Amitriptyline and Tiredness: What Users Say

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

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been taking a low dose (10-20mg) of amitriptyline at night right before bed for the past 8 months, and it has worked amazingly well for me and my stress/anxiety. I was originally prescribed this for nerve pain in the throat due to LPR/acid reflux symptoms such as constantly clearing my throat and hoarseness. It has worked great for this as my throat pain is down 90% after only 8 months. These symptoms, in turn, caused me anxiety and depression, and the medicine also helped tremendously with that as well. I get great sleep every night, and the only real side effects worth noting would be dry mouth, so make sure you use a good mouthwash such as Therabreath Dry Mouth. I experience tiredness at times and weird dreams sometimes, but that may just be me. I highly recommend trying 10mg before bed if you have any of these symptoms and moving up to 20mg after a week if you find it really helps you."

• Abi...
• December 6, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Since being on amitriptyline, my IBS symptoms are pretty much not there. I used to be in horrific pain all day every day and would even feel hot, dizzy, and in so much pain that I would actually faint off the toilet. I didn't want to leave the house, and IBS literally took over my life. I never write any reviews like this, but if I can help even just one IBS sufferer, then it's worth it. I gradually increased my dose to 50mg per night. Seems like a lot, but it's worth it in order to live a normal 21-year-old girl's life. For the first week, I did get the side effects (tired, dry mouth, a bit faint), but after that, I felt absolutely fine again. Please try this drug. I didn't think it would work, but it did, and I have honestly never been happier!"

• LLT...
• September 20, 2011

Amitriptyline for Depression "I just got my prescription filled for the 3rd time and wanted to write a review to help others. I was so scared to take this after having a bad experience with Zoloft. I remember coming here and reading all the reviews and still didn't take the medicines prescribed until a month later. The first two weeks I was so tired and had extreme dry mouth. I thought I would have to quit because I was so tired and couldn't work. I had two weeks off between Christmas and the New Year and decided to stick with it. I'm so glad I did. I feel like myself again and with zero side effects now except for when I don't take it for a few days. If I ever do come off, I will wean slowly. I was also so scared to gain weight which, thankfully, didn't happen. Love it!"

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I believe fibromyalgia symptoms started when I was around 14. It wasn't diagnosed until I was 41. I had been to many doctors complaining of lethargy and body pain/aches, and I never had any answers. One doctor said, 'Do you think this might be all in your head?' My life changed at 41 when I started on amitriptyline. I finally went into a deep sleep, felt more refreshed, and it substantially reduced the pain. I am currently 55. The original dose lost its efficacy over time. I am now on 125 mg, but I am very active and run and bicycle weekly. Don't get scared if you feel even more tired in the first 2 to 3 weeks of taking the medication, that will dissipate and you will feel refreshed all day."

• add...
• October 3, 2019

For Interstitial Cystitis "I had been going to multiple doctors trying to figure out why I kept burning when using the bathroom for 3 months straight. Not even urologists could figure out what was going on. Finally, a doctor diagnosed me with IC. I was given 25mg of amitriptyline to take twice a day. It only took 2 days for my symptoms to go away. I felt so relieved. It does make me really tired throughout the day, and I find it harder to wake up. However, once I’m up, I feel so much more energized. Not only has this medicine helped my IC, but has also made me feel like a whole new person."

• Col...
• October 26, 2014

For Insomnia "I have been on 10 mg Amitriptyline for a month and am really getting a good night's sleep. I must say the first weeks, I was really tired and exhausted. After 3 weeks, my body adjusted quite well. I have a low tolerance to medication, so 10 mg is good for now."

• Col...
• October 26, 2014

For Insomnia "I have been on 10 mg Amitriptyline for a month and am really getting a good night's sleep. I must say the first weeks, I was really tired and exhausted. After 3 weeks, my body adjusted quite well. I have a low tolerance to medication, so 10 mg is good for now."

• Bad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2014

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "If you are thinking about going on this medicine for irritable bowel syndrome, do it! I have been suffering for almost 5 years now, and I was missing work and was terrified to leave my house. Any social event I would go to, I would be terrified I would have a flare-up. I used to LIVE off Pepto, and I started taking amitriptyline (25mg), it has changed my life! For real! Besides a little weight gain, which is much better than living the life I was, it has truly saved me. This dosage is really good for me, and my irritable bowel syndrome was very severe. I take it with dinner so I don't wake up too tired! Good luck!"

• 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."

• Gus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I was literally suicidal before I started this medication. I fought having to take it, and now I wish I'd taken it sooner. It has quite literally saved my life. I am very sensitive to medication, so I started on 2.5 mg and crept it up to 5 mg. I am at least 90% better! I absolutely fully recommend giving this drug a chance if you get to the point where not living feels like your only escape. I was scared, but I need not have been. Very mild side effects... slight weakness and tiredness at first, and a headache for a few days."

• 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!"

• SJB...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2014

For Insomnia "I had steadily gotten worse over a matter of years with sleeping, to the point where I had three days with no sleep. Even sleeping pills would not knock me out. I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia, and things got worse. I now take amitriptyline 50mg before bed and two tablets during the day of Lyrica 25mg each tablet. To begin with, it didn't seem to be working, and I was so thirsty and extremely tired, but that gets totally better after a few weeks. My anxiety has disappeared, and my sleeping is 99% to 100% better. I would recommend these two tablets without a doubt. They have saved me."

