Amitriptyline and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on this for about a month. I was tolerating 10 mg well, so I went up to 20 mg. I still got my monthly migraine (I get a severe migraine every month), but it was very mild compared to what I would usually get...which could be the meds working? Not so sure about the 20 mg dose, it makes me feel tired/weird. I'm sleeping a bit better, though, like it isn't taking as long to fall asleep. Early days, but we will see. So far, it's looking promising."

• IC7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2017

For Interstitial Cystitis "I wish this medication helped my IC symptoms. Not only did I not notice any relief with pain or a reduction in how often I need to urinate, but the side effects were too much for me to bear. It causes such severe dry mouth that I would wake during the night needing to drink. During the day, I would always need something to drink but could never get any relief. I even tried gums, toothpastes, and mouthwashes designed for dry mouth, but they did not help and were too expensive. Another horrible side effect was that the pills would make me too tired to concentrate on my work as a graphic designer. I felt like napping all of the time and always woke up feeling exhausted. I tried various doses and even tried 1/4 of a 25 mg, but no luck."

• IC7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2017

For Interstitial Cystitis "I wish this medication helped my IC symptoms. Not only did I not notice any relief with pain or a reduction in how often I need to urinate, but the side effects were too much for me to bear. It causes such severe dry mouth that I would wake during the night needing to drink. During the day, I would always need something to drink but could never get any relief. I even tried gums, toothpastes, and mouthwashes designed for dry mouth, but they did not help and were too expensive. Another horrible side effect was that the pills would make me too tired to concentrate on my work as a graphic designer. I felt like napping all of the time and always woke up feeling exhausted. I tried various doses and even tried 1/4 of a 25 mg, but no luck."

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Been taking amitriptyline for 16 days now (10 mg at night), still VERY drowsy and lethargic during the day, and worse, a huge appetite increase especially for sweets and carbs. The pounds are piling on, but zero migraines/headaches and that after suffering badly for 35 years. I'm not ready to give up on the medicine yet despite side effects - I think it's too early and I plan to give it another month."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2021

For Interstitial Cystitis "A close relative was diagnosed with IC some two years ago. We live in Sydney, Australia. Referral to a urologist was a slow, tedious process of the usual discussion re medications, bladder distension, and then bladder irrigation. All with little to no effect. The patient, a young man in his mid-twenties, became depressed about the discomfort as well as the social consequences of this very disruptive disease. The urologist involved had very little sympathy for the effects of the disease upon the patient in terms of psychological well-being. He did not want to treat the disease with amitriptyline. After two years of extreme discomfort, the patient approached a sympathetic GP who agreed to trial him on 10 mg of amitriptyline. The results were spectacular. The pain and discomfort had improved by 80% within a week of a daily dose of Endep (ami). Improvement has continued with only mild tiredness in the mornings."

• Kev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2023

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on many antidepressants over the past year, all of which made me worse. I suffer from anxiety, depression, and chronic daily headaches. I've only been taking it a week at 10 mg, and the pain in my head has gone, but I still lack motivation or energy. They have made me feel fatigued and very tired. I will keep on with them, though, as they're the only tablets that have so far helped."

• lel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2013

For Vulvodynia "I have been on this for 3 days now, and it has helped tremendously. Felt very lethargic the first 2 days and dizzy, but much better today. Taking 25 mg twice daily. Also have neurological pain in mouth. Still have slight pain, but nothing like it was."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2024

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I researched this drug myself for severe IBS after having multiple investigations, tests, and trialing other medications for the severe pain and diarrhea I was having from my IBS. I had previously been put on a newer antidepressant medication which is recommended for second-line treatment for IBS, and it made me feel awful, so out of desperation I did my own research and came across this drug. The downsides I’d read were upsides for me! Weight gain… I was severely underweight due to my symptoms, so I needed this, and the other tiredness… well, I wasn’t sleeping well, so I welcomed this also. Cut a long story short, I’ve been on it for three years now at 10mg. I’ve never looked back! I’m so much better. I still have the off flare-up, but it’s nowhere near as bad and doesn’t last as long. I would highly recommend giving this drug a try if you’ve exhausted other options. It literally saved me!"

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking this medicine (25 mg) for a little over two weeks. I have to take it 13 hours before I want to wake up. If I take it right before I go to bed, I will sleep for 12 hours. I also am very tired throughout the day, and it is common for me to take a 4-hour nap (just to make it through the day). I believe it has helped my headache in that I am sleeping so much I can't feel the pain anymore."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "This medication made me not want to get out of bed. It was difficult to get up in the morning, and I felt tired and unmotivated. It was a relief when I stopped after trying it for 3 months. I still had migraines."

• Dou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I’m a 66-year-old male who has suffered with migraines for 50 years. Triptans changed my life about 30 years ago, working brilliantly to stop the 12 or so migraines I suffered monthly. Eighteen months ago, migraines increased in frequency until I was having them almost daily. I was prescribed Topiramate but could not cope with the side effects. I am now taking amitriptyline, initially 10 mg with an increase of 10 mg weekly to 30 mg. After a week at this dose, I had 8 days without a migraine before another one. I am now taking 40 mg, and so far, so good. I sleep better and feel tired some days, but have had no bad side effects."

