amitriptyline
 

For those who have taken or are taking:

1. What dosage did you start with?

2. What dosage are you on?

3. How long before you noticed results?

4. What were the results (significant or not)?

5. If you are off the drug, how are you doing?

6. Side effects?

Amitriptyline dosages have been all over the map. Some have been on very low doses (10 mgs), some on 25 mgs and some on much higher doses.

The better question might be: What is the objective of being prescribed amitriptyline? For some, it is head aches and insomnia (usually a low dose). Some it is for anxiety and depression ( higher doses ).

So comparing is fraught with questions.

1. What dosage did you start with?

Started at 25 mg

2. What dosage are you on?

Discontinued; tried to go up to 50 mg but got too dizzy; ended up at 30 mg for a while.

3. How long before you noticed results?

A week or two

4. What were the results (significant or not)?

Helped prevent headaches, but got less effective over time

5. If you are off the drug, how are you doing?

I have switched to Topamax and it is working better for me than amitriptyline did with fewer side effects.

6. Side effects?
VERY VERY VERY sleepy, especially the first few days. This got less after I was on it for a while but it did still keep me feeling tired. When the dose was too high, I got very dizzy -- even fell once.

As a side note some had very good results. Best way is to try and find out. Give it a few weeks to work.

Cheers!

1. What dosage did you start with?

10mg at night 3 hours before bed for first week then to 20mg for 2 months. I was on 30 mg(using a pill cutter to cut the 10mg to split this into 15mg doses, once in the morning and then in the evening) from March of this year until June, then went up to 40mg and now 50mg.

2. What dosage are you on?

50mg 3 hours before bed. Was spliting up my doses once in the morning and then at night but my Neuro wants to me to take it all at night so my dose can be increased with fewer possibilities of bad side effects.

3. How long before you noticed results?

Immediately. I was finally able to sleep through the night only waking up once or twice to use the bathroom.

4. What were the results (significant or not)?

Yes, they do help with the headaches somewhat although they won't prevent them if you are overstimulated. It can keep them dull and mild most of the time when they come. Very significant in the sleep improvement department!

5. If you are off the drug, how are you doing?

I'm eager to either try a higher dose or switch to something else such as Topamax(scared, but at this point I'm willing to give a shot) because 30/40/50mg isn't really headache preventative enough. I can have some headache-free days but most days I still get them even when I'm resting and not working so I can't really say its a miracle drug but it does help somewhat.

6. Side effects?

Dry mouth which in turn makes you drink tons of water hence makes you urinate every half hour. Makes you drowsy. Also, give me very vivid dreams every night. One time I had dream where I woke up from a dream and in that dream could recall the (inner) dream. Serious Twilight Zone stuff!

__________________________________________________ _______
12 months PCS from mTBI. OMG has it really been a year! :( Was: dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, headaches, depression, anxiety, insomnia, tinnitus, stiff neck. Now: Never-ending headaches, head discomfort, and stiff neck.

I start my first dose tonight 10mg. Does it take long to feel effects? It's for insomnia and pain from Occipital Neuralgia

I'm not sure I have any