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Difficult GP..? Amitriptyline experiences?

Posted , 12 users are following.

charlotte915
charlotte915

Hi all, I didn't have a very successfull appointment last week. My GP basically told me that you don't get 'diagnosed with ME', that she is going to re-do all the same tests I've been through (just had bloods taken yesterday). She was in such a rush to get me out of the chair as she was already running late that she skipped over the majority of my symptoms. She never did anything or said anything about the chest pains, stiffness in the morning (it's gotten so bad I wake up and cannot move or grip anything for the first wee while). I had to mention about 3 times that Ibruprofen/Paracetemol does NOT give me any pain relief when I have severe muscle/joint pains - she told me she would write a prescription for codeine prosphate, which I now have. She told me to book another appointment with her next week and maybe she will put me on amitriptyline. I have this appointment with her tomorrow to disucuss. Has anyone had any experience on amitriptyline? Please...any replies would be soo appreciated. At the end of my tether. 

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • georgeGG
    georgeGG charlotte915

    Posted

    Yes. Recently I have twice been prescribed small doses of amitripteline help sleep when I was having spells day and night ov agony 9/10 on my pain scale. It together did little to relieve the pain an other symptoms.

    I also was prescribed a very big dose to judge by the relative size of pill. That was to aleviate the apalling condition I was in as a result of five other precribed pills. I started to improve when I stpped taking all six pills. I was not aware of any effect good or bad from the Amitriptyline. The Amitriptyline was prescribed by the then Professor of Psichiatry. He wrote more than once to have the initial consultant change the treatment.

    The other matter is the behavour of your GP. I changed oncologist recently because she set her lateness at a higher priority than my medical care. My life in her hands? No way! 

  • MatthewL
    MatthewL charlotte915

    Posted

    Hi Charlotte

    I was prescribed amitriptyline a few months ago to help alleviate IBS symptoms as it's a depressant of the CNS and gut. It did help with the IBS but I was extremely sensitive to the stimulant side effects at night. I would wake up feeling like my mind hadn't rested at all as my dreams were the most lucid and crystal clear that I'd ever experienced. I had to stop taking them and then developed insomnia for a few nights. I had withdrawal symptoms just from a weeks worth of a single 5/10 mg dose before bed! 

    Each person will be different in their response but for me the benefits weren't worth the negatives. I'm not sure if over time you become tolerant and have to up the dose so I've tried to stay away from them. I can't comment about pain relief though, sorry. My bloods never give anything away about my CFS!

  • rose02814
    rose02814 charlotte915

    Posted

    Hi Charlotte915- I have been on amytriptaline for 5years now. It has helped me with my sleep but I dont always feel refreshed after sleep. I also feel my anxiety levels are heightened and I'm not sure it's due to the meds or all the symptoms and other things that is goin on inside my body, I have gained weight since being on the meds. But I do feel it has helped me with some of my nerve pain to some degree. Give amytriptaline a go as it may alleviate some of your symptoms hopefully. Let us know how you get on with your appointment and whether you find that the drug works for you.

    goodluck

    • charlotte915
      charlotte915 rose02814

      Posted

      Hi Rose, Thank you for that. I really hoe it helps me...I am always having disturbed sleep and I'm always knackered. How long in your experience did it take to work..and how long before bed would you say is the best time to take? I had one 10mg last night about and hour or so before bed..went off to bed and it took me a while to drift off to sleep. I still woke up numerous times too. Although my partner told me I woke up, walked over to the light swicth and proceeded to turn the light on..I can't remember that! 

      Thanks ffor your comments

    • rose02814
      rose02814 charlotte915

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte- I tend to take it a few hours before I need to get Into bed. I take it around 6-7pm so I can drift off to sleep for 10-11 pm. 

      I think I noticed the affects of amitryptaline 6-7 weeks after taking the meds x

  • charlotte915
    charlotte915

    Posted

    Hi Guys, I'm not long back from my GP. It went ok she has given me 10mg Amitriptyline to begin with, which I'm not too sure how I feel but I hope they help. I will begin them tonight. I feel like my GP is focusing on my symptoms individually rather than all together. My blood tests came back fine, the LDH test which the heamotologist did last year (while they thought I had lymphoma) was done again, it was requested it's checked every few monts - it came back lower than the results last time..not too sure what that means. My GP has also referred me to rheumatology at my local hospital just to rule more conditions out. I've also had to make another app with my GP for 2 weeks time to check in and update her. Wish me luck wih the amitriptyline!
    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 charlotte915

      Posted

      sounds like a good appoinment. all good luck with the amit.? ley us know how it hoes for u.

      Caitlin

    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 charlotte915

      Posted

      Hi Charlotte;  sounds as if you have had a worrying time;   LDH is a test for Cholesterol levels...LDH is the "healthy" cholesterol....if the LDL was elevated, then you would need to watch/change your diet, and be alert for arterial probs....I, and my sisters all have  raised LDH levels, (inherited) and take an anti-statin....mainly because our father died of Pancreatic cancer....and the chief Physician, who treated Dad for me, was consulted by my GP re same, and it was felt that we should all take the anti-statin as a precautionary measure.....but as your's has gone down with last bloods, it sounds good, but is wise to keep an eye on same....(me, I feel I'm still going to die of something...no-one's found a cure for that either, yet;.......sorry....me and my horrible sense of humour).....as for your Amitriptylline....it should help you immensely...it is my saving grace....it and Gabapentin are all that has helped my Fibro/ME....and believe me that over the 20 years, they have trialed me on  many and varied meds.....so keep taking them, and hopefully you will find it  as good as I have..............smile  Bron
  • dentalcfs
    dentalcfs charlotte915

    Posted

    What was the horrible illness you were talking about while having a holiday in Turkey? If you can pinpoint on where it started of course it would be an important clue.

    Was it a major trauma like felling down or something?

    • charlotte915
      charlotte915 dentalcfs

      Posted

      I had vomitting and diarrhea, I couldn't eat for about 3 days and struggled to keep down water also. I was also bleeding from my bum and my periods had came about early. I struggled to walk and had migraines was also very sensitve to lighting. Apologies for tmi but you did ask smile. Not long after returning back home and full health did I notice lymphnodes in my neck, arm pit and groin along with other symptoms previously mentioned.
    • dentalcfs
      dentalcfs charlotte915

      Posted

      I don't think anything posted in this forum could be tmi cheesygrin

      What was the diagnosis back then? Seems like a high suspect of parasitic infection. Have you done several stool tests? Have you ruled out Giardiasis?

    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 charlotte915

      Posted

      me again;   didn't read all the posts before replying last time.....the swollen lymph nodes are a sign (normally) of your body fighting a foreign virus/germ.....something that shouldn't be in your system....part of our Lymphatic System.   However, when you say re bleeding from your "bum"...was it bright blood, or darker old blood, or of a blackish colour....the different colours usually can give an idea where it is coming from....if bright, usually means from close to the anus...dark blood coming from further up the bowel, and blackish/tarry, coming from the gut/stomach....it is very important when describing bleeding from the rectum/back passage....as it can assist with a diagnosis.   Did you and doc sort out the issue/s?     being a nosy parker, again....winkBron
  • GeorgiaS
    GeorgiaS charlotte915

    Posted

    As far as I'm aware doctors don't diagnose ME but mine sent me to an ME consultant. It took  years and much pushing on my part.

    I was prescribed amitriptylene but I only took it for several days because it made me even more tired in the day time. I use Valerian for a good sleep and it makes me more refreshed in the day time..

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