After seeing my doc today, he decided he wanted me to try Amitriptyline in a low dose with the demerol. If this doesn't work, he is going to do the Topomax. Has anyone tried this drug and if so did it help? Any side effects?

Rach

Hi Rachael. I've never tried that medication but am also considering Topomax. My husband is currently taking it and my daughter takes it for migraines. My neuro said when I come in next we will talk about it. I think it is supposed to be very safe. Good luck and I hope you get some answers from people who have tried it. Linda

Hi Rachel,

I took amitriptyline for a few years. I had side effects of sleepiness and being tired so took it at bedtime. It is used for neuropathic pain and is also an antidepressant. If it is for pain then it is worth a try. It also helps with migraines if that is your issue. If it is migraine pain then propranolol is good for preempting a migraine on a long term use basis.

It does have long term side effects and thus a drug like nortriptyline is a better drug with less neuro side effects. Esp. if it is to be taken for a long time. I changed to nortriptyline last month but haven't noticed a big difference at all.

Hope this works for you. Sometimes you have to deal with side effects for a little while until the drug settles in to your system....but not for long....if it is too bothersome then you should stop.

good luck!!
Victoria

I've been on Elavil (amitryptiline) since Dec. 2006. It was for neuropathic pain and besides taking the pain way down, and very quickly, it helped me sleep well for perhaps the first time in my adult life. I honestly didn't know I wasn't sleeping that well until I found out what a good nights sleep feels like.

It does make me slightly stupider but I can live with that. I am able to drive and carry on with everyday activities.

Hope it works as well for you. phoebe

I took it tonight at suppertime and got a little loopy lol so I will take it closer to bed tomorrow. My main concern is weight gain....has that been a problem for anyone?
Vic...you mentioned long term side effects.. like what? and how long is "long term"? I want to know as much as I can.
Thanks All...

Rach

Long-Term Side Effects of Newer-Generation Antidepressants: SSRIS, Venlafaxine, Nefazodone, Bupropion, and Mirtazapine

rakash S. Masand1 and Sanjay Gupta2, 3(1) Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina(2) SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York(3) Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New YorkAbstract Anecdotal reports have suggested that the long-term use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be associated with significant weight gain, sexual dysfunction, drug interactions, and discontinuation symptoms. Are these effects inevitable or can they be managed effectively with the appropriate interventions? In reviewing published, controlled clinical trials, it has been noted that many depressed patients experience weight gain during remission with or without treatment. Most antidepressants appear to produce a 3- to 4-kg weight gain after 6–12 months of therapy, which may be managed with nutritional counseling and exercise. The exception is mirtazapine, which appears to be associated with significant weight gain early in therapy. Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is also common but may be managed with the addition of an antidote or substitution. Drug interactions are most common with fluvoxamine, nefazodone, and fluoxetine because these agents are more likely to affect the metabolism of commonly prescribed medications. It may be possible to prevent discontinuation symptoms with a cross taper to another antidepressant or by slowly tapering the antidepressant.
SSRIs - adverse events - newer-generation antidepressants




http://www.psychtreatment.com/medica...de-effects.htm
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/ela1155.htm
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000107.html
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/sfx/a/sfx_elavil.htm
http://www.drugs.com/Amitriptyline_HCL/index.html

hope this info helps!! All long term meds should make sure your blood work is monitored to ensure all is well.

Take care!
love and hugs,
Victoria

I took Amitriptyline for neck pain but I stopped as it caused weight gain. I think I also tried dopomax or something similar to Amitriptyline for a time as well. Are you taking this for TOS? My past TOS neurologist recommended Topomax. I think I tried it but don't remember details. I have nerve pain with the TOS and Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica have worked best for me. Lyrica so far is the best for the TOS nerve pain for me.

Hello Rach; I tried this medication at bed time. I was on a low dose. It is like a sleeping pill, anti depressant and muscle relaxer rolled into one pill. I had no side effects and it did help with sleep. It was changed when I attended the pain clinic the Doctor reccomended another type of antidepressant because at that time he precribed lyrica for neurpathic pain. I was told these medications slow down your metabolisim and with both medications working together it could mean weight gain. I hope it helps you. Take Care

Hi Rachel,

I took Amitriptyline years ago for TMJ pain as well as for headaches and in the begining on my TOS days. I also tried Nortryptaline (can't spell today).

My biggest issue with Amitriptayline was the dry mouth...I ended up with dental problems as my mouth was so dry (common with a lot of the nerve drugs I have been told).

I tried Topomax - I lost weight quick (like close to 15lbs in a month) but the drug did nothing to help so my doc took me off it after a month. I tried Lyrica but gained weight so my neuro put me back on Neurontin which seems to be my best bet (getting the dosage figured out always seems to be the issue!)

Hope this helps?!

Hi I did try lyrica but am back on the neurontin meds due to side effects...wt gain and others....many side effects don't happen to others but happened to me....so make sure if you do take it you read all side effects even the ones at the bottom of the list. I had certain sexual side effects like no effect so be aware that all drugs come at a price. Same effect with amitriptyline if you read the literature....but not everybody gets all effects...

bad bad world in the drug side effects !!!!!

take care (of course this is just my opinion!!!)

love and hugs,
Victoria