Well small would be different for different people.

Typical PN doses start at 10 or 25mg. Some go to 50 etc.

The antidepressant doses are much higher, all over 150mg daily typically. I used to see 450mg sometimes in the old days even.
Getting really high with this drug is problematic because it prolongs QT in the heart. ODs are typically fatal therefore with amitriptyline, (whereas SSRIs are very much less so). Mixing high dose with other drugs that also affect the heart leads to possible problems too.

At your dose QT issues are not likely unless you have a genetic marker for it.
Here is my post on QT for you to read. The link to the University of Arizona that is on it, is very good and explains it well:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post15298-4.html

I was on 150 mg Endep at night, plus 25 mg in the morning for a few years, it was the only med I found that helped the burning the most, I stopped using it when I got better, so it definatly did not cause any nerve damage to me only helped a great deal.

good luck
Brian

Hi


My doctor said going off the Amitriptyline would increase the pain for sure, but she also said if the nerves improoved it would take months. I was also told to take B6 to help regenerate the nerves possible destroyed by Amitriptyline. Is there anything else I should be taking in supplements? I take a B /C complex , omega 3 fish oil .


Janet

The drug reference I use for drugs that have studies behind them showing interference with nutrients only lists.

CoQ-10 and
Riboflavin B2.

Riboflavin is the cofactor for activating B6 in the body. Without it,
B6 doesn't work, unless you get the active form called P5P.

This is a chart made from the reference I use:
http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTR...rapeutic.shtml

This may be a dumb question but how would one know if a med was the cause? Or one never truly does. Also are some bodies just more sensitive cause why would one person not have this reaction and another would?Your apt with your neuro I always suggest this cause I have gotten into apts months in advance is to call every day for a cancelation. Hope you feel better and get some answers

Hi Danielle,

It isn't a numb question at all . The only way of knowing if a med is causing the neuropathy is to stop the med. In my case with Remeron, stoppin git I improoved within a few days. I must start calling to get in earlier, thanks for the good idea.


Janet

Thanks I am glad you are feeling better though sorry for what this has caused. I have just started this med again. I am going to talk to my doctor about this. I believe that these things can happen from meds or what ever I just get confused on why one body it happens to and another it does not. I guess one person is more prone then another. Before this condition I was on meds for depression and anxiety and I never looked up side effects. The doc rx it and I took it. Now with each new med I research and don't feel as trusting. There was this comic on tv an was making fun of the prescription ads and how a person goes into the doctor asking for a certain med and it was so funny cause it was so true. I have tried many different meds by asking my doc after I read on here. The doctor is like sure we can try it. Anyhow sorry to get off track. Hope you get continued relief

The following article suggests that "tricyclic antidepressants might deplete the body of coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10)." Perhaps a mechanism by which amitriptyline could cause neuropathy. BTW I have been taking it for a few years, mainly 25 mg/day, and it helps with my pain level. If it were slowly making it worse, I might never know. You can find alternatives, there are many drugs used to relieve painful neuropathy. It seems one of the premier ones is gabapentin (Neurontin).

I can't post links yet, so go to **
and search for "Tricyclic Antidepressants"

"Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10)

Preliminary evidence suggests that tricyclic antidepressants might deplete the body of coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10), a substance that appears to be important for normal heart function.1,2 Based on this observation, it has been suggested (but not proved) that CoQ 10 supplementation might help prevent the heart-related side effects that can occur with the use of tricyclic antidepressants."

Good luck
BasicPoke

Boy, this has me really PO'd.

I was on amitriptyline 150mg WITH zoloft back in the 90's when that was what they used for pain.....or 'fibro' and its concomittant 'depression'. And those dipsh#ts never took a blood level of the amitrip. I would ask, and they would say....'you don't need it'. This was the same HMO linked clinic that I was with for 11 years and left, only to be diagnosed with neuropathy and SjS.

I could never prove a case and at this stage, it would not be worth the stress, since litigation is horrible on one's health.

It makes me wonder about the whole thing on drugs...consume at your own risk, I guess.

We must take an active role in our health care. Sometimes we expect too much of doctors. We have to trust them to some degree, but they don't know everything. We can't expect them to know every interaction between all drugs & supplements. And then each person is different too. I sure hope Drs begin to learn more about supplements in medical school.

And be careful, just because you were taking a particular drug at the time you developed neuropathy, doesn't mean the drug caused the neuropathy. Because two things happen at about the same time does not mean that one caused the other.
Electron