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amitriptelene(sp) for nerve pain?

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Posted 10/16/2007 10:41 AM (GMT -7)
my doctor suggested putting me on it today for the nerve pain when I asked for something for it specifically...

what is it? she said it's also used for depression? so how does it work? anyone know of any side effects or even the proper spelling?
Posted 10/16/2007 10:58 AM (GMT -7)
I'm being referred to a pain doctor - and the doc I saw today said she couldn't do lyrica for some reason. who knows
Posted 10/16/2007 11:06 AM (GMT -7)
Hey there, she is using some of the old stuff that worked pretty darn good for some. I do know of it being prescribed for PN (nerve pain) and for chronic pain. Alot of pain clinics yrs ago used tis alot. It can make you dizzy at first. Also, it takes a bit for it to get buit up in your system, so its important to take as scripted. A friend of mine still takes from an old back surgery she waited too long to have. Her nerve pain is in her legs and she drags one leg when she walks. This also a very good migraine H/A. Sure hope it gives you some relief. Susie
Posted 10/16/2007 11:53 AM (GMT -7)

Hi,

I have not been around in a long time, i still come by and read everyones posts. I wanted to tell you my experience with Amitryptlian (sp). I was on it for about 2 and half months, and it did not help me at all. Now i now we are all different. The reason I wanted to stop was the extreme weight gain, in that span of time i gained 25 pounds. Doctor told me this was normal for that drug, well not normal for me, lol. Just research it some more. I take gapentin- Neurotin for my nerve pain and it works great. I just dont use it everyday because then when i do my body becomes so use to it, when i really need it to work it does not. I take it when the nerve pain is bad and it helps me a lot. I tried lyrica and it gave me horrible nightmares and i could not sleep on it.

Good Luck.

Posted 10/16/2007 11:53 AM (GMT -7)
 Amertriptiline is good for nerve pain if you want to gain weight. and when you take it take it at night .

Posted 10/16/2007 12:08 PM (GMT -7)
well, to be honest, weight gain wont be an issue - I'm already overweight and am looking at having gastric bypass by the end of the year - also the last time they told me I was going to gain weight from something (steroid shots and pills) I lost 20lbs so we'll see.
Posted 10/16/2007 1:41 PM (GMT -7)
TDoern- I have problems in L3, L4 & L5 with sciatic and nerve pain. I was also on a very strict diet about 3 months ago (lasted 2 weeks, thats another story) but all the medicines I was taking the number 1 symptom was depression. yeah i had 2 weeks of pure tears.... never stopped. My PCP said he was suprised my PM drs had not prescribed me something for that and put me on amitriptyline & zoloft. he had a pyschologist stop in my room while i was in the hospital & he explained that chronic pain & depression go hand in hand. i like it, i think it does help... not its not a super drug, of course. but very little bouts of depression for me now. and it can take awhile to work (like 2-3 months the shrink told me). and i have lost 35 lbs in 3 months. (though i have a few other things going on) to me weight gain is not something i want- i'm already overweight, but to help with the pain- its a no-brainer. and as for the comment on nerve pain meds- i had a post up a few days ago about it.... i was on neurontin and was changed today to lyrica. huge HUGE difference. very little nerve pain- but it is taking a lot of concentration to type this..... :) Hope it helps some! -Shannon
Posted 10/16/2007 1:43 PM (GMT -7)

hi im rachel im 19 and from the uk. i suffer from chronic pain in the abdo from a iliostemy reversal when i was a baby, iam on mst, oramorph and amitriptyline it is used to treat depression but it helps with nerve ending pain. what dose are you on and what time of day do you have to take it??? if at night it will ease the pain but it will make you drowsy but your body will relax. if i can be of any help email me at r_lafferty_2005@hotmail.co.uk.

hope its helped rachel

Posted 10/16/2007 2:27 PM (GMT -7)
I am being started out on 25mg's.. she said if in a week I'm not getting relief to up it to 50mgs. Also she said to take it 30 minutes before bed time and that it might also help with my problems sleeping... which would be a bonus.

