Whew that was a long one(sp). I have never actually heard of this drug until about a month ago, it was from someone that was bipolar suffering from occasional migraines, and chronic pain from fibromyalgia. It was on the list of the many various scripts she was taking at the time. Has anyone every taken this drug for either post-tramatic stress, depression, or pain? If so, how effective was it?

It can have a calming effect, though it can also agitate. Try to start low and increase gradually. The main side-effects ate dry mouth and sweating; constipation can also occur.

It does help sleep, so it may be wise to take the daily dose at night.

The drug generally slows you down.

I've been back on Elavil for 2 months now for chronic migraine.
I do take it at night. 20mg.
It will make you tired, so as Nephro said, take it at night.

I also take Tegretol at night, 200mg. So, not sure if it's the combo of the two meds, but they both make you tired.

I've certainly noticed an improvement. But should notice full effects by at least 4 months.
This is the first time I've been able to take it, as it used to lower my blood pressure to very scary levels. Now, it doesn't seem to affect me that way.

I took it for Nerve Pain....It Didn't work....And turned me into a drooling Zombie!.... Also Do Not take this Med with Tramadol!!!

Amitriptyline was the first A/D I had ever taken and that was like 20 years ago. It did help but like most other A/D's, be prepared to gain a lot of weight. Khilee

Thanks for your input guys. Initially I was wary about ordering, but for now I will take the plunge and try it out for awhile to see if does the trick. Not to mention I'm in if the benifits outride the unsavory side effects. I take Tramadol on occassion too though, I mean is it a bad idea cause they are both downers, or what-clarify a little; have you had some bad personal experiences mixing the two, or is it just a stupid choice altogether, and to leave at that.

Amitriyptyline was the first drug prescribed to me for depression and that was many years/EONS ago.
It helped my chronic depression very short-term, but I slept very well and food tasted wonderful, especially the high-carb comfort foods.
I have a friend who is prescibed Ami primarily for insomnia.

I was prescribed that twice for my headaches, and I took it faithfully,but with no help. It does make you tired as well. Hope that helps!

If you take Tramadol and Amatriptoline at the same time You have a better chance of having a seizure. I do Believe!....Someone correct me If I am wrong.

You're right, and both will increase serotonin levels. But many patients are prescribed tricyclics (or related) and tramadols at the same time. Whether this is because doctors don't know the risks, or consider them to be outweighed by the benefits, I'm not sure. It could be a bit of both, or a lot neither.

So does the quality of the drug really help w/ muscle pain and anxiety and/or depression. Or is the risk of chronic lethargy,and possible seizures, really worth it. Is it one of those drugs like Remeron that make you pertually tired the next day:ie like your limbs weigh 400 lbs., and you can sleep an additional 12 hrs. To be blunt do the benifits outweigh the side effects, or am I just wasting my time?

Everyones different but i would go with it being a waste of time. My expirenance with amitriptyline both times I tried it were a nightmare. After just 2 doses I had no idea who my son was when he called. Both times I would het so hot and bam break into a cold sweat. Nuff said makes me mad that is so much better meds now that Doc's still toss this nightmare at people like it's candy.

It's no longer recommended in the UK for depression. Only the small doses for nerve pain are being used now. In any case, the dose is often increased too rapidly by doctors, and side-effects result in poor patient compliance.

Nephro,

Do you build a tolerance for amitriptyline, or will the same dose work for a long time. My pain doctor has my on 1-3 (25mg) per nite for insomnia. 1 didn't work but 2 does leaving me slightly hungover. I'm a up at 4 am and by the time I start work (5:30 or so) most of that handover is gone.

Just wondering if my tolerance to this will build.

Thanks in advance.

Tolerance to the side-effects will almost definitely build, but the sedation tends to continue.

Occasionally, some people have reported tolerance to the sedative effect, but it's very rare.

Can you dose some way in between the two? A liquid formulation would help in doing this.

The sedation from amitriptyline does tend to hang over somewhat, and more so if the drug is taken regularly.

As an occasional sedative, it's effective with minimal side-effects.

Thanks, yes i will cut 1 in half and see if 1.5 does the trick. Glad to hear about the no tolerance buildup.

I also have questions on this--does it help at all for pain? No one takes me seriously im sick of docs throwing anti depressents at me for chronic pain

They gave it to me for Nerve Pain from Shingles and for Nerve Pain from 3 Ruptured Discs in my Neck. All it did was Make me Drool and put me to sleep....With a Bad Hang Over every Morning!!....Did Nada for the Pain!

Be very careful to make sure you swallow it without it getting stuck. Amitriptyline is very painful if it gets stuck in the throat. This is the reason some amitriptyline tablets are polished with carnauba wax. Take a big drink with the pills and swallow many times.

