Any Tricyclic Anti-depressants Work For Ptsd?

[cdg]

Does anyone either take or have had experience with these? I can't take ssri's. Maybe there is one out there for me.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Amitriptyline would be the most obvious one as it's unlikely to cause insomnia or additional sleeping issues or tetracyclics like trazodone or mirtazapine. Are SNRI's also an issue? Some find mood stabilisers and/or anti-psychotics help, but I haven't looked into this too deeply yet. Good luck.

 

[Orglethorp]

The doctor I was seeing when I was originally diagnosed prescribed a tricyclic first, then added an SSRI once I had some time to get used to it. I was on Imipramine (Tofranil). When I weaned off antidepressants that time, I stayed on the Imipramine until after the SSRI had been completely removed from my routine. I found that I didn't have nearly as many issues with annoying side effects, nor did I have withdrawal symptoms from that one. Whether or not it could have been effective on its own (in a higher dose) or paired with another tricyclic rather than paired with an SSRI, I do not know. The doctor I was seeing by the time I needed antidepressants again wouldn't prescribe tricyclics because she wasn't familiar with them.

 

[cdg]

Not sure about SNRI's. Thanks for the responses. Would like more input.

 

[greenleaf]

I was on amitriptylene for a while before SSRIs. It kept me from sinking too low into depression (hard for me to completely separate out from PTSD for that time period), but the SSRI (paroxetine) I'm been on since is definitely better for me in terms feeling more positive about life. There are new things though that are neither SSRIs nor tricyclics. Perhaps it also depends upon your exact PTSD symptoms?

 

[cdg]

I have severe anxiety and tremors. Severe head tension. It's becoming unbearable.

 

[greenleaf]

I'm definitely out of date in what I've researched online... I think the "Medications and Substances" forum here might help on the anxiety meds that people here have found useful, I remember seeing things there.

 

[Lotusstarr]

I was put on Aponortryptiline (spelling?) for chronic pain symptoms. It was severe nerve pain in my shoulder, which the medicine completely relieved. I also suffer from headaches brought on by clenching my jaw, and the medication also helped me with those. I have stayed on it for the past year because I noticed that small episodes of depression I experienced daily were also pretty much erased after I was on the pills long term. The only side affects I have noticed were drowsiness in the beginning, which was nice because I have problems sleeping, which turned into alertness after about a month of being on them. If I take them early enough in the day, it's not too bad.

 

[Maggiemay]

I take mitazapine. I've tried lots of different anti-depressants, but it's the only one that seems to work. I don't tolerate SSRIs at all - they make me very ill. :( & when I've tried SNRIs they've made things worse...

 

[Hashi]

Has a doctor suggested them, or is it your own reading?

Do you know anxiety and agitation are possible side effects?

They didn't help me, and I don't think the dehydration they caused helped me either. Not just dry mouth (which was very noticeable), but I felt more physically depleted than usual.

I'm sorry you have such bad symptoms. I have no idea if they might help you. Have you got a medical opinion on this?

 

[Abstract]

I can see why they would consider something such as Amitriptyline. It is often specifically prescribed for people with chronic headaches or head pressure.

The use of that group of anti depressants is much more supported when it comes to PTSD as SSRI's can cause increased stimulation for some. Personally I have the opposite reaction. SSRI's help me a bit and the other make me feel constantly sedated, I still can't sleep and my hyper vigilance goes through the roof.

Are you seeing a trauma therapist? I just noticed you only discuss medication on here.

 

[cdg]

I went to a trauma therapist and she felt like she wasn't helping me after 5 months. I have to find something that stabilizes me. Some concoction that doesn't involve SSRI's.