Antidepressants for chronic pain

[Nonny]

Does anyone have experience with tricyclic antidepressants for chronic pain?

I've been dealing with mysterious abdominal pain for 18+ months now, and despite tons of tests of my GI track all that has really happened is I've tried a bunch of various meds that do nothing, been labeled with IBS because they can't figure anything else out, and gotten a positive breath test for SIBO. But I'm still in pain.

My regular GI at my last appointment, and my GI second opinion that I got this morning, have both brought up using a low dose tricyclic antidrepressant to help treat the pain symptoms and help me sleep better, while we continue to look for a cause of the pain. At this point I'm ready to jump in and try it because I'm so sick of the pain, but I admit I am a little nervous.

The doctor giving me the second opinion today has sent in an Rx for Amytriptaline (I think, not sure of the dose -- I haven't picked it up yet). I've been reading about it online and I see that Amytriptaline is also known as Elavil, and I remember my mom taking it for migraines and suspected fibromyalgia when I was in elementary school, and her sleeping like the dead. But otherwise I'm kind of clueless.

The doctor did go over some side effects with me (dry mouth, crazy dreams), and I'll ask my pharmacist too, but if anyone here can reassure me, I'd like that too.

[emilyinchile]

I was prescribed amitriptyline with chlordiazepoxide recently for a headache that lasted weeks. I had a low dose - about 6mg of the amitriptiline - for 30 days, and after about a week the headache was gone. I did end up repeating the same course of meds for another 30 days a couple months later, but I've since changed jobs and haven't had a recurrence (the doctor said it was probably stress-related).

I did have crazy dreams, and it was hard to pull myself out of bed in the morning because I was still sleepy, but I didn't have any other side effects. I will gladly take vivid dreams in exchange for being pain free. Good luck!

[drloretta]

From my indirect experience, it's one of those "hey we found another indication for this drug" situations and it seems to help. My mom has been on Celexa (I think) for several years for her chronic pain. And you've probably seen the ads for it on TV. My mom has had no ill effects, so at least in her experience it hasn't been a problem

I'm starting to have menopausal symptoms, and my ob/gyn recently said they may try antidepressants for hot flashes, if I also experience mood swings. Apparently that's yet another thing the drug is good for. If it gets to that point I have no problem trying a low dose. If it doesn't work or the side effects are an issue, I'll just stop using them.

[Shreddingbetty]

Amitriptyline is used a lot for chronic pain and is effective for many people. Just start at a low dose (like 25 mg) and see how you do. I've had people who were completely conked out and zombies the next morning on like 10 mg. Then are are lots of people who are on 100 mg or more. Take it at least 8 hours before you have to get up in the morning.

It is cheap and you don't really need to wean off of it (unless you are on a really high dose) if you decide you don't want/need to be on it anymore.

[mrssavy42112]

My mom takes amitriptyline for her chronic pain associated with her Fibromyalgia. It works well for her.

[Nonny]

Dec 4, 2012 15:53:05 GMT -5 Shreddingbetty said:

It is cheap and you don't really need to wean off of it (unless you are on a really high dose) if you decide you don't want/need to be on it anymore.

This is good to know! I forgot to ask about that at the doctor's office.

And I don't know what my dosage is going to be and I don't think I can pick it up for a day or two. My pharmacy left a message about needing to order one of my meds but didn't say which one (the GI also prescribed some sort of pancreatic enzyme)

[emilyinchile]

FWIW, my dose was apparently crazy low, so don't worry if yours is significantly higher than mine.

[alleinesein]

I have the lowest dose of amitriptyline for tension headaches. No side effects at all but I do need to take it at night b/c it does knock me out.

The only thing that I do not like about it is that it is one of the drugs that has a weird interaction with grapefruit and you cant eat/drink any grapefruit while taking it. Also be aware that the warning for sun/heat exposure is there for a damn good reason---definitely slather yourself in SPF and avoid being anywhere that is ridiculously hot.

[Nonny]

Dec 4, 2012 18:16:55 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

I have the lowest dose of amitriptyline for tension headaches. No side effects at all but I do need to take it at night b/c it does knock me out.

The only thing that I do not like about it is that it is one of the drugs that has a weird interaction with grapefruit and you cant eat/drink any grapefruit while taking it. Also be aware that the warning for sun/heat exposure is there for a damn good reason---definitely slather yourself in SPF and avoid being anywhere that is ridiculously hot.

Good to know. Thankfully I'm not a big fan of grapefruit, and I live in the land of rain and overcastness, so I don't have to worry about the heat for several months! (At least not until April when I take a cruise along the equator, but I'll definitely be slathered up with sunscreen and wearing hats and clothes with SPF there!)