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Long Term Cognitive Effects - Please Help!

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patient1232
patient1232

I've been on 25 mg of Amitriptyline for the past year, and really love it. It helps with my stomach and prevents migraines.

I love the medication and what it does for me, and would like to be on it the rest of my life but am worried about the long term affects it may have on my brain.  I know it's one of the safest ones, but I also have heard that being on anti - depressants can mess with your memory, which mine is already horrible to start with. For people that have been taking the medication for over 10+ years, can you let me know how the experience has been for you?

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2 Replies

  • borderriever
    borderriever patient1232

    Posted

    Patient

    , 

    I have been on this medication for several decades 75mg, then I reduced down to 50mg. and the reduction for me was ok, no problems however this medication can cause problems for some.

    I have a congenital Short Term Memory Disorder, that may be caused by my medications such as Opiates.

    I will be on my medication now for the rest of my life, I have no choice and my list seems to get longer and longer.

    All the very best

    BOB

  • aceman
    aceman patient1232

    Posted

    There has been some concern raised that drugs with an anticholinergic action may increase the likelihood of dementia in later life.

    Anticholinergic effects include symptoms such as a dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, tachycardia, and difficulty urinating. You are on a relatively low dose and my first question would be whether you experience any side effects? If not then it would suggest the dosage is low enough to avoid a significant impact on acetylcholine within your body. Hopefully that will translate to a minimal effect on acetylcholine within the brain.

    I have the same concerns. I have been taking a very low dose (10mg) on and off for years. It helps prevent migraine. I stopped it and was fine for about two years (having taken it daily for five years) but the migraine started playing up again and I had to go back on it. I don't experience any side effects, except possibly a little drowsiness, which helps me sleep.

    End of the day it is a drug that is around fifty years old and has a proven track record of safety, when taken as prescribed. Most people who take it for depression are on far larger doses of around 50 - 150mg. I cannot believe that the likes of you and I will be exposed to the same risk as them.

    My memory isn't as good as it used to be, but that could just be age related. It is still pretty good smile.

    I read a review by someone who had taken 25mg a day for 30 years (now aged 62). They were well enough to construct a decent bit of prose smile. The drug had really helped them.

    I know a few people who died younger than that. Life isn't much fun if you have to worry about a condition all the time and I could switch to another preventative that doesn't have an anticholinergic action, for example Topamax, but who is to say they won't start to realise that drug has a far more damaging effect on the memory?

    Surely drinking a lot of alcohol has to be more damaging? We will probably be fine. Let's live life to the full smile.

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