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shift work

Posted , 3 users are following.

stephen81154
stephen81154

Hi guys. When i'm at home i have started taking my 20mg dosage of amitriptyline at 7pm which usually knocks me out by 10pm. 

My problem however, is when i'm at work & i do work more lates than earlies - something i can't change i'm afraid as it is my rota. I work with vulnerable adults & once/twice a week i do sleep-ins in the house. This is no problem as i can still take my dosage at 7. The problem i have is my other shifts which don't require me to sleep in work as i finish at either 9 or 10pm. I then take my tablets at either 7.30 or 8pm & it involves a drive home which in fairness does not bother me. But i wake up the next morning with heavy tired eyes as well as a vibrating head whenever i get up from sitting down or walking/turning round.

I have been on amitriptyline for 3 months now. I would welcome any feedback/advice. Do people think i need to go back to my GP or should i give it more time.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Jan999
    Jan999 stephen81154

    Posted

    Hello stephen. I've taken Amitriptyline for a number of years now and remember it had that effect on me for about 3-4 months but what I cant understand is why on the nights you drive home it reacts differently. Could it be because you aren't relaxing but concentrating on your driving? The slightly later time wouldn't have made a great deal of difference I would have thought.
    • stephen81154
      stephen81154 Jan999

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply matron.

      I suppose the tablet does not affect me whilst driving probably because as you say im busy concentrating & secondly, im one of those people who dont seem to be affected whilst driving on tablets.

      I have tried taking the tablets later i.e. at 9.30 or 10.30 on my arrival home but found it was taking me until midnight to fall asleep. Then when im waking up at 7am for the school run, i was really exhausted, coupled with terrible headaches the next day.

      Out of interest matron, after your 4 month period of taking amitriptyline did you start to feel better & the vibrating head syndrome & headaches disappear.

      Thanks once again,

      Steve

    • Jan999
      Jan999 stephen81154

      Posted

      hi stephen. Yes the Amitriptyline helped a lot. I rarely get the terrible headaches/migraines any more.
    • stephen81154
      stephen81154 Jan999

      Posted

      Out of interest matron, did you have any dizziness feelings &/or split second blackout kind of lapses in your head during the early stages of taking amitriptyline.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 stephen81154

      Posted

      Yes it did make me feel dizzy if I remember correctly but no blackouts. I have no problems now.
  • anne90395
    anne90395 stephen81154

    Posted

    Hello Stephen,

    I have worked my way up tp 50mg amitriptylene over 4 months. take it about 5pm and helps with sleep, even tho I don't go to bed till midnight some nights. I can still go out, drive, babysit, tho I take it at 5pm. It does keep me lying in, in the morning and sometimes takes a monumental effort to get up! Once up I am ok tho'. Don't have headaches, dizziness or anything! I think what this shows is we all react differently. Wish you well in finding the right balance.

    Take care, Anne

    • stephen81154
      stephen81154 anne90395

      Posted

      Hi anne. Thanks for your reply. I managed to get 9 hours sleep last night & have suffered no effects this morning - no heavy headedness, tired/heavy eyes whatsoever & feel good.
    • Jan999
      Jan999 anne90395

      Posted

      hello anne. It's interesting you take your Amitriptyline as early as 5pm. I've always taken mine about 30 minutes before going to bed but have trouble falling asleep. I think reading different peoples experiences I need to think about taking mine earlier.
    • stephen81154
      stephen81154 Jan999

      Posted

      After weeks of experimentation matron i have started taking mine (when at home) between 7 - 7.30pm & going to bed between 10 - 10.30. Only alteration i make is when im on the 9 or 10pm finishes & i will then take mine at either 8 or 9pm, but it is with this i have the problem of finding the best time to take it when on those shifts.
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