I used to take Seroxat for depression and came off it af...

Hi I was given 50mg Amitritptyline for my ostioarthritis it dose help as it is a pain killer, also it dose help me to go to sleep, i take it 1hr before i go to bed, it also helps with me not having to go to the toilet as much through the night, its brilliant i wouldent be with out it. :lol: [color=indigo:bd6cc4690e][/color:bd6cc4690e]

My psychiatrist stopped prescribing 25mg of the drug and instead replaced it with 2 weeks sleeping tablets with a view to stopping it altogether. I lost sleep for over 5 nights and being bi-polar rapidly became very ill. An Emergency out of hours psychiatric team were able to support me during a critical weekend and I was referred immediately by them to a psychiatric Consultant who immediately restored the drug. I have since been well.

I've been taking ami for over 11 years for anxiety and depression - it's an inherited condition caused by not producing enough serotonin. It takes 4 weeks to become effective - and it makes you feel normal. Its strong point is that its been around for 40 years so there are no unpleasant surprises. Dry mouth goes with time and it does make you sleep well but without feeling drowsy. I can drive and could be trusted with a chain saw and I can drink alcohol without problems. But it does reduce the male labido slightly. I started on 4 x 25mg tablets a day (it's also available in capsules so if you've ever had a tablet stuck in your throat and burn switch to capsules). At the Priory Clinic (waste of space) they suggested 6 x 25mg but I declined. Always take the lowest dose that's effective. I've tried coming off it 3 times (maximum 5 months) but anxiety/depression returned so I went back on the ami. If you do come off it reduce the dose slowly over 3 months (finally tapering down to one every other day). I'm currently preparing to come off it again (alternating one and two tablets daily) but won't hesitate to resume it if the depression returns. Or I might stick at a maintenance dose of 1x25mg a day at night. I'm very suspicious of pharmeceutical drugs but even if ami was found to shorten my life by a few years its worth it for all the years its made me feel normal and let me lead a happy life looking after my family and helping to save the world. Amitriptyline? Nice one. However we're all different, I can only tell you my experience.

Hey there,

Completely forgotten you're name so forgive my apparent rudeness please!!!

Amitriptyline for depression, eh? I've been diagnosed wtih the onset of bi-polar depression (which probably explains the low attention span ) But before the diagnosis I'd visited my doctor with varying symptoms relating to mania, insomnia, generally \"bouncing off walls\" and a sort of split personality thing going on. Rather confusing, very frightening at times and due to the lack of sleep, exhausting.

I was prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg and was to take 1-2 as required. Being rather bullish, i took two... It was as though someone had hit me on the head with a sledge hammer. Hey, I'm not complaining, it was the best night's sleep I'd had for months. I decided that being responsible isn't a bad thing and took one tablet when I got anxious and things settled for a while. Unfortunately, my depression is a feisty daemon and I was told by my psychiatrist to take them regularly each night. I just took one per night and everything calmed down to a level where I felt that I was in control, not the depression. I now take two per night as it appears my body or whatever has got used to the tablets and I'm due to visit my doctor again to request and increase as I'm now struggling to sleep with 20mg. I sometimes take three but i know that's naughty (Shh! Don't tell :wink: )

One thing I would like to add is that although it helped with my slepp problems and mania, Amitriptyline is not helping my excessive lows and unfortunate suicidal ideations so if you suffer this also PLEASE discuss with your doctor. This is why I was put on a low dose. Hopefully, there is a wonder tablet to drag me out of the pits of despair.

hi

you,ll have to excuse my ignorance about amatriptaline being used as an anti-depresant, as i have been suffering with prolapse discs for a few years and was prescribed 25mg at night to help with \"nerve\" pain as were a few of us on the disc prolapse page, after my discectomy my gp increased my dose to 50mg for a few days, im off them now but did find them beneficial in helping me sleep apart from that i dont feel any differant! maybe the dosages you,ve been prescribed is low for the medication to be usful as an antidepressant?? im not a doctor but it may be worth mentioning it to your gp,s gail

I was prescribed 75 mg amitriptyline for depression in December 2007. I now take 100 mg. I began to sleep better straight away, but the depression did not significantly improve until February.

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Amitriptyline Tablets 10mg, 25mg and 50mg

The usual dosage(s) are described below:

[b:5137c3c6dd]Depression [/b:5137c3c6dd]Adults: 50-75mg daily either in divided doses or as a single night time dose increasing to 150-200mg daily. A maintenance dose of 50-100mg at night should be given to lessen the chances of relapse.

