Amitriptyline Query?

Question

Ive recently been put on amitriptyline to help with my anxiety and help me sleep at night

Ive been taking them for roughly 3 weeks now, the first week was 10mg the 2nd week was increased to 20mg and now im taking 25mg

Im just a little worried because my brain feels like its being compressed
Its mainly just above behing my eyes where it feels like somethings going on inside my brain
Im also havin sharp hot sensation pulses mainly at the top of my head, its like a hangover headache or something its hard to describe

Should i be concerned, im just worried what the long term effects are using amitriptyline

I can cope with this compressed feeling, id like to stay on amitriptyline as i am convinced they are helping my anxiety but the sharp pulses at the top of my head im more concerned about, its not severe but does irritate me a little

I cant see my GP for another week so it would be nice to hear yours view

Answer 1

ENERIC NAME: amitriptyline
BRAND NAME: Elavil, Endep

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Amitriptyline is an antidepressant medication. Depression is an all-pervasive sense of sadness and gloom. In some patients with depression, abnormal levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters may relate to their depression. Amitriptyline elevates mood by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue.

PRESCRIPTION: yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: yes

PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 10mg, 25mg, 50mg, 75mg, 100mg, 150mg.

STORAGE: Amitriptyline should be stored at room temperature in a tight, light resistant container.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Amitriptyline is used to elevate the mood of patients with depression. Amitriptyline is also a sedative, and is useful in depressed patients with insomnia, restlessness, and nervousness. It has also been found to be helpful for treating fibromyalgia and symptoms related to chronic pain.

DOSING: Amitriptyline may be taken with or without food. Amitriptyline is metabolized by the liver and should be used with caution in patients with liver dysfunction.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Amitriptyline should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibiting drugs. High fever, convulsions and even death can occur when these two drugs are used together. Epinephrine should not be used with amitriptyline, since together they can cause severe high blood pressure. Amitriptyline is used with caution in patients with seizures, since it can increase the risk of seizures. Amitriptyline is used with caution in patients with prostate enlargement because of risk of urine retention. Amitriptyline can cause elevated pressure in the eyes of certain patients with glaucoma. Alcohol blocks the antidepressant action of amitriptyline but increases its sedative effect. Amitriptyline can aggravate paranoid symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and increase symptoms of mania in patients with manic-depressive disease. Cimetidine (Tagamet) can increase blood levels of amitriptyline and its side effects. Overdose with amitriptyline can cause life threatening abnormal heart rhythms. The sedative effect of the medication can possibly impair the mental and physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery.

PREGNANCY: Safety in pregnancy and children is not established.

NURSING MOTHERS: Amitriptyline is secreted in human milk, and potentially can adversely affect the nursing infant.

SIDE EFFECTS: Sometimes troublesome side effects include fast heart rate, blurred vision, urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain or loss, and low blood pressure on standing. Rash, hives, seizures, and hepatitis are rare side effects.

"If antidepressants are discontinued abruptly, symptoms may occur such as dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, taste, etc. (Such symptoms even may occur when even a few doses of antidepressant are missed.) Therefore, it is recommended that the dose of antidepressant be reduced gradually when therapy is discontinued."

Answer 2

Iv been on Amitriptyline for a few years now and the only symptoms i have is a dry mouth and sometimes sweating.Im on 100 mg a day and have spent years trying different types of antidepressants and these are the ones that work for me.Everyones different so maybe these arnt for you.I know my doctor has always told me to give them 4-6 weeks to get over the side effects,which can be headaches and most side effects do wear off in this time period but if when you see your doctor next you are still getting these symptoms then maybe you need to try something else.

Answer 3

Not only is amitriptyline an antidepressent, but it also has a mild sedative effect which may explain the hangover headache. Be sure to take exactly the amount prescribed and take it WHEN you were told to take it. It's hard to give good advice when so little information is available but I'd like to mention that any "sharp" pains felt in your head are not congruent to any of the normally reported side effects of this medication. If you are following instructions properly for this medication, and you believe you are genuinely having pain, you may want to consider trying to bump your appt up a bit, or atleast making a call to the office for piece of mind. Be prepared to let your physician know the severity and quality of the pain, when it started, if it radiates anywhere and if anything you do makes it better or worse, to name a few. Hope this helps you somewhat.

