 1 hour total sleep a day for 3-4 days in a row. At the age of 42, my Dr. prescribed Elavil (Amitriptyline) and it changed my life. It's really cheap, about $30 CDN per month, doesn't store in your fat cells and is non-addictive. I take 50mg at around 9 pm, fall asleep around 11, and get a great sleep straight through until 6-7 am. No grogginess, some slight dry mouth. For me, it doesn't make me drowsy but it does help me stay asleep which was my problem - waking regularly through the night. Good luck, hope it works for you as well as it has for me!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2015

For Insomnia "After trying many different antidepressants and sleep aids with little to no results, my doctor put me on 75mg of amitriptyline for severe postpartum depression and anxiety with insomnia. This was the miracle I needed. I sleep really well now and am back to my happy, healthy self. I have dry mouth as a side effect, but I have learned to chew gum and use Biotene at bedtime. This regimen has made that one side effect tolerable, and I don't mind it, considering what this medicine has done for me. I work out regularly and watch what I eat, so I have not experienced any weight gain."

• 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"

• sha...
• April 6, 2015

For Insomnia "I stopped sleeping totally at some point in my life, and after a lot of struggle, my doctor put me on amitriptyline. I hated the thought of being on a psychotic drug, but with my body clearly denying me sleep, I had no choice. Amitriptyline felt like a miracle. My first night, I slept a deep volume of dreamless sleep. My eyes wouldn't even open. Aside from having a dry mouth and having a really irritating taste in my mouth, it was perfect. Four years down the line, I am still on amitriptyline. The 50mg dosage works well for me. I have increased dosage and reduced it over the years, but 50mg has remained my regular dose."

• 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!"

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2019

For Insomnia "I've been put on 50 mg amitriptyline for my bad insomnia. I've been suffering with not sleeping for the past 7 years on and off since my 23-year-old son died and have been on different antidepressants. Last year it got really bad, actually chronic. I'm 52 and also going through menopause, which can also cause bad sleep problems. My doctor put me on zopiclone, this worked very well, but the doctor won't prescribe anymore because of the addiction side of the pill. One week ago, after I had done a lot of research about it, I asked my doctor if she could prescribe me amitriptyline, it's really honestly worked for me. I'm so, so grateful for it. I take 50 mg about 2 hours before I go up to bed. The first night I took it and went to bed way too early, it didn't work, so that's a good tip if you need this drug to help you get off to sleep. One side effect I get at the moment is a dry mouth, which I can tolerate. Hopefully, after a while, my doctor will reduce the dose and one day I won't have to take it."

• 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!"

• Vio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Oops! I had put my review under the wrong category. Long story short, I got a concussion and was unexpectedly bed-ridden and in the dark, both metaphorically and literally, for almost 3 months. Migraines wracked me every day, among other symptoms - it was basically hell on earth. My doctor prescribed me 25 mg of amitriptyline and said most of his concussion patients had a lot of success with it. Anyway, it gave me my life back. I've been on it for 4 months now... I don't get aura migraines anymore, headaches now are duller and infrequent :) Dry mouth, a little more constipation, and had some depressed feelings when I first started, but my body adjusted. I really do recommend this! Give yourself enough hours to sleep at first."

• Red...
• April 5, 2017

For Insomnia "Been on it since 2008 -- went through 5 days withdrawal from OxyContin and Vicodin by choice by myself in a cabin - yes, I had a prescription for both meds - I was working out of state at the time - coming home every month for my legal fix. I was messed up mentally and physically after I stopped taking meds. I also quit drinking and smoking cigarettes and weed. Doctor prescribed tramadol which took a month to kick in. I take 100 mg 2 hours before I plan to sleep & Amitriptyline HCL 100 mg. It is the best thing I ever did. I was self-medicating with alcohol because I had insomnia ever since I was a teenager and now I am 65 years old. The cons - dry mouth in the morning, no big deal - it's worth having a good night's sleep, no hangover effects for me. I recommend this medication, thank you."

• sle...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 15, 2016

For Insomnia "I slept well as a young adult, but by my mid-forties I was only sleeping about 4 hours per night, and only 2 or 3 hours if I was under stress. It finally got to where I was having a lot of anxiety, grinding my teeth at night (with a sore jaw in the morning), and even started showing symptoms of OCD. I started Elavil (brand name in Canada) 10 mg at bedtime six years ago, and it has made my life so much better. I sleep a solid 6.5 hours every night and feel great. The teeth grinding and the OCD symptoms both stopped within the first 2-3 weeks. It took a few days to start taking effect. I also had a slight tremor during that first few days only. I had a somewhat dry mouth for the first two years or so, but not at all now. 10 mg still works for me."

