Amitriptyline how does it work

If you find that you are still feeling drowsy in the morning you could try taking it earlier in the evening. This medicine does not usually upset your stomach. You can take it with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water.

If you chew them, they taste bitter. The liquid comes with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose.

If you don't have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount. The liquid also comes in 3 different strengths — containing 10mg, 25mg or 50mg of amitriptyline in a 5ml spoonful. The usual starting dose for adults and older children aged 12 to 17 years is 10mg a day.

This dose can be increased by your doctor if you need better pain relief. The starting dose for younger children depends on their weight and symptoms. The doctor will tell you how much to give them. The maximum dose of amitriptyline for treating pain is 75mg a day.

Your doctor may give you a higher dose if you're taking it to prevent migraine. If you forget to take your amitriptyline, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next one as normal. If amitriptyline usually makes you sleepy and you need to drive, cycle or use tools or machinery, skip the missed dose and then take the next dose as normal.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. Go to Taking too much amitriptyline can cause serious side effects such as a change in your heartbeat, seizures or fits. Like all medicines, amitriptyline can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Some of the common side effects of amitriptyline gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Doses of amitriptyline for pain are lower than the doses for depression. This means the common side effects tend to be milder and go away within a few days. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:. It happens rarely, but some people have a serious side effect after taking amitriptyline. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to amitriptyline. These are not all the side effects of amitriptyline.

For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Amitriptyline is generally not recommended in pregnancy. This is because it has been linked to a small risk of problems for your baby if you take it in early or late pregnancy. Talk to your doctor as there may be other painkillers you can take instead of amitriptyline.

Paracetamol is usually the first choice of painkiller if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Your doctor will only prescribe amitriptyline for your pain while you're pregnant if the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks. Amitriptyline gets into breast milk. It's been linked with side effects like sleepiness in breastfed babies. Talk to your doctor if you want to breastfeed. There may be other medicines that you can take instead of amitriptyline.

For more information about how this medicine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet about amitriptyline on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy BUMPs website. You can also read more about paracetamol in pregnancy on the NHS website.

If you take amitriptyline 2 or 3 times a day and forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it's close to the time for your next dose. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.

You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. The amount of amitriptyline that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Go to Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.

Take the amitriptyline packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. Like all medicines, amitriptyline can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Some of the common side effects of amitriptyline will gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these common side effects bother you or do not go away:. It happens rarely, but some people have a serious side effect after taking amitriptyline. In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to amitriptyline.

These are not all the side effects of amitriptyline. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. If you are already taking amitriptyline, you may be advised to continue taking it during pregnancy, especially if you take it to treat depression. If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Your doctor can explain how taking amitriptyline can help you and how it might affect you.

They will also help you choose the best treatment for you and your baby. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take amitriptyline while breastfeeding.

Amitriptyline passes into breast milk in very small amounts, so it's unlikely to cause any harm to your baby. It's important to keep taking amitriptyline to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, then talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor as soon as possible. Many medicines and amitriptyline can affect each other and increase the chances of side effects.

Always check with your doctor or a pharmacist before starting any new medicine while you are taking amitriptyline. Taking amitriptyline with opioid medicines can increase your risk of becoming very drowsy and having breathing problems. Opioid medicines include:. Tell your doctor if you have ever taken any other medicines for depression.

Some antidepressants can affect the way amitriptyline works and cause very high blood pressure. This can happen even after you have stopped taking them. Do not take St John's wort, a herbal remedy for depression, while you're taking amitriptyline as this will increase your risk of side effects. There's very little information about taking amitriptyline with other herbal remedies and supplements. They are not tested in the same way as medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Amitriptyline is from a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants. They are thought to work by increasing levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain.

This can improve your mood. You may find you are feeling better after a couple of weeks, although it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks before you feel the full benefit of the medicine. Do not stop taking amitriptyline after 1 or 2 weeks just because you feel it is not helping your symptoms.

Give the medicine at least 6 weeks to work. Antidepressants like amitriptyline help to gradually lift your mood so you feel better.

You may notice that you sleep better and get on with people more easily because you're less anxious. Hopefully you'll take little things that used to worry you in your stride. Amitriptyline will not change your personality or make you feel euphorically happy. It will simply help you feel like yourself again. Do not expect to feel better overnight though. Some people feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before they begin to feel better. Once you're feeling better it's likely that you will keep taking amitriptyline for several more months.

Therapy was near impossible-little improvement. I felt the meds were killing me. Hired attorney who filed a complaint with State on workers comp and I was allowed after nine referrals to finally see a pain management dr. He and his pa helped me incredibly. Physiotherapy, Ztlido lidocaine pad under a compression glove 12 hours daily and Amitriptyline 25mg am and 50 mg pm 12 hours apart same time each day. Still hurts still hypersensitive but the Amitriptyline has reduced it by half. I have zero side effects although at first it made me sleepy.

