How long before you noticed Amitryptyline took to ease vulva pain?

Hi Catherine

I suffered from vulvodenya for about a year before I plucked up the courage to go to the drs.  After trying some creams she prescribed (which didn't work) we decided to try amitryptyline.  I started off on 10 mg at night and noticed a difference within a few days.  After about another 12 months I upped the dosage to 20 mg as I felt I needed it and have been taking that ever since.  I now have mostly good days I am pleased to say.  What doseage are you taking? 

I took 10 mg for a couple of months then upped to 25mg . It helped a bit but I feel mine is more from muscle dysfunction than nerves .

I found I felt very down and depressed on it and tired all the time .

I stopped taking it and concentrated on swimming and the Hab it DVD which helps.

Remember what works for one may not for you .

As a rule of thumb give it a good few months to see if it suits you x

Hi Catherine.  

Do you mind  if I ask  if you have a diagnosis for your vulva pain?  Because the drug you're taking for it sounds really full-on.  I just thought I'd mention, I suffered for years from vulval pain and itching, bad enough to stop me sleeping.  It was eventually discovered that I didn't have vulvadynia, as originally diagnosed, but I was allergic to potatoes and tomatoes.  Once I cut those out of my diet, everything resolved, no more itching or pain.  The only time it comes back is when I accidentally eat something which has those two offending items in my diet, once at a friends place, she'd added some tomato sauce to a dish but hadn't thought such a "small amount would set off my problem", the other time when I didn't read the ingredients list and bought something which had potato flour added.You could ask you doctor to give you a pinprick test to determine if you're allergic to anything in your food.  It's such a relief to be free of the pain and itching!

Good luck!

?Minamii

Hey,

I was prescribed Amytryptyline for suspected Vulvadynia and I've taken it for a year (I say suspected as I think my problem was more vaginismus although I did jump when she tried to examine the vulva area, more out of panic I think more then pain). I'm now between 50 and 75mg but I also had the dosage upped for my anxiety.

My own experience is mixed. I think that to some extent they have helped but I am still building up my tolerance with dialators and haven't had a smear in over 4 years.

I hope you have had better luck with it.

Best wishes

Hi, I was diagnosed with vulvodynia 4 years ago. I was on 20mg amitriptyline a day and it helped me sleep but I was still in some pain. I saw a consultant dermatologist who specialised in vulva problems and she said that I need to be on 50-75mg a day. My problem was that as soon as I upped the dose by 10mg I got side effects (rash, dry mouth, feeling drowsy and hung over, constipation). I found that of I increased the dose by 5mg every 2 weeks I didn't get side effects and was able to get up to 50mg which really helped with the pain. What got rid of the pain completely, though was a combination of the amitriptyline and western acupuncture which both work together to dampen down those overactive and hypersensitive nerves.

Yes I have noticed a huge improvement. It took about 1 month. I also take Gabapentin which also helps tremendously... until 10 pm at night. I sometimes still have burning pain... but it's not as bad as it was before. BEfore it was 10 on a pain scale... Now it's more like a 2 or 3. Much better! Best wishes Catherine. 

Debi

Yes I have noticed a huge improvement. It took about 1 month. I also take Gabapentin which also helps tremendously... until 10 pm at night. I sometimes still have burning pain... but it's not as bad as it was before. BEfore it was 10 on a pain scale... Now it's more like a 2 or 3. Much better! Best wishes Catherine. 

Debi