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Amitriptyline...use for sleep problems?

Posted , 45 users are following.

helen182
helen182

My mum was recently prescribed Amitriptyline by her GP. She told me it was to help her sleep, but I have looked up info about it, and it looks like an andtidepressant, that is also sometimes used for migraine.

Q: does anyone else know of it being used for sleep problems? Does it help? What side effects, if any, have you found, and do they improve over time?

3 likes, 44 replies

44 Replies

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  • Idawmn
    Idawmn helen182

    Posted

    I was and still am having stomach issues on and off and that was part of the reason for getting put on Amitriptyline.   Went through a million testings and the doctor can't find anything so I was labelled as having IBS.   She told me that in the past this med was known as being an anti depressant (still is) but it  also found to be effective for migraines, insomnia, IBS, muscle pain.   Since I was having the issue with insomnia as well (I'm 57) I was willing to give it a try.  The stomach issues still come and go but I find a bit of an improvement in the sleep.  The only downfall is that at 10 mg I'm still sleepy through the day but I was told the key was to take it about 3 hours before bedtime instead of doing what I was doing - taking it at bedtime at 11 pm.   I have been on this since December so we'll see how it goes.
    • tony15730
      tony15730 Idawmn

      Posted

      What is the problem with your stomach? I had issues with burping and chest pain. After trying strong proton pump inhibitors I found the weaker h2 antihistamine Ranitidine worked wonders. A year of treatment and my condition is almost gone and I rarely need the tablets.
    • Idawmn
      Idawmn tony15730

      Posted

      I had gallbladder out in January 2014 and my stomach hasn't really felt the same.  Out of the blue it got really bad in September 2015 and lasted a couple of months.  It is like a cramping situation.   I went through every imaginable test possible, through specialists and they could find nothing wrong.  I guess they had to figure out some term for it and called it IBS.  I have no problem with anything I eat, no fever, nor temperature, no vomitting, use the bathroom just fine.  My stomach could be fine for weeks on end and then start up and last for a few days, be gone again.  Very, very strange.  I have found that taking this med, well it hasn't stopped it so I pretty much just use the med to get a better sleep.  I just figure it's all part of aging (57 years old) and just ignore the gut problem as much as I can.  I still go about doing the daily stuff.  
    • ryan99010
      ryan99010 Idawmn

      Posted

      Do you take a probiotic? I've had numerous intestinal problems until recently (almost routinely every morning and debilitatingly so). I firmly believe that some of the medications and antibiotics I had been on in the past contributed to certain (proper) gut bacteria being stripped out of my system. Once I began using a good proper probiotic, my gut issues have since gone away. I recommend a probiotic that has billions of active bacteria, but also one that has multiple different types of proper gut bacteria. Also, get one that needs to be refrigerated. The nutrition specialist that recommended it to me said that's important. Don't know why, but I trust her judgement. Hope this helps you and many others with similar issues.

    • karen99499
      karen99499 Idawmn

      Posted

      Hi

      ?I sound exactly like you, I am just reading up on Amitriptyline, as I have been prescribed 10mg to help me sleep and have the same experience as you with IBS (ongoing). I am 56. I hope you are feeling well, and I would really appreciate it if you would tell me how you have been whilst taking this drug? Are you still on it, any side effects? Have things improved? Any advice or comments would be great,  as I am always wary about taking pills.

      ?Thank you, best wishes

      ?Karen

  • walter54017
    walter54017 helen182

    Posted

    I just got amitriptyline 10 mg. for depression you would get 150mg. this is correct. I get these for perpheral neuropathy, to help me with pain and  sleep. I talked to a neurologist about the depression thing and side effects. wih this small of dose.10mg there is almost no problems. I will post what they do for me, as tonight will be the firstnight i take them.
    • fizz66319
      fizz66319 walter54017