Adolescents and Elderly: 25-50mg daily either in divided doses or as a single night time dose. A maintenance dose of 25-50mg may be sufficient.

http://emc.medicines.org.uk/

I was 1st prescribed Amitriptyline years ago to help with RSI pain. 10mg. This was increased in 10mg doses over about 6 months as it became clear that I was not only still in a lot of pain, but starting to get depressed. At 50mg it still wasn't helping. At 75mg prescribed by a locum at the surgery I was heading into a dangerous depression. Read the blurb on the net and realised I was being under dosed. Changed Drs, saw a Psychiatrist who took me off Ami and put me on an SSRI. I got better, but had pain and insomnia so a few months later, and now in a new town, a new Dr put me back on 1st 50mg and then 100mg of Ami - this is on top of the usual does of SSRI. I got depressed. Took more SSRI... and so it went on for about 10 years.

Moved to the UK and was taking Imipramine at lowish dose by this time (having ODed on Ami the year before). Decided to stop but I'm very sensitive to dose changes - when the pharmacy changed brands I suffered withdrawl effects! So had to cut pills in half, and then tried quarters. Couldn't get the cuts even enough and always felt ill one way or another. Dr suggested liquid Ami which could reduced v slowly and more accurately. Reluctantly gave it try. After 5 weeks realised that I was slow, confused, and unhappy and that it was the Ami that was doing it. Halfed my dose which would normally result in massive withdrawl symptoms (headache and nausea), but hey presto I woke with a clear head for the first time in years. 2 more weeks at half and then I just stopped. A week of bad headaches and nausea and I was free!

Basically I respond atypically to anti-depressants - almost all of them so far (even Prozac makes me drowsy!). No one gave any thought to my symptoms coming on as a result of the original Ami doses slowly ramping up. I lost jobs and friends, my marriage failed, and my late 20's and 30's were given over to fighting a running battle with depression. One serious suicide attempt. Would it have been better without Ami? Yes it would. I may still have struggled, but not so much, nor I think would I have lost so much. Amitriptyline and complacent Drs wrecked my life.

Be aware that Amitriptyline can cause depression-like symptoms (lethargy, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, appetite disturbance, sexual dysfunction, mood disturbance) in some people (well in me anyway!). If you feel worse taking it, or the side-effects are too much then request a change. There are lots of different meds for depression.

Hello, I also will never take this terrible drug again, made me feel like I was losing control, made me feel violent, I think doctors should come on this forum and read your story as they are to handy at giving out these really strong drugs to patients and not caring about what happens to us, I also tried to kill myself while I was on antidepressants and I do blame them, I do suffer with bouts of depression and I will not take these drugs, they do not work for everyone, I hate them.

I was prescribed this medication for neuropathic pain, after a long period of MS-like symptoms culminated in severe difficulty in walking.

I take 10mg a day only and after a few weeks the pain has reduced significantly and I can walk reasonably efficiently.

I was told to take the tablet before bed as it would make me very drowsy. This effect has [u:c9950897d2]not[/u:c9950897d2] worn off over time and I do wonder how my sleep would be affected without it.

I find that when I go out in the cold or get into a hot bath, I get nasty stinging sensations in my legs. These attacks end in prolonged bouts of itching/burning. This may be from my own condition or the medication, I am unsure.

However, the most significant side-effect has been weight gain. I am a very healthy person. I do not smoke or drink. I do not consume meat. I do not drive: I take the bus if I have to but mostly I walk. I have practised yoga and T'ai Chi for fifteen years. I was 9 stone 7 lbs (5 foot 7 inches) before I started this medication. Now after less than two months I weigh 10 stone 10 lbs and rising. None of my clothes fit and I appear bloated in the face.

I am going to consult with my GP as this does concern me, in that the weight will have a direct impact on my future health.

I am trying to wean myself off of Amit: and am only taking one on alternate evenings instead of one every evening.

The evening that I take one, is OK . I get a good nights sleep but when I miss the following evening , that is when I have these ghastly dreams bordering on nightmares. I have to keep myself awake for an hour so I don't get back into that same sleep pattern. I eventually drop off and seem to finish off the nights sleep without too much trouble.

It happens every single \" off \" night without fail.

Can any experienced Amit: taker offer any explanation for this OR has anyone suffered similar problems. Thankyou for your indulgence.