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Does amitriptyline stop working?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Tat
Tat

The 1st time I was prescribed it I took 10mg, this made me feell relaxed but I couldn't switch my mind off and I was awake all night, I was then advised to increase this to 20mg and this did work, I slept really well and felt great but this only lasted for approx 2 weeks and then I found my body relaxed but my mind was awake and it kept me awake all night. I went back to the dr and he told me to take 25mg which again worked, I was sleeping really well and felt great but again this only lasted for 2 weeks, so last night I increased the dose as the dr said if 25mg didn't work then I could take an extra 10mg and increase it to 35mg, which I did and I didn't get any sleep at all. I went back to the dr yesterday and he's told me to take 50mg,which again did not work, does your body adjust to the medication? Will I have to increase it every 2 weeks to get a decent nights sleep?Will this keep me awake again when the dose is not high enough? I am at my witts end with not sleeping as all I want to do is go to bed at night and to sleep well. I don't know if I should just stop taking it as I never used to be so dependant on tablets to get me to sleep. Any advice is appreciated - Nikki

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • annie62
    annie62

    Posted

    I was on 10mg for a few weeks and I had the same reaction as you, it made me relaxed and I could sleep but it stopped doing anything after 2 weeks. I was then put up to 20 and the same thing happened. i haven't be officially told that your body adapts to it but that's what seems to be happening to me.
  • Tat
    Tat

    Posted

    Ah thank you so much for replying, I feel I'm not given the full facts about the drug, it's almost a false sense of security as I thought I was sleeping well and getting better. Then out of the blue they stopped working and I had no sleep. I don't want to take these anymore as they are quite unpredictable, I take it for the side effect I.e sleep but my body adjusts to them quite well. Can u just stop them after 5/6 weeks? Nikki,
    • tamiko_84091
      tamiko_84091 Tat

      Posted

      Hi there. I have just started to suffer with nerve pain in my gums it's driving me crazy. After lots of dental treatment I was finally put on Amitriptyline I was almost pain free for 3 weeks but now the constant throbbing in my mouth has come back. I know it's different to what ur discussing but I was trying to find a thread that talked about amitriptyline no longer working. I have now gone from taking 20mg to 40mg. I'm so upset and tearful that I am in pain again. I dnt know if it's stopped working or if it didn't work in the first place and it was a coincidence that my pain eased off. I'm so confused....

    • Tat
      Tat tamiko_84091

      Posted

      Oh I do feel for you, I had dental work last year (in fact I've had an awful lot of dental work which I now believe is to be fibromyalgia related) and the nerve pain radiating across my face was unbearable. Have you tried dicloflenac? (I'm not 100% of the spelling) I just think your bodies resistance to the medication increases with time which results in you needing more of it. It's so frustrating, especially as it appears to solve your problems at the beginning. Take care and good luck. Nikki

  • annie62
    annie62

    Posted

    No problem smile I feel like I wasn't really given enough information about it either and my doctor just keeps putting the dosage up and up it's pretty frustrating. If you're just taking them for sleep I think you can come of them on your own but obviously ask your doctor first
  • andrea12778
    andrea12778 Tat

    Posted

    Hi

    i have quite a lot of experience on Amitriptyline.

    i currently take 60mg nocte for insomnia.

    It is effective especially on an empty stomach.

    last night it did not work because I  had had a bigger than normal dinner.

    I take it 3 hours before bed to give it time to work.

    I started on 10mg and gradually increased it until I felt it was working.

    The downside is it is an appetite stimulant and hence I do crave carbs and sweet treats.

    I have gained weight.

    However it has pretty much extinguished many aches and pains I have.

    I would dearly love to stop taking it to reduce weight but I fear insomnia will return along with Fibromyalgia type pain.

    You CANNOT stop this drug without seeing your doctor.

     

  • sansar46286
    sansar46286 Tat

    Posted

    Hey same here. I need to increase dose every 2 weeks. I have been up to 125 mg thinking at particular dose it will not stop working. Yet it stopped working. I am thinking to tell doctor what it might not stop working at 150 mg . I like this drug. It is god sent drug as it cures lots of problem like bloating, depression, reduce vivid dreams and help to cure semen leakage.

    But I think I need to change the medicine as if it seems it will also stop working at 150 mg.

    Or is there any limit at which the body will not adjust and the drug will keep working ? Anyone help please

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