Hi all I have recently been experiencing pain in my right hand which is keeping me up during the night, I think it is nerve pain, and my nurse has given me some amitriptyline. I have never had it before, has anyone else used it before for nerve pain who can tell me how quickly they saw results etc? I read in the leaflet that it is for depression - I didn’t think I was depressed! Many thanks L.Gaston
Hi,
Amytriptyline is widely prescribed for nerve pain – it’s not just for depression.
It takes quite a while (a number of weeks) for the effects to become apparent so don’t give up on it too soon.
Jane
Hi L Gaston,
Amitriptyline used to be used for depression but my daughter was put on it for migraine and me for my MS.
It helps you sleep - reduces nerve pain. I was on 2mg per night then increased to 4mg now back to 2mg results were
almost immediate. I take at about 10pm and start to feel tired an hour later.
Good luck, night pain is awful. Don’t think its addictive or has many side effects except for drowsiness.
Jen x
hiya
back in my nursing day it was not uncommon for 200mg to be given at night (for depression)
personal experience varies between 10-50mg. currently i take 20mg at 7pm and 10mg as soon as i waken-takes approx an hour to take effect. but i am aware its not usual to take in the morn. i no longer drive and sleeping isnt an issue so after discussion with my gp he was happy for me try whatever helps me.
when starting or increasing the dose i get a very dry mouth and increased tiredness-this does ease when system gets used to it. i would guess normally 4-6 weeks to take effect so cant explain my morning dose-but it works! we are all different eh?!
hope u find a dose or other medicine that suits you
ellie x
Hubby has this one at night for help with sleeping and pain , has 3 tablets at night (30mg) and it seems to be very effective,
although other drugs havnt worked for him , worth a try and see how you get on with it…K x
Hi,
I started amitriptyline in 02 (took me 5 years to learn to spell it!) and started on 10mgs at night. I take 25mgs now and occasionally a bit more if I’m sleepless.
The dose for nerve pain is up to 100mg, but usually 10mg - 50mg and the dosage for depression is 200mg or more, so don’t worry, you aren’t being prescribed this because your doctor thinks you are depressed.
I’ve found amitriptyline to be wonderful. My nerve pain would start up in the evening, or after I stopped walking - I’d walk for 5 minutes and once I got where I was going, the nerve pain would be like being wired up to a torture device.
I hope you get great results. Yes, you’ll get a dry mouth, but if this eases off after breakfast, then you are probably tolerating it well.
K
xx
I swear by my 30mg at night but as others have said it takes several weeks for your body to get used to it.
I advise taking it 12 hrs before you need to be up and about the following day,but you will find your own best time once you have got over the initial adjusting to it.
The dry mouth is a real problem.I know its horrible stuff but chewing gum while you are walking/doing actvities that dry it out more does help, and boots do a dry mouth spray £2-50,that you find with the toothpastes etc and that is handy to have about.
Good luck and give it time.
Pip
I was advised to stop the 75mg at night of Amitriptyline after a sleep walking episode. It was prescribed to me as a muscle relaxant to decrease pain and it really helped me to sleep. I also took 2 or 3 opiate based Buprenorphine most days.
The MS nurse recommended Gabapentin and I’m thrilled to be so pain free after years of excruciaing agony.
Good luck in finding pain relief
Hi, Ive been on amitriptyline since 2000. i wouldnt be without it!
Looking at the dosages in your replies, i seem to be on much more than most.
I began with 20mg and got up to 100mg, before it zapped my excruitiating nerve pain in my thighs and bum cheeks.
neuro reduced it to 75mg, i was ok…then 50mg and BANG! the pain returned.It was put back to 75mg at night.
At first it made me sleep, but not now. but the dry mouth is a problem. I always have a bottle of water with me.
Hope it helps you.
luv Poll
ps i dont take it for depression btw.
Thank you everyone for your replies, I took my first 10mg tablet last night, I haven’t noticed anything different as yet have been advised to take 1 tablet per night for 2 wks and then increase to 2 tablets (20mg) per night, looking forward to the pain decreasing soon! L xx