Answer 4

Amitriptylene once used can be for a life time. I have been taking it since 1993. I started taking it for anxiety and depression. I was unemployed raising a family of 4 at the time. I started at 25mg and have taken up to 150mg. However, I suggest you stay at 25 as this is what I take when I go to sleep. I now use my amitriptylene to help me go to bed at night and to curb my headaches from having a bad eye or legally blind in one eye.

I was told once I started taking this medicine it could be for life, and the Dr was right, if I stop taking it, I can't fall asleep at night and my migranes come back. One thing I noticed about this medication is it helps you to live in the present and you don't worry about the past or future. Overtime, you will feel groggy in the mornings but it wears off during the day and your memory seems to be turned off, and when you do want to remember you have to work at it (anxiety is depressed).

Since your having head throbs you might want to lower your dose or cut the pill in half. One drawback I had and still have is you can not take the same dosage everyday it will feel like your putting to many cookies in a cookie jar and the lid cannot be shut. I told my Dr this and I suggested when I feel this way I will just take a lower dose till I feel normal. In other words, I take 25mg along with a 50 every now and then. And I was tired of running to the Dr to find that ideal dose. (Money)

Consequently, I have been taking this drug for 14 years and it is powerful stuff, it actually will numb your tongue, so you know it is numbing your brain. This is why you need to cut back on your dosage when you feel that you have to. I see nothing wrong with cutting your 25mg pill in half to make it 12.5mg when you do experience the throbbing in your head.

Good luck

RD

Answer 5

Often in the early stages of a medication the body can have some odd side effects which are normal and pass. Some of what you have explained can fit under hallucinations (not always sight/sound related) and some can be related to some of the other side effects related to blood flow around the brain. They can be totally normal.

Either way you should call your doctor's office and let them know you are having some odd side effects. Your doctor will want to know. Your GP may be able to make some time to see you earlier but if you are concerned insist that your GP at least calls you back. Receptionists can be protective of their doctors (for good reason) but your doctor should know about this.

It will probbly jus tmean you need to lower your does a little.

No need to make yourself more anxious by waiting longer.

Answer 6

Hi Rebbecca wolf lady here. I have been prescribed amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia. I am now on 50mcg. They are okay for a while,but I keep having to have mine upped every so often, because I guess my body gets used to them. They do work for a while, but I have trouble getting up in the mornings, so I hope you are not a morning person. lol. Christine R has decribed after effects to a tee. I think it would be good to form a fibromyalgia group, coz I don't know about you guys,but I find that people find it hard to understand, if they don't have it. I also tried for DVLA, but they too don't recognize Fibromyalgia for what it is. Good to know I am not alone with this stupid syndrome. By the way if you have not already, you can claim incapacity benefits.

Answer 7

If you can't see your dr quickly, consider A&E where you could get immediate response from medics.

Your brain feeling like it's being compressed is not what you should be experiencing, in my non-doctor viewpoint.

My doc will often speak on the phone. I also write to him, so I also urge you to consider this - it may mean that they immediately find some magic free time to help you, which is their job of course.

Don't create a belief that you'll need such a medication for life. Our beliefs concerning our health and ourselves have a massive influence on the results that we get. It's also not the only medication.

I have anxiety since I got run-over and was put in a coma with brain damage. I tried this drug twice and won't take it anymore. It's obviously not for me, but each of us is unique.

Good luck. Rob

Answer 8

I knew someone who felt like this without medication, started after she'd been attuned to the Reiki healing method. Had any holistic therapy recently?

Answer 9

Tell them what is going on they will see you sooner. If not ask to speak to the doc over the phone. And don't let them tell you that you have to what until next week

Answer 10

csll surgery and get imergancy appointment they must see you you dont need to tell receptionist why just tell her you need emergencie appointment good luck