• 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."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2018

Amitriptyline for Insomnia "I started taking Endep 10 for insomnia from menopause. This was too weak and had no effect, so after a week, my doctor increased it to Endep 25. This works really well for me. Most nights I sleep far more soundly, and if I wake up, I fall back to sleep pretty quickly. Some days I wake up a little lethargic and slow to get out of bed, but once I'm up, I am my usual motivated self. This has worked well for me, and I feel heaps better than when I was taking sleeping pills."

• bro...
• June 5, 2010

Amitriptyline for Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Elavil for a month now, and I am almost migraine-free. I was started on 25mg at bedtime. My headaches lessened, but I still had them. Maybe one out of 4 was really bad. So my MD doubled the dose to 50mg a night, and boy, that did the trick, but I stayed tired all the time. I went back to 25mg every night, and now it seems to be working very well for me. Just takes time to adjust. So if you have just started, hang in there, it will get better!"

• Lig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "As someone who has suffered horrendously crippling severe anxiety/depression for over 20 years. I tried every other depression & anxiety on the market before this. I wish I'd been given it years ago instead of the newer ones. Amitriptyline at a dose of 10mg at night has been a total godsend, & a lifesaver to me. Finally I can sleep at night & get a full night's sleep, able to switch off from excessive anxiety & worrying through the night. I do feel excessively tired the next day & would definitely struggle to work on these at the moment but that might be because I'm also on Naltrexone 50mg also at night, both known to cause tiredness when taken on their own, but finally I have some peace from severe anxiety & my mood has lifted even if by little."

• Rho...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 3, 2014

Amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia "I have been on Endep for 35 years. I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and plenty more. In the last six months, I have been getting very odd symptoms such as the ones provided within this article! Sudden weight gain, inability to eat properly, tiredness, rounded face, weakness, sore mouth and tongue, to slight more depression. At the moment, I am on a doctor's treadmill... everyone from my endocrinologist to a neurologist, GP, and many more have put their hands up saying I don't know! The medicines work really well for fibromyalgia, but after some time, they can work against you! Please look at the list of side effects. I have a lot of them. Good luck!"

• Mis...
• June 15, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on 25mg since a year and a half ago. I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. I refused to take any medication, but it got so bad I had to do something. My PCP put me on Zoloft. That pill gave me such bad side effects I thought I was going to die. So, I went to a psychiatrist and she put me on Elavil. I was so nervous about starting a new medication, but I knew I had to try it. She prescribed 25 milligrams 3 times a day. I know my body and I knew that was a high dose for me, so I started with 25mg, and yes, it made me really, really tired. So, I took it at night and within 2 weeks I felt so much better. I still get tired, but it helps me sleep. I love this medication."

• Mir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2022

For Depression "Am on amitriptyline for 10 years and now am on 100 mg. I am 30 years old, have weight gain, tiredness, some nightmares, vivid dreams, but apart from all side effects, amitriptyline is a very effective antidepressant and good for other mental illnesses. I have tried other meds for depression, but they don't work for me. Give this drug a chance, be patient, and it will amaze you. God bless you all, viewers."

• 2 w...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "Tried sertraline and escitalopram... Both almost made me suicidal, huge pupils, tremors, hallucinations, couldn't eat anything, always tired, depressed, out of my body, slow thinking, intrusive thoughts, and other really weird side effects. Now I'm trying amitriptyline for my anxiety of past memories, panic attacks, and insomnia. Right now it seems to work. I sleep, I can eat, I'm calmer before going to bed and hope that this may be my miracle drug, after 3 huge antidepressant fails in the past 6 weeks. I'm only on 10 mg right now, because I'm extremely sensitive to drugs. Will see in the future if this is the right one for me... I really hope so."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2025

For Anxiety and Stress "I’m only on night 4 of taking this at 10 mg for severe anxiety to the point of a nervous breakdown and having anxiety/panic all day long due to severe stress. The first 2 days I literally slept most of the day (but wasn’t anxious as I was so exhausted), and then today I got up, showered, washed my hair, got dressed, things I’ve been struggling with for a couple of weeks, and I have felt so awake today. I even cleaned the kitchen this evening! The anxiety is still there, but it’s dialed down slightly already. I’m feeling very hopeful that these are going to help my anxiety, which only Diazepam so far has been effective for, but obv doc won’t prescribe often, etc. After trying 4 SSRIs a few years ago with horrific side effects that I couldn’t get past, this has so far been a godsend! I haven’t had any side effects apart from the tiredness so far, which is unbelievable! I’ll review again after more time has passed, but I’m feeling positive so far on 10 mg."

• Lul...
• October 23, 2016

For Pain "I developed a prolapsed disk during pregnancy, which caused burning and throbbing sciatica all down my right leg. I could only sleep for a maximum of two hours at night before the pain woke me up, and it was also pretty grim throughout the day. I worked my way up to 20 mg of amitriptyline (5 mg more every few days) and found that after several weeks, the pain had reduced greatly. After a few months, I tried reducing the dose to 15 mg (due to side effects of tiredness and feeling groggy in the morning), but the pain returned, so I increased the dose back to 20 mg, and the pain has gone again. This drug might not suit everyone, but for me, the benefits of this medication definitely outweigh the side effects, and I shall be continuing to take it."

• 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."

• Moj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I was warned that amitriptyline might take a couple of weeks to work fully, but I can say that within 5-6 days my endless dark mood lifted and my sleep pattern vastly improved. The dark thoughts do still come but vanish quite fast. I should have started this a year ago but held off. Side effects (for me) are feeling tired and fatigued (getting less after a week). Do not drive! Wait a while."