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Amitriptyline 10 mg

(59 Posts)
NanKate Mon 06-Jan-25 13:17:30

My Thyroid consultant has suggested I try Amitriptyline 10 mg to help with my broken sleep.

On looking it up I see that it can increase weight and eye pressure.

I have dry eye and am keeping the pressure down but am concerned about the drug. I’m going to ask my Optician what he thinks.

Have you had this drug and how has it affected you please ?

tanith Mon 06-Jan-25 13:33:07

I had it before my hip replacement as i could not sleep it worked well for me with no side effects..

theworriedwell Mon 06-Jan-25 13:41:26

I use it occasionally and it does help me sleep. I have dry eyes and haven't noticed they make a difference.

CountessFosco Mon 06-Jan-25 13:47:55

Our GP prescribed it for insomnia. Shortly thereafter, routine examination at John Radcliffe for Toxoplasmosis. Consultant shrieked "Amitryptline!!!! Good grief!!! Whatever have they given you that for ? It's terrible stuff". Spoke with my sister who said she agreed, in that it can be addictive. So, stopped it immediately.

Marydoll Mon 06-Jan-25 14:22:28

I had dreadful night terrors, when on it. No thanks!

NanKate Mon 06-Jan-25 14:24:27

Thanks for the advice 👍

Grannynannywanny Mon 06-Jan-25 14:35:26

Interested to see this thread as I started on a 10mg nightly dose on Friday. Prescribed for very painful arthritic knee while I wait for an orthopaedic appointment. My stomach won’t tolerate anti inflammatory drugs and my GP suggested amitriptyline 10mg. The knee pain wakes me repeatedly overnight and don’t have more than an hour at a time of unbroken sleep.

I can’t say I’ve noticed any improvement yet but I’ve only had 3 doses so far. I’m average weight but in the past 6 months I’ve gone from easily walking 5 miles to hobbling around the supermarket. I really hope it doesn’t cause me to gain weight at a time when I’m unable to exercise or I’ll be in double trouble.

Tizliz Mon 06-Jan-25 14:59:26

I have taken it but I found I slept so deeply I didn’t move at all and in the morning I had difficulty getting moving. I prefer the restless sleep I usually have as I toss and turn and don’t get so stiff.

Oldbat1 Mon 06-Jan-25 17:28:56

Ive just bought some magnesium spray as i have nerve pain in my feet plus restless legs plus have difficulty sleeping. Surprisingly after only a couple of weeks it seems to be helping. I struggle taking tablets

GrannyIvy Mon 06-Jan-25 17:38:46

No awful stuff I felt so dopey the next day and nauseous. It did knock we out so I slept

Fartooold Mon 06-Jan-25 17:52:58

Life saver for me, I take 30mg at night as I was having dreams and waking up having a panic attacks after my son died. Dreaming his wheelchair fell off the cliffs! No weight gain just a bit of a dry mouth.

Sparklefizz Mon 06-Jan-25 17:58:06

Hi NanKate
I've got ME/CFS, Allodynia and Fibromyalgia, plus under-active Thyroid and a load of other conditions. I was prescribed Amitriptylene for Fibro, Allodynia and M.E. pain, but I belong to an online ME Group and there were some horror stories on there regarding weight gain and addiction. Whilst trying to stop taking them, the withdrawal symptoms were awful apparently.

So I decided not to start them. I have been trying to lose weight for years, and have accepted I will never again be a size 8-10 and am now a 14. I know I would be miserable if I went up another dress size so I deal with the pain in other ways.

charley68 Mon 06-Jan-25 18:46:42

That small dose of Amitriptylene 10mgs at night is sometimes given for pain relief, especially if the pain is nerve related causing difficulty in resting.
That small dose is most unlikely to cause weight gain. I was on it for several months to help control and manage severe intermittent pain, and now I no longer need to take it.

I wonder why the OP and others, do not speak with a pharmacist - who does have expert medication knowledge, including it's effect on the body, and the body's effect on the medication.

This action would provide far more information than answers from a chat forum such as this one.

Grannynannywanny Mon 06-Jan-25 18:50:44

Thank you charley68. That’s encouraging.

emmasnan Mon 06-Jan-25 18:52:20

I've been taking it for years to help with severe migraine. Its worked really well, I no longer have my life ruled by migraine.

It does make me sleepy but I take it earlier in the evening and wake up ok.
The main side effects have been a dry mouth and weight gain.

damek1ndness Mon 06-Jan-25 20:08:09

I took 20mg for sciatica - slept very well but didn’t like the drowsiness during the day. Was also concerned about increased resting heart rate. Helped the sciatica for a while but stopped working eventually- didn’t want to up the dose so came off it. Didn’t get any weight gain

Floradora9 Mon 06-Jan-25 21:45:13

I have been on this dose for many years to cope with nerve pain. I am sure it helps with sleep but I have found no side effects at all . Look up any drug and you would turn it down when you see what " might " happen .

Harris27 Mon 06-Jan-25 21:52:02

I took it for anxiety and loss of sleep. I’m off it now it helped but I felt groggy on a morning and dry mouth.

henetha Mon 06-Jan-25 23:34:07

I've been taking it for a few years now and hope never to have to give it up.
It was prescribed for my anxiety at night which kept me awake. I sleep better now and it's a mild anti depressant too, which helps me.
I am not aware of any side effects.

Louella12 Tue 07-Jan-25 00:04:28

I was prescribed it for fibromyalgia. 30mg.

It didn't help with pain and certainly didn't help me sleep either.

But I have no ill effects at all.

NanKate Tue 07-Jan-25 08:16:10

Thanks for all the helpful feedback. I’ve decided it is not for me.

theworriedwell Tue 07-Jan-25 08:22:01

NanKate have you thought of taking it for a short time? I take it for a week or so every few months and it sort of resets my sleep pattern.

Granra2 Tue 07-Jan-25 13:56:08

I was prescribed it for chronic back pain many years ago. I could not manage without it.

Baggs Tue 07-Jan-25 14:06:04

On looking it up I see that it can increase weight and eye pressure.

can is the operative word. It might not increase weight or eye pressure in your case. If you need better sleep maybe give it a go, keep an eye on your weight and get your eyes checked after a few months.

knspol Tue 07-Jan-25 14:09:15

Amitriptyline was offered to me for trigeminal neuralgia but the consultant advised that it had severe side effects and he would advise it only if I reached breaking point. I declined.