• rik...
• November 1, 2017

For Pain "I have been on amitriptyline 75 mg for a year and a half. It does amazing things for depression and even pain. I was suicidal every day until I was prescribed this medicine. I have had only one side effect: dry mouth! The dry mouth is terrible. I carry gum with me always, lol. I recommend this medicine to anyone with depression, nerve pain, and insomnia. It will change your life for the better! I promise you! Give it a try!"

• 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."

• C61...
• January 23, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "About 3 months ago, I started experiencing thunderclap migraines. My doctor put me on Atenolol, which did nothing for me. She then put me on Amitriptyline 25 mg, which has pretty much eliminated the migraines. I guess I was somewhat depressed because now I feel wonderful, patient, and have a sense of well-being. My emotions seem to have leveled out. I have experienced some not-so-pleasant side effects, such as vivid, bizarre dreams, blurry vision, constipation, and dry mouth. I kept hearing about serious weight gain, but due to my newfound satisfaction in life, I don't turn to food for comfort anymore, so I've lost weight on this medicine! I love what this medicine has done for me."

• Shi...
• April 16, 2017

For Insomnia "I was prescribed these for insomnia and anxiety. I've been on every antidepressant you can think of, all with awful side effects. I do get a dry mouth, tiredness, headaches, and mild anxiety with amitriptyline, but it's much more manageable - I was suffering from daily, pretty constant anxiety before starting amitriptyline. I'm on 30 mg. My sleep is 90% better (which after 12 years of chronic insomnia is amazing)."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2010

Amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia "I started taking Elavil at the onset of my fibromyalgia in 1997, had great sleep, and was able to continue my work and study without pain. In early 2010, I read the side effects of the medicine and recognized what was happening to me. I had been falling for no reason, broke an ankle, lumbar vertebrae, thumb, and many bruises. I had dry mouth so bad I could hardly talk, could not remember my words I wanted to say, and lost all sex drive. I slowly removed myself off Elavil with the help of my doctor. I have had lots of pain since February 2010 and cannot find a medicine to help me with my sleep and pain, but I will not use Elavil again. I have not fallen, lost my memory, or had any other side effects of this medicine since."

• Wot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I went from having horrific painsomnia and feeling like a zombie 24/7 and being really agitated by noise and light to having a regular sleep pattern, which for sure helped me deal with pain and stress. I'm only up to 30 mg a day, and I've found coupled with pool therapy, this treatment has been invaluable. The only annoying thing is that I get really bad dry mouth (but means I'm drinking more water), and I've totally lost my sex drive."

• 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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2016

Amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia "I was prescribed Elavil by my rheumatologist and have been on it for 10 days. He prescribed a dose of 25 mg, but I am super sensitive to meds and have only been taking 12.5 mg. Let me just start by saying I have been on everything from Zoloft to Lyrica for depression and fibromyalgia. I have had negative experiences with most of them. I was skeptical to even try Elavil after reading some user reviews, but decided to give it a try. So far, I have noticed that I have more energy and don't feel like I am in a fog. Other side effects I've noticed: 1. Dry mouth 2. Weird dreams 3. Tired in the a.m., but more energy later on. 4. Upper back pain in the a.m. This concerns me. 5. More social 6. No pain relief for fibromyalgia. If anything, I am more aware of it. Jury's still out :/"

• Bug...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 8, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "After 20 years of migraine suffering, I went private and was prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg. I took these for 5 months and barely had a headache, never mind a migraine. I got dry mouth, and my sleeping improved as well. However, after 5 months, the migraines have started to come back, so I increased the dosage to 20-25mg. Again, in the first few weeks, I noticed the dry mouth and disturbed sleeping, but this has now settled down again, and I am migraine-free. It's the best medicine I've ever had and has also helped with my neck and arm pain. I couldn't recommend it enough, a lifesaver."

• 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."

• It ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "This has stopped my panic attacks, also helped me with health anxiety after suffering very bad asthma attacks. It took 7 weeks to work, started at 10 mg, then 20 mg, then 25 mg after 6 weeks in. I suffered with anxiety until asthma attacks. It has helped me stay calm and helps me sleep. The only side effect is dry mouth, which went away after 5 weeks. Now I take it every night, hope this review helps people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, the coronavirus made me worry more because of my asthma, and now I feel much more relaxed. I recommend trying it, but it did take 3-5 weeks to start working on me. You might be different. Take care, all of you in the same situation."