      Posted

      Hi, I have just been diagnosed with neuropathy, and have been given these tablets, the pain is bad but I am so dubious about these antidepressants as I do not feel depressed just in pain, my Dr said they are for pain to. Could you please let me know how you find taking these tablets. Thank you.
  • dawn27366
    dawn27366 helen182

    Posted

    I have IBS as well and have been prescribed 20mg Amitriptyline. when I was getting cramps, shake, sweats I would get a warning that I'm about to have an attack so hopefully could deal with the issues in time but now only system I get is bloated stomach 2 mins before an attack and my attacks increased 10 fold which then caused me stress as I felt I could go anywhere as an attack might happen so then became emotional and I had a panick attack. I've been but on this drug to try stop me getting anxious. It took me half hour to get nerve to make long trip today but I made it and hope this drug helps me get my life back. People don't understand how IBS can for some destroy a persons life as its a disability that you can't see. Only side effect I have had is dry mouth & sleeping to much as I work nights my usual is 4 hours so glad I took time off work when I started this drug as I was sleeping 10 hrs +.

    • sharon4444
      sharon4444 dawn27366

      Posted

      Hi dawn , I was just reading through the questions on this site about amitriptyline and saw your comment , I've joined the site so I can reply to you but don't have a clue what I'm doing on computers so I really hope you get this x

      .... I had sweats , shakes, fainting(at work, the swimming baths, anywhere!!) , needing the loo constantly , bloated tummy ... I was put on 20mg of amitriptyline to calm my nerves kind of , they tested me for everything they could think of for 3 yrs but nothing changed for me . My Dr was about to go down the IBS route , cos nothing else was adding up , when my consultant at the hospital decided to test me for Bile Acid Malabsorbtion , he sent me for a sehcat scan , and that was it , that was my problem , from what I can gather my pancreas and gall bladder are 'broke' ? ... I now take a medicine called Questran for it , I'm not 'normal' but it helps me so much , I take 4 sachets in one drink when I wake up ... my consultant said some people only need 1 sachet and they are then fine , depends on the person I guess ... I just wanted to say about it cos BAM gets misdiagnosed in about 30% of IBS cases I think !! I've been poorly for 5 yrs now but the last two have been so much better .... I hope it may help you if you have a read up on the illness , wishing you lots of luck getting better cos I totally get how it can destroy your life xx

  • kimberly47
    kimberly47 helen182

    Posted

    I am on 25 mg and been using it to help me sleep through night. It works for me. I do not have side effects that I can see or feel 
  • debra10375
    debra10375 helen182

    Posted

    Hi Helen, Please don't worry, it is an older antideppresant, that was what it 'use to be "only" used for + then it was discovered to be good for nerve pain/headaches or sleep & those are the things it is now prescribed for. I have been taking it for about a year (10mgs) ... It will 'not' cause depression + it is absolutely marvellous for sleep, + is not addictive. I hope this helps smile

    • karen99499
      karen99499 debra10375

      Posted

      Hi 

      ?I have just been prescribed 10mg Amitriptyline to help me sleep, have been suffering with IBS for a while. I would really appreciate any comments or advice, are you still taking this drug, has it helped, any side effects?

      ?I hope you are feeling well, best wishes

      Karen

  • carla99701
    carla99701 helen182

    Posted

    I'm 19 I was prescribed these as way to help me sleep because im still a toe walking and nothing help my feet are always tense and this was ment to release the pain to help me sleep.

    First 4 days it help me sleep but if I only have few hours sleep it will cause pain when I get up and walk. I'm on day 17 my feet feel worse can't sleep and have few side effects from the tablets, everyone noticed a change where I'm not happy I'm more moody and at night crying to sleep because of pain

  • helibelli
    helibelli helen182

    Posted

    Does anyone get bad nightmares? After stopping sertraline & escalopram due to nightly nightmares for months they still continue at least 3 nights a wks after ending them over 12 wks ago. I started them for anxiety after starting migraines 6 months ago. Only took them for anxiety due to migraines. Anytriptaline is a different class of drug but can cause nightmares. Can anyone advise?

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