It took a few weeks but each day was better than the day before. Thankful for Amitriptyline and the lidocaine pads! Best wishes! I like the suggestion of just trying lower doses. I have been taking amitriptyline for about 15 years for trigeminal neuralgia.

The pain is like an electric shock down the right side of my face. I started on 10mg. I worked my way up to mg and still the pain was overbearing. My gp said this was too much to be taking, he reduced it by 45mg and started me on another drug, carbamazepine. I am now down to 40mg of amitriptyline. My quality of life is suffering at the moment. The side effects are memory loss, itching, I feel like I have brain fog, feeling drowsy most of the time but not sleepy if that makes sense, forgetting stuff, my speech is also affected as in saying stuff back to front.

I have been taking a variation of Amitriptyline called Trepiline for about two years now. I started getting painful pins and needles in both my upper arms and it felt like my bones were on fire.

My doctor prescribed the Trepiline 10mg and all of that went away after about a month. First week,I was on 10 mg,second week 20 mg and stayed for 3 weeks on it. Ive had terrible migraines,even if it suppose to prevent migraines.

Make no sense to me. Carpal Tunel gives you numb arms in the night my case and resulting pain will wake you up. Really weird feeling. With all this,my stiff neck seems to get better and no other side effects so far. This medication is amazing. My insomnia led my to start with it 10 mg and after a few days I noticed my pain is so much less and I could push more in the gym without being scared of being in too much pain.

Plus those days I started to take big steps for those problems. My pain is reduced, my sleep is so much better, and my mood is improved. I think this medication is a definite YES and worth trying. I have taken amitriptyline for 3 years to manage nerve pain. I went up to 10mg a day and then could reduce to mg. This week, I started to suffer from tinnitus ringing sound in both of my ears, something like sound of silence and I suspect that it is because of amitriptyline.

I am thinking of stopping amitriptyline but I am scared that my nerve pain will return. Has anyone had a similar experience? Do you you think that the nerve pain come back quickly?

However, you may find our forum at HealthUnlocked helpful, where you can discuss your concerns with others who live with pain. Alternatively, our helpline may also be able to help. I asked for a prescription for Naftidrofuryl to try because of bad cramps in shins, thighs and big toe at night and sometimes in the day time.

It was flagged up in the Times last month. Was advised this was not suitable for me and was given Amitriptyline although cramps are not caused by nerve malfunction apparently.

Am willing to give it a try but am anxious after reading the side effects in this blog. I am a senior and already have idiopathic neuropathy in both feet which cannot be investigated any further. I do not want to feel spaced out or befuddled nor put my eyes at risk as I am under a glaucoma clinic for familial reasons.

I am worried now. I had it last no november but cleared up. I try to self manage it nurofen exfra, stretches, heat pads but went to doc and ge prescribed these. Just googled them and saw for Depression. Worrying about being off work and hoping l can return to normal for the sake of my young family. I want to get fitter and healthier but one side effect us weight gain which is already a problem.

I am scared to take take them now only 10 mg for a month. Hi Patricia, we are unable to give you medical advice here at Pain Concern. We would always suggest that if you have worries or concerns about your medication you should speak to a health professional, in this case probably your GP. What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names Brand names of combination products.

Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking amitriptyline, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amitriptyline or any other medications. Your doctor will probably tell you that you should not take amitriptyline. Be sure to mention any of the following: antihistamines; cimetidine Tagamet ; diet pills; disulfiram Antabuse ; guanethidine Ismelin ; ipratropium Atrovent ; quinidine Quinidex ; medications for irregular heartbeats such as flecainide Tambocor and propafenone Rythmol ; medications for anxiety, asthma, colds, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, nausea, Parkinson's disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; other antidepressants; phenobarbital Bellatal, Solfoton ; sedatives; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs such as citalopram Celexa , fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem , fluvoxamine Luvox , paroxetine Paxil , and sertraline Zoloft ; sleeping pills; thyroid medications; and tranquilizers.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have stopped taking fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem in the past 5 weeks. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take amitriptyline. If you become pregnant while taking amitriptyline, call your doctor. Do not breast-feed while you are taking amitriptyline. Older adults should not usually take amitriptyline because it is not as safe or effective as other medication s that can be used to treat the same condition.

Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet. Amitriptyline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nausea vomiting drowsiness weakness or tiredness nightmares headaches dry mouth constipation difficulty urinating blurred vision pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet changes in sex drive or ability excessive sweating changes in appetite or weight confusion unsteadiness Some side effects can be serious.

If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately: slow or difficult speech dizziness or faintness weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg crushing chest pain rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat severe skin rash or hives swelling of the face and tongue yellowing of the skin or eyes jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body fainting unusual bleeding or bruising seizures hallucinating seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist Amitriptyline may cause other side effects.

Symptoms of overdose may include: irregular heartbeat seizures coma loss of consciousness for a period of time confusion problems concentrating hallucinating seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist agitation drowsiness rigid muscles vomiting fever cold body temperature.

What other information should I know? Brand names.