Amitriptyline

[Guest BellyTimber]

This is my 16th daily dose of amitriptyline 10 mg. It was prescribed for pains & aches, sleep disturbance, migraines & depression.

The most distressing side-effect so far is, the dreams that carry on after I'm awake. They are not normal dreams, but these ones are utterly irrelevant to me, consisting of (rather than being about) people doing nothing in particular and saying nothing in particular, very busy. The space seems rather crowded. It doesn't interfere directly with my senses but is disorienting.

The chemist says that now I've started to experience this it'll never stop for the rest of my life even when I stop the pills, has anyone else experienced that?

Perhaps I shouldn't worry because when healing happens it is part of the illness processes and jumbled fragments of 50 years are being played before my mind's eyes and ears like when one has a dream in a fever, but when I'm trying to interact with someone in the real world there seems like there is too much competition even if it's not clear enough to follow.

This is before any discussion of what should be the target dose or even what is the strategy at all, and I don't see the doctor till next Thursday. I always get contradicted when I report side effects of medicines.

Do I quietly stop them, halve them, what? I do sort of understand the side effects will carry on being pretty big till about Christmas and may reduce a bit after that (and that's not taking account of any change in dose), and more benefit may be apparent from then on.

I am afraid to go to essential appointments of various kinds in case my interacting is too badly affected. How do I take my mind off it? How do I get fresh air and I always love the autumn.

Is the damage totally illusory?

[ravenwoodglass]

This is my 16th daily dose of amitriptyline 10 mg. It was prescribed for pains & aches, sleep disturbance, migraines & depression.

The most distressing side-effect so far is, the dreams that carry on after I'm awake. They are not normal dreams, but these ones are utterly irrelevant to me, consisting of (rather than being about) people doing nothing in particular and saying nothing in particular, very busy. The space seems rather crowded. It doesn't interfere directly with my senses but is disorienting.

The chemist says that now I've started to experience this it'll never stop for the rest of my life even when I stop the pills, has anyone else experienced that?

Perhaps I shouldn't worry because when healing happens it is part of the illness processes and jumbled fragments of 50 years are being played before my mind's eyes and ears like when one has a dream in a fever, but when I'm trying to interact with someone in the real world there seems like there is too much competition even if it's not clear enough to follow.

This is before any discussion of what should be the target dose or even what is the strategy at all, and I don't see the doctor till next Thursday. I always get contradicted when I report side effects of medicines.

Do I quietly stop them, halve them, what? I do sort of understand the side effects will carry on being pretty big till about Christmas and may reduce a bit after that (and that's not taking account of any change in dose), and more benefit may be apparent from then on.

I am afraid to go to essential appointments of various kinds in case my interacting is too badly affected.  How do I take my mind off it? How do I get fresh air and I always love the autumn.

Is the damage totally illusory?

             

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First off I am not a doctor and can only say what I would do. I have taken this drug, prediagnosis, and if it did this to me I would stop taking the amy immediately. It is not a drug that you would need to taper off and it is not something that is 'saving your life' like an antibiotic or insulin. Don't wait till your doctors appointment to let him know that the drug is interfereing with your waking hours call him Monday. Amytriplimine is generally a pretty harmless drug but it doesn't appear to be so in your case. Don't dwell on what the pharma said about these effects not going away or it will be a self fulfulling prophecy. Something is not going well with this drug and your system.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

I noticed this is an old thread but I'm wondering about this drug and effectiveness with colon issues...

Has anyone else tried this drug?

It's also called Eavil, Endep, Vanatrip.

[chrissy]

the brand name is elavil. i have taken this recently to try and help my sleep for my fibromyalgia. it did help for a short period of time----but it also made me very sleepy. i've never heard ofit helping colon problems. sometimes it can make it difficult to pee. (just to get it started)

[Nancym]

They said if you have hallcinations to call your doctor immediately. That'd be "dreaming" while awake.

[hineini]

I was on Elavil/amitryptiline for Fibromyalgia and sleep disorder.

It helped a tiny bit with the pain, and a lot with the sleep. It also made me have EXTREMELY vivid dreams/nightmares and very groggy during the day.

You're on a very low dose. If you're having hallucinations or disorienting sensations... You need to CALL YOUR DOC IMMEDIATELY (and most likely get off this med)

I recommend NOT stopping the drug until you talk to your doc, though. I had SEVERE seratonin withdrawal when I stopped Elavil (and when i stopped its cousin drug, nortryptiline). Including panic attacks, heart palpitations, dizziness, suicidal thoughts. You may need to titrate off it very slowly.