She's also referring me to another pain clinic - hopefully this one does something other than shots - I think I'm going to have to do docs in Tucson as thats where all my other stuff is going on :)

thanks everyone for the replies!
I'm really keeping my fingers crossed it will help with the nerve pain!
Posted 10/16/2007 2:42 PM (GMT -7)

iv been on them for 6 months and i take them about a hour before i go to bed so i can sleep straight away. i started on 25mg now im on 150mg at night. they usually have a effect straight away and if your feeling down about the pain your in they help with that. hope it all goes well and as i said before if i can help at all reply to this message and il get a email telling me youv replied.

take care and good luck. let me know how it goes.

rachel

Posted 10/16/2007 2:52 PM (GMT -7)

sorry just reread your reply listen theres something my gp (physcian) said to me, "if you can accept youv got pain and get help with dealing with the emotional side of it alot of people find the pain eases" did not understand at first but now do. im seeing a pain management team although they told me the only thing they can offer is a pain management programme. its a 5 day course where i see i psychiatrist and occupational therapist a physiotherapist and have froup descussions and alot of ppl iv spoke to have said theyv had some relief. whan you next see your doctor or the pain people ask if its available in your area. im not saying it will but it really might help. if pain drugs arent working to good then maybe that will im in the same position in pain 24 hours a day even with all the drugs and thats the only thing left. 

ask and do let me know what goes on.

rach 

Posted 10/18/2007 7:20 PM (GMT -7)
Amitriptyline, or the other name it's known by is Elavil, is an old med but very good for chronic pain and taking the edge of mild depression caused by chronic pain. I know my mom used it for 15 yrs from a surgery in which a nerve didn't heal correctly (abdominal vertical incision for major bowel reduction from diverticulitis). The surgery was huge success but she had little tingley pain prickly nerves along the incision that wouldn't quit... but the Elavil took the edge off.

It's worth a try IMO. Just don't cold turkey quit after any length of time or there could be drastic problems with the withdrawal stage for a bit.
Posted 10/19/2007 11:19 AM (GMT -7)
Rachel how much weight have you gained ?
Posted 10/22/2007 2:17 PM (GMT -7)
hi all sorry havent been online havent been well so been resting.

 in reply to the question of how much weight iv gained the answer is none.

  hope all are ok.

   take rach.

Posted 12/26/2007 12:12 PM (GMT -7)
Absolutly not. Try symbalta. Ami.. should be banned in my opinion. The side effects are miserable.
pincushion1
Posted 12/26/2007 1:34 PM (GMT -7)
Seeing as how this topic popped back up - I figured I would add an update.

I am currently on 100mg's of amitriptelyne. I started it about 2 months ago. I noticed no side effects (good or bad) from the 25 or 50 mg doses. However since being up to the 100 I've noticed a dramatic improvement in the nerve pain down my legs. Don't get me wrong it's still there, and mean. However, I can get a little more done before it gets nasty.

As far as negative side effects - I have noticed any. I didn't gain any weight from the medication the first month, and since my gastric bypass on the sixth I'm down 35 pounds. I haven't had any mood swings or anything close to that. The only problem that I am having is dry mouth - but that can also be from the surgery I had, and my constant fight to struggle with dehydration having a stomach the size of a medicine cup.

I am going to see my pain doctor on the 21st of January for the first visit with this one... and figure the medications that I'm on will come up and we'll see where to go from there.
Posted 12/27/2007 3:55 AM (GMT -7)
amitriptelyne is a excellant drug . Pin cushion maybe mixed with the other meds you take may cause side effects. Now Cymbalta thats the terrible drug . My NS wont even perscribe it .
Posted 1/16/2008 8:04 PM (GMT -7)
amitrypteline/ametripteline which spelling is correct?

I have taken ametripteline since Oct 2000, for burning feet pain and deep tissue pain in feet and hands, due to a diagnosis termed Erithromelalgia which descirbes my condition as I experienced. The only relief for the burning and pain was to soak my feet and hands in Ice Water till the Pain subbsided.
I have taken ametripteline with great success in controlling the pain and having improved mobility walking and working, though not as much as before aquiring the conditon. It has allowed me to sleep normally without being awaken with burning feet 2 to 3 times a night.
I began my prescribed dosage at 25mg 4 times day and gradually progressed to 75mg 4 times day over a period of 6 months, under close observation of my PPC. I was monitored through blood work, and vital sign examinations every 39 days.
Ametipteline side effects I experienced are dry mouth and throat, with no other symtoms as observed or attributed to the Ametripteline.
I would recomend trying the Drug with your Physicians recommendation, approval, monitoring. The drug does contain cautions for liver disfunction as well as some side effects.

It has sure helped me control the severe bouts of pain, and given me mobility, Good luck to anyone in the same or similar situation
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