Amitriptyline?

[Chava]

Has anyone taken this as a small dose for sleep and/or chronic pain? I know it's a tricyclic anti-depressant, but sometimes used in smaller doses for sleep or pain (I have problems with both).

Flexeril isn't working well for me at night and lately Ambien triggers wanting to drink (recovering alcoholic). Gabapentin is helping some with pain and a little, though not much, with sleep because I don't tolerate higher doses very well. I can't take sedative-hypnotics or benzodiazepines because it all makes me want to get crazy drunk. But I have very poor sleep, in spite of good diet, daily exercise, slowing things down in the evenings, etc. I sent a note asking my doctor about this med because I know the options are limited since none of the SSRIs work well and sedatives and benzos are not good options either.

I want to avoid a sleeping med I have to take daily. But really, I think that's what I need at this point, but hopefully a tiny dose. Thanks for any tips on this med...or maybe others that are in a similar category (tricyclics or others non-benzos and non-SSRI/SNRI sleepy meds).

 

[falling_wave]

I've taken it and noratryptaline. Neither helped me. I was just kind of groggy all the time which made me more irritable during my days. I haven't tried it personally but have heard from some people that seroquel has been helpful for that purpose. I have been sleeping better so not taking much at the moment but ativan ocassionally if I need it.

 

[Deleted member 29961]

yes, I have taken it. It can help make you groggy and therefore easier to get to sleep, but it left me feeling foggy and unfocused. we switched over to imipramine it had a similar grogginess with less fogginess for me.

 

[Chava]

thanks @falling_wave and @Jigsaw Puzzle were you on smallest doses? I have to find something soon but I don't want to be groggy all day either, that won't work

 

[Deleted member 29961]

I've been on low doses and high doses. the low doses are not to bad, I could function normally. at the higher does is were I would get foggy and unfocused. also, be prepared to drink lots of water, they can really dry your mouth out.

 

[falling_wave]

I was on the lowest for a while then upped it a bit. I'm not sure I noticed anything at the lowest. It didn't hurt or help. For me as soon as I felt any kind of effect it was the grogginess and I second @Jigsaw Puzzle on the dry mouth. I forgot about that but it was uncomfortable and made it hard to sleep. I ended up getting a dry mouth mouthwash or sucking couch drops until I fell asleep. I don't want to say you won't experience positive effects but it's an old one and they've improved a lot of meds since then.

 

[Chava]

don't want to say you won't experience positive effects but it's an old one and they've improved a lot of meds since then.

I know..as far as anti-depressants (not looking for those). But there aren't many standard options for sleep that are okay for me. And amitriptyline is pretty common for chronic pain (opiates are not good long-term options but are over-prescribed for chronic pain)

 

[joeylittle]

I think these were on the other thread, but I'd definitely suggest looking into prazosin. You can go low dose, you can go as-needed, and it's utterly non-psychotropic. But I'm just throwing that out there. I've never tried amitriptyline.

 

[Flossy]

@joeylittle With the Prazosin, do you have experience with it for controlling anxiety or for getting to sleep?

Eg: Does it have a flow-on effect on anxiety during the day? Do you take it at night?

You mentioned it before to me as an alternative to Benzos and I haven't had a chance to look it up.

I also lookeda at Amitriptyline but have used tricyclics in the past and found the side effects of constant dry mouth unnacceptable.

 

[Flossy]

Forgive my lack of memory retention :) I think this is the one that works on the physcial symptoms of anxiety. People commented that you can have the anxious thoughts but not get the physical symptoms that are usually attached to them such as racing heart, shallow breathing. For me I get gut and a closed throat feeling.

It's an interesting option to consider. Benzos stop the anxious thoughts for me. I wonder if stopping the physical symptoms would abrupt the cascade effect into depression and panic.

 

[Chava]

I can't do stuff with nasal type side effects. I asked my doctor for amitriptyline.

 

[Flossy]

Well then, you were thinking sensible and you need to pat yourself on the back for that one today. You made a sensible decision.

It's worth a try.