Amitriptyline Users: would you start this drug if offered it now?
Posted , 10 users are following.
I have been offered this drug on a low dosage for acute back pain. I have a damaged lumbar facet joint trapping my sciatic nerve in my left leg. To my horror a physiotherapist and a GP have suggested I might try this drug for pain relief as the physio and painkillers are not working. I just can't sit down because of the nerve pain in my leg and I have to travel 215 miles in a week's time for a serious family health commitment.
I use the word "horror" as it has taken me 10 months to be totally free from mirtazapine withdrawal side effects. And as most AD users will know, there is no support for any patient when trying to stop taking these drugs. You are out there, alone.
Now that I feel free at last from the insidious side effects of mirtazapine, I'm offered amitriptyline. ??
It would seem that antidepressants are the cure all for everything these days except depression.
Is anyone taking this drug for back pain and does it work?
Thank you
1 like, 36 replies
UKSteve christine15542
Posted
The answer to your question is how bad is your pain and is it temporary?
If you have chronic pain you're going to need long-term possibly life time treatment and therefore discontinuation effects of a medicine should not be a priority concern.
You say that your pain is acute. If that is the case then no!
a long-term medication like amitriptyline is not a good choice for an acute condition. (Except occasional insomnia)
Acute pain should be dealt with analgesics & muscle relaxers not with psychotropics.
christine15542 UKSteve
Posted
It's a pity that both a doctor and a physio think a psychotropic drug is a remedy when I specifically mentioned I was enquiring for a temporary pain management fix. I had already been given muscle relaxants but they were not strong enough to combat the nerve pain and they were not keen to offer anything other than ADs namely amitriptyline.
msilinda christine15542
Posted
I fell rock climbing and injured my lower lumbar, then within the same year had an epidural for a C-section in my spine that the lady applying gave me the old fashion spinal tap type and missed the correct spot and ever since I get unbearable pain in that exact area of my spine. I do not like to take medications, sort of a naturalist when I can. But the medication I found that worked best for my back/spine nerve pain ended up being Tizanidine. It is a muscle relaxant. It does make you sleepy so I could only take it at night time. It has few side affects, but I am sensitive to all medications (being a naturalist), so after about 4 years of being on it, I got very sick from a surgery and lost 30 pounds in about a month. I noticed after I lost the weight I didn't have the constant pain, only occasional, so I stopped taking it. But out of all the meds they tried for my back nerve pain that worked the best with the least side affects for me.
Lala5555 christine15542
Posted
I wouldn't go near it, knowing what I know now. I took a larger dose for years. Last year I gradually lost so much cognitive function I was tested & labelled Demented. I was terrified as my dad had dementia but not until his 70s.
I was set up to see a neuropsychologist 3 months from my Dr appointment. The Dr suggested I go off my meds 1 at a time to see if that would help me. Amitriptyline withdrawals were a nightmare but I came off it quickly. In less than 2 months I passed all cognitive tests & cancelled the appointment with the specialist.
Is it possible for you to get a small Rx for hydrocodone 5 mg? You can take only a partial pill. This would take care of you through your upcoming trip. Then you can investigate pain relievers for future use.
My Dr said medical cannabis also helps with pain.