• Gec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "Started off working very well the first few weeks. Was prescribed for cystitis. Helped with anxiety and depression. Had my happiness back. Now, after a month, not feeling happy anymore. Trying 17.5 at bed and 5 mg during the day. Very tired and fatigued. Anxiety back. Will hang in there and hope it gets better. Was off Adderall and Xanax. Now may need to add them back."

• Gec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2022

For Interstitial Cystitis "Just started 4 days ago. Got 10 mg, but I cut it in half. Seems to be working. Reduced pain on urination and reduced anxiety. Have reduced my Xanax to a pinch off 0.25. Also reduced Adderall to 5 mg. I am so happy. Got some tiredness. Taking a nap during the day. Hope to get off Adderall and Xanax. Will post later. Hard to break the 10 mg in half."

• hea...
• January 15, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "Like many who have commented here, I have experienced almost total relief from recurring migraine headaches-due to cranial nerve inflammation stemming from arthritis in C4 and C5. Before I started the amitriptyline, I had a strong headache nearly 24/7, with crushing flares maybe 2x per week. I was treating them with NSAIDs and Tramadol to keep them under control, with a triptan for the flares. My doctor put me on a regimen involving titration from 50 mg up to 300 mg over a 5-week period. I only got to 150 mg before the side effects (lethargy, dry mouth, constipation) were too much for me. I have backed down to 50 mg before bed, and that is working pretty well. My quality of life is so much better. You'll get used to the side effects."

• JCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2020

For Urinary Incontinence "Low dose of 20 mg amitriptyline stopped my bedwetting and urge incontinence for a bit. Had to up it to 30 as it started up again after 3 months. Bedwetting hasn't happened since, but urge incontinence during the day is beginning to return. Not sure how far I'll have to up the dose to get it completely under control. Also makes you more exhausted the further you up the dose."

• Sha...
• January 2, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I have been using 15 mg of Amirol at night for about a month now, but am still feeling the side effects of tiredness every afternoon. Though with the migraines, it has worked wonders, and I have gone from having them once or twice a week, lasting for at least 24 hours each time, to having only one every two days since starting the medication. What a lifestyle change it has made. I had got to the point where I was too scared to go out during the day, as light and sun seemed to trigger them. Now I hope they will continue to work, as it has been an absolute Godsend."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2019

"I am so unbelievably grateful for amitriptyline to help my gastroparesis! It allowed me to get my life back! When I first started taking it for my endless, ceaseless nausea, I was fresh off of losing 15 pounds in a month-which I didn't want to lose-and feeling desperate. I was off-put by the side effects at first-I was tired all the time, my brain felt foggy, I felt distant-however, I could eat again! At 35 mg, I had almost no nausea! Even better, 6 weeks into taking it, the side effects started fading, and 12 weeks into taking it, they are barely noticeable. A life changer."

• TjB...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2023

For Interstitial Cystitis "After suffering from everyday flare-ups with my Interstitial Cystitis (IC), mostly urethral pain and burning all the time. I started on 10 mg of amitriptyline, it changed my life. I had no more pain, but I was tired and grumpy and it has made my depression worse. After a year, I had to increase the dose, which in turn made the weight gain and mood worse. I had to make the decision if I stay on it and be pain-free but moody and gain weight or if I keep my weight normal and be stable mood-wise but still be in pain. I decided to stop the medication and try instills. I am also going to start gentle exercise to see if that can help. I may reconsider trying amitriptyline again in the future."

• Mia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 10, 2021

For Vulvodynia "I have taken this two time periods, the first time I took 60 mg for 7 months (January 2019 to August 2019) and the second time I took 40 mg for 3 months (October 2020 to January 2021). Both times it completely took away my pain from erosive lichen planus, but I struggled with bad side effects, the worst ones being completely dry mouth, weight gain, tiredness, and brain fog/attention deficit. I gained a total of 60 lbs over my time on amitriptyline, which is proving very difficult to get off, even though I'm now off the medication. I came off the medication because I couldn't function at work due to the brain fog. I would forget what I was doing, forget what we were talking about mid-conversation, zone out, sit and stare into space.... It was awful. It does take my pain away completely, so I really wish that the side effects were milder. I'm going to try duloxetine now."

• fin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 14, 2024

For Insomnia "I was prescribed amitriptyline for pain, but I find it is not effective for my pain. However, it certainly works well to get you to sleep. Initially had side effects including tiredness the following day, but got used to it over a week."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2009

Amitriptyline for Interstitial Cystitis "I take 25 mg at bedtime for interstitial cystitis, and it works great for me. It does take some time to get used to, and it makes you tired but after a month or so, I had no complaints."

• che...
• November 11, 2008

For Anxiety and Stress "It is a great drug. I was having really bad freak outs every day, and now I'm doing fine. However, it does make you tired."

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2021

For Insomnia "Was working great at first, but now it doesn’t seem to work at all. I wake up a lot at night. Then I’m exhausted during the day."

• And...
• September 14, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I take 12 mg of amitriptyline at night. It improved my IBS-D about 50%. The adverse effects are: dry mouth, feeling tired during the day."

• Anonymous
• February 20, 2010

For Interstitial Cystitis "I use this for frequent urination/interstitial cystitis. I have been on it for three weeks, and it works great. I am a little tired from it...but it is no big deal."