Amitriptyline?

[Neverthesame]

I used to take that, I don't know why I didn't think of it for the other thread you posted. Shit, I'm sorry.

That used to be my go to med. I was on 100mg it used to work well. I don't know why but it stopped working for me. But when it did it would knock me out cold for hours.

The only other thing I didn't like about it was it made me kinda fat. Far as I know, I was the only one who thought that was a bad thing. I once ate a salad bowl full of cereal, and actually wanted a second one right after.

The big reason I liked it though was it never gave me withdrawal symptoms when I quit, so I wasn't worried about taking them regularly for a few months then quitting when I got my shit back together again. (I did get rebound insomnia though). But when your in a better mental place, it is easier to deal with.

Careful drinking on those. It didn't cause anything bad to happen when I would have a couple after taking them. But if I was drunk before I took them, holy god that was an awful hangover. Only had to make that mistake once. I learned a lesson. :hungover:

I really hope they work for you. You deserve a nights sleep.

 

[sun seeker]

Has anyone taken this as a small dose for sleep and/or chronic pain?

I did. It was several years ago so I don't recall the exact dose. It did work for sleep and also calmed the anxiety. I eventually stopped taking it because I felt it flattened me emotionally: I wasn't feeling anxious, but wasn't feeling much of anything else, either. But that might not be a bad thing for a while. It sounds like you are having a really rough time and perhaps need a break.

 

[joeylittle]

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

Sleep - it's not an anxiety med. Regular dosing is to manage high blood pressure; low dose at bedtime only helps sleep.

I can't do stuff with nasal type side effects.

Is that a prazosin thing? That's new to me.

I hope the amitriptylene does something for you.

 

[Flossy]

Thanks @joeylittle

 

[Neverthesame]

@joeylittle Yes, nasal congestion is a side effect of Prazosin. My doctor had told me that was likely to happen, and yup it did. I found oral decongestants didn't do much either.

I don't know if it is a side effect that lessens over time, as I didn't take it for long, or with much consistency.

Oh, @Chava I forgot to mention, Amitriptyline (when it worked for me) didn't have the problem of losing effectiveness due to tolerance by the body, I found it to work consistently well for months on the same dosage. (I never was on it for more than 4-6 months at a stretch, it's a safe assumption the drug would likely have remained just as effective for longer had I stayed on it.)

Also yeah, the side effects are a bit rough. It does mellow out considerably after 2-3 weeks, I found the dry mouth goes away completely, also the dopey groggy feeling also goes away, turns into a feeling more akin to needing a cup of coffee.

 

[Chava]

thanks everyone...yes I need a break! I got ambien again to get through tonight. Last night was honestly worse than getting drunk. Sober and painfully tossing and turning until 3am. I felt ready to pull muscles all over my body....horrible. I'm responding terribly to flexeril lately (muscle relaxant which also used to help me sleep). I get very uncomfortable, restless, and it becomes impossible to sleep. I'm not worried about dry mouth or munchies...I've had those side effects and I'll take them if I can sleep. I'm a little worried my body might respond to amitriptyline the way it responds to flexeril (while it's a muscle relaxant it is supposedly somewhat similar to a tricyclic). But I'll give it a try...maybe tomorrow. My doctor did send the prescription. I will lose my mind if I don't sleep. i'm ready to quit therapy too. Everything is going to shit. I am disconnecting from people and can't tolerate myself either. Self care stuff feels deeply wrong because I'm hating myself and disconnecting for my own good, but I'm trying to just not f*ck up or wreck myself because on some level I know I'm in a bad place.

 

[sun seeker]

Self care stuff feels deeply wrong because I'm hating myself and disconnecting for my own good

That sounds like something your inner critic might believe. Is that who is talking? The hating yourself for your own good part, anyway. Disconnecting is another issue, a much more complicated one.

 

[Chava]

@sun seeker I think they are related for me but I can't explain. So damn tired it's unreal. I'm taking ambien for a couple nights....pretty careful and mindful about not going out and getting booze after taking it. In my pjs, have some videos to review online for work. But then I'll try the amitriptyline. If I'm restless and nuts on that, I'll check into prescriptions for prazosin and Seroquel (sp?)... @joeylittle gabapentin is a good nerve pain med for me and could help more with sleep but I can't tolerate much more of it because I get such mucus problems and asthma-like breathing issues when I increase dose. So that's why that side effect jumped out at me . I usually don't make much of them, but know I'm prone to the sinus stuff and already am at max tolerance with a med I plan to keep. But if amitriptyline is shit, I could try something else...and wouldn't necessarily get the same side effects I gt from this other stuff.

Hope its a wonder pill. Life changer. Is that too much to ask???:shy:;)

 

[Chava]

Took an ambien and I'm drinking. NO shit!!! But I will sleep beautifully. A small amount of liquor and cigs. I'll be fine tomorrow. I just need a good knock-out sleep tonight. I'll be passed out by 11 or midnight easily. OHHHH I need this ....and a prayer that amitriptyline will help me (and no more ambien drunks) :woot::banghead:

 

[joeylittle]

I'll be passed out by 11 or midnight easily.

I'm gonna have one little suggestion here - how about instead of continuing on til 11 or midnight, you just go ahead and get in bed right now - or make a nice cup of tea and then get in bed. In other words, stop drinking now.

My version of this - and I don't mean to trivialize it - is a very extreme sugar addiction. Once I have one cookie, it's like I've just had a cookie so LET'S EAT ALL THE COOKIES!!!...because I think I've blown it.

Again - that's a really minor example compared to the power of alcohol, it's just a little analogy.

I am glad you are gonna get some sleep - and I think you could try cutting yourself off now, is all.

 

[Chava]

JL darling, I'm f*cking drunk. Tea? No.

 

[Chava]

Once I have one cookie, it's like I've just had a cookie so LET'S EAT ALL THE COOKIES!!!...because I think I've blown it.

Whoa. Just saw this garbage I added to this post. But anyway, my drinking doesn't work like this (that I have a drink and then stop)...why total sobriety is the smarter option for someone like me. It's not about me not being logical, because I am. But the chemical of alcohol or drunk-like substances on my brain is like gasoline to a fire. The thought of just stopping or controlling just makes me feel stupid and really f*cked up. I feel better just not drinking (which has been hit-or-miss this summer....but the logical piece would be calling someone the moment I have the idea to drink, before I drink...I actually had that before I drank last time but didn't feel like I knew what I'd say if I called someone, which was part truth and part excuse not to call).

But sorry to sound like sort of an asshole....