Feeling rubbish.

Hi Arual, sorry you are feeling so rubbish. I would advise that you give the amitriptyline at least three weeks trial, before you decide. It shouldn't make you feel emotional; if anything you should feel lifted, but maybe it's a bit early yet. Do you use a neck pillow? If not, that could help your neck pain. Good luck and gentle hugs. Jeanne xx

You will probably experience many different medication journeys.  I've lost count of all the medications I've tried, some with lasting side affects.  You may need a gradual increase in the dosage.  Give it some time as your body needs to adjust to any new medication.  Weight gain is the scary part.  I'm back on Lyrica and have gained 8 lbs in 2 months! Piroxicam is what worked best for me but I had to stop taking it as it raised my creating level in my kidneys after taking it for many years. Hopefully you'll find what works for you.

With any drugs one needs to work out whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.  Personally  I haven't found anything that works to an acceptable level so rely on alternatives - hypnotherapy,diet, biofreeze, physio, hot baths with epsom salts, exercise, sense of humour and CBT in the past.  Only you can decide whether you feel the benefits gained are worth the payback in side effects.  It takes a fair time for the amitriptyline to work and the body to adjust to it.  My consultant said one month minimum then to consider an increase if necessary.  I found I had heart papitations etc with it so had to stop but we are all different and it may suit you.  Good luck in your quest to control the pain.

Hi Arual, Unfortunately I found amitriptyline was not good for me, it gave me a wonderful deep sleep but I found it very difficult to function during the day which added to my low mood despite it being recommended to raise the mood ! It did nothing to help me pain wise. I persevered for 5 months and I have now changed to gabapentin, so far this seems to suit me better, but it is early days yet. Whatever meds you try you do need to give them chance to work, if they don't, go back to your GP and ask to try an alternative until you find something that works for you. Good luck to you. xx

That's exactly what I said I felt like,

Exercise eat healthy, I do and in sleeping better but feel awful, takes twice as long I'm the morning to get started I hurt more, and on top of all my pain and worries about me my wonderful loving husband has been diagnosed with heart failure so needs to exercise lose weight ans so on.. when will the world stop throwing craps and me xx

Hello arual,

just weighing in with my experience of amitriptylene. Was good for helping me sleep, but kept me asleep for too long in the morning - half the day was gone! Also gave me sticky eyes and I gained a stone in weight, very quickly. So now I am coming off it, hope I will be able to cope, but unfortunately the side effects did not make up for the benefits. That is just me, others have found it more acceptable. I agree with Maggers and am going to attend a pain management clinic which explores alternate therapies. Also, it might be different in other areas, but the  Rheumotologist that i saw just referred me back to Doc, so in my my opinion it is more important to get a good Doc, who either believes in the condition or is happy to learn. Wish you well.

Take care, Anne

Hiya Arual, this is my experience with th med, hooe it helps..Amithriptilyne is  the only med I take for Fibro...gives me a great pain free sleep..- no pain..still feel a tad drowsy waking up...but that sleep is what makes this Fibro manageable for me..only get flare ups now..once  it was just constant  pain almost everywhere and sleepless nights..I take it 7pm before bed..it really does work wonders ( for me..that is,) we are all very different..I take 25 mg...never had it increased either ...started on 50mg but I was like a zombie...all the next day..dropped to 10mg for a while-still not too good but 25 mg is perfect for me..it is actually an antidepressant that works excellent for pain..it numbs the nerve ends and stops the pain from jumping on to the next nerve..hence a very painful body...the antidepressant is probably a lil bonus as most of get depressed from time to time..yes it does knock me out to give me that great sleep which is just sooo needed, to be able to deal with the pain etc the next day..but once I'm up and dressed..I'm fine.....Its great...16yrs down the track..have to be woken up in the morning..but once up and about I'm just fine.....when I was first on them I was like a zombie..but it's like a miracle med for me... it takes a while to settle in. ..also, please remember that less stress is the key to Fibro....be blessed..have a lovely day..:-) xxx

Morning Arual; I have read all others' comments and know that I agree with their inputs....you do need to give the med the time to do "it's" stuff.....wanting to add, re the stiff neck, this is also a problem for me too...so I also add 5mgms of valium, to keep the muscles relaxed....and also this is my reason for continued physio/remedial massages (the one other problem with Fibro is our muscles and stiffness) .   As the years have gone on, I also wear a neck brace to support my neck, with the use of hotpacks in bed, with a Special Pillow (curved into the neck)...these maybe worth a trial....keep at it, and let yourself find the answers for yourself, by Trial and Error.....if you feel after a good trial period, that you are not happy still, the other drug that I use for Nerve Pain, is Gabapentin, over Lyrica (Pregabalin)....Lyrica definately increases weight....but I do feel that if you are concerned re weight gain, take note of what diet you are on (I have not had a problem with actual weight gain, but in the beginning found I was retaining fluid with some of the meds I was on then....one being Ibobrufen and anti-depressant)...this is why I like Amitriptylline, as it does both jobs and don't retain the fluid....let us know what  you decide?..................Bron

I too started on this medication on thursday so early days i know. I am taking 10mg then got to up it too 20mg after 2 weeks.

It is making me very tired and cant seem to get moving until the afternoon, sleeping much better but not sure i want to carry on feeling like a zombie.

Go back to drs in 3 weeks so see what happens between now and then.

Hugs

Hi its trial and error with many meds, Ive lost count with the many tablets Ive tried each one has caused me severe side affects. all I can take now is ibruprophen and use an hot water bottle. you will have good days and bad days just take each day at a time. tablets can take time to work and get in your system. if no joy with the tablets your on I would go back to see your gp. take care gentle hugs