Tell me about I asked my doc for some Ultram (gave up on trying to get any hydro or flexeril months ago, I think they've cracked down so hard, you would have to be terminally ill, or have muscular dystropy to get a script)
I was under the impression that it was a ratther benign pain killer to begin with, (and it is-Advil works better)
but she balked, and acted like I was requesting some oxys or something. The reason I had asked in the first place, is I take massive amounts of Advil for my bum leg due to the CP. It works good, but is tearing up my stomach. Well first the moron writes for Celebrex-another INSAID! HELLO, was this dumb beyotch even listening when I explained to her that I already take OTC INSAIDS, and it is practically giving me an ulcer?! Well then she put me on Lyrica, which is for nerve pain, not muscle pain-idiot. That stuff made me groggy, gave me blurred vision, and made me so clumsy, my boss thought I was coming to work drunk or something, and threatened to fire me. The last straw was when I was driving and ran off the road nearly plowing into a few mail boxes. Needless to say I stopped taking that garbage, it did even less for the pain than the Ultram my Mom gave me.

Crapola, and I've already ordered the stuff. This is beginning to sound a lot like the hellish experience I had w/ lyrica. Want is wrong with the med. community in this country? It is like its turning into some 1984 like police state. Can't get muscle relaxers, can't get hydro, can't get codeine,can't EVEN get Ultram for godsake! Every doc is so afraid everyone is a druggie, that ironically you have to break the law just so you are'nt hobbling around in pain. This is ridulous! I swear it, one of these days I'm moving to Canada. Ah...Vancouver is lovely I hear, I just hate cold weather;been living in the South all my life.

Calypso....Your story sounds just like mine!!! .....Amnitriptoline, Neurotin , Lyrica, Flexeril, Celebrex ...Tylenol and Ibuprophen at the same time!!! ....Max Dosage for 3 Years

Celecoxib does not have the same GI risks as the non-selective NSAIDs, so your doctor got that one right. However, your stomach problems should be investigated if they do not resolve.

I was on amitriptylne, for a short term. It's an old school med that basically just numbs you out, gave me intense headaches, and made me want to sleep all the time. Nasty stuff, IMO.

Ironically, you can buy it at 1-800-petmeds if you have a rowdy dog or cat. Wierd.

my guess it it would sedate your dog or cat

and make them eat like a pig.

This is for certain one side effect of it!! Good gravy! I can't imagine my dogs on it. LOL!! They eat enough as it is!

At first when I started taking it, I couldn't figure out which new med was making food taste bad. (everything BUT sweets that is)
I think it's a combo of both meds. (elavil and tegretol)
I've always been very tiny, but this med has def made me change my eating habits.
I never ever drank sodas either, but now have a craving for them.

That is a relief, I've just ordered meds that not only put humans in a coma-like sleep, you can also give it to that Jack Russell Terrior that's barking &, you're like wtf? OK, we'll just sedate his puny butt w/ this mess, next best thing to those gun animal traquilzer darts! Almost everything I've read on the thread has been negative- neutral at best. Too bad I didn't ask you guys BEFORE I ordered, but now that I have, I'm at least going to give the suckers a 2-3 day test run. If it isn't too bad, I will only take it at night, otherwise I'll just trash it. It's just that I gotta test it some to see what it will do, otherwise I'm throwing 20 bucks out the window...

well, at least you know where to get it!

Good time to adopt a dog from the shelter.

Kidding aside, give it a try, but you may realize why it is not in high demand as far as psychotropic meds go.

What is your goal? What is your diagnosis?

Maybe a good psychiatrist can guide you.

Maybe not kidding aside! Look when you got those little pups ya gotta train, that are bouncing off the walls (just like small childen like to do...)Anyways, if they assume it is safe for HUMANS & PETS....Well that leaves me to the conclusion that maybe you can breaka piece off one of those suckers, and get Rowdy ready to focus for the next 20 mins. I'm a sick, sick, person aren't I? Hey what can I say, I like to put my $ to good use one way or another(ha)!Okay, now I'm probably going crazy overboard.

What happens after the 15th? If it is 'bout the Ryan Haight thing my mom's scripts have "altered" over a month ago! Initially, she was getting 7.5/500 Hydros #120 per month. Then she goes back for her next visit, finally she gets out to the car and starts throwing a fit because they're only giving "90" now. Well I said "Look Ma, those are 90 "10"s, not 120 7.5s, so he is totaly hooking you up!"
I think one of the "new" Rules are is a doc can only prescribe a patient max dosage of 90 per month. So, really she should stick w/ this dude because he hooked her up w/ the best loophole EVER! Maybe you are reffering to the federal policy, whereas state policies go in effect at various dates? I technically have no idea I'm in NC, but I know for a fact that things hava been changing.....