Amitriptyline?

Hey all. I was recently prescribed Amitriptyline for help  me sleep at night but I wanted some more information about it. I know I can research online but I get better answers from all of you. You make the answers make sense. LOL! I want to know if this is an addictive medication? I was give 50mg, is that high? It was prescribed to help me sleep and also for pain control. If I take it during the day will it make me so tired I cannot function without going to sleep??? I guess I just want basic information on it. Anything would help.

Thanks all.

Danielle

Oh, I am on day 10 of no hydro's!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charetti]

I take amitripyline for sleep too.  50mg.  I dont think they are addictive in the usual way but I have a heck of a time getting to sleep without them.  However I always had trouble getting to sleep anyway.  They also help with pain management and a bit of an antidepressent so overall I agree with taking them.  Thats me!

[cleanmom]

They don't have any potential for psychological addiction so i would say this drug is fine for you to take if it helps. Luv, Jacky

[OIFMc09]

I took it the other night to try to get to sleep early.  It works, but I felt super drowsy the next morning.  Nothing a good cup of coffee doesn't take care of!  No, but all said, I'm not a big fan of it.

[Sky1978]

I was prescibed 10mg to help me sleep and also for headaches, i dont take them ever night, only nights i have trouble sleeping, i dont mind them, i dont think their addictive either.  but i agree i do wake up very drowsy the next morning.

[merrymaria]

i was prescribed 10mgs when i was seeing a pain management doc...used for sleep.  they really work...take 1 pill 30 minutes before bed....did not become addicted and no problems when stopping them....i was not foggy in  the morning either....everyone is different...maria

[LadySundown]

Hi,

I have taken amiltriptylene (elavil) for over 20 yrs. It's a very old antidepressant. Through the yrs they have found it works for pain and it has seditive in it for sleep.

I take 200-300mgs at bedtime. I didn't start out on that amount and it would be very dangerous for anyone to try it. I started on 50 mgs. I don't suggest changing your dose at all w/o asking your dr.

If I can be of more help let me know.
Take Care....peace....LS

[GA Guy]

It's listed as a Class C Non-addictive medication in my Addiction Medications Guide. So, it's OK for addicts.

[christos24]

Hey Danielle,
congrats on ten days!!! that is such a great **** you will live such a better life in everyway possible.
Amitriptyline is an old school what they call third generation anti-depressant. For anti-depressant there are few classes of them, there are SSRI's which are the post popular that include Paxil, Prozac,Celexa,Effexor, Zoloft, Lexapro etc., then there are SNRI's an include the newer popular drug Wellbutrin (Bupropion), Pristiq, and , then the two other older generation anti-depressant classes are MAOI's and Tricyclics, which is the class that amitriptyline is includes. Its brand name is Elavil.
Though it is usually looked as an anti-depressant and is effective for most in treating symptoms of depression it is more recently been found to be an effective medication in aiding in issues with insomnia, certain types of nerve pain, chronic migraines, fibromyalgia pains, and quite a few other "off-label" uses.
I have seen many times Elavil prescribed to help people sleep, its main side-effects are drowsiness and sedation due to its anti-cholinergic activity, though not as potent as insomnia meds like benzodiazepines, ambien, or Lunesta, it is comparable in effectiveness in relieving insomnia to medications such as Seroquel or clonidine, which is also prescribed off label for insomnia.
It is not addictive, if taken for long periods of time on a regular basis it is necessary to slowly go down in dosage til you taper off. With any anti-depressant or drugs taken for sleep (even over-the-counter sleep aids such as Nyquil, Sominex, benadryl, or unisom) there is going to be a form of dependency mentally and physically, so it is necessary to taper off them. Stopping those forms of meds after long periods of use result in withdrawal symptoms that can be very serious and dangerous, but as long as one tapers down off the medication they will not encounter WDs.
As far as your dosage goes at 50mgs that is a pretty small dose and usually the standard at which they start you at when usuing Elavil as a sleep aid. It also can help mildly in some of the chronic pain many people suffer. And for most people that take it dont have a problem taking it during the day as the drowsiness is not to strong to make you groggy and unfunctional in your daily activities.  Let me know if you have any questions about Elavil or any other reason at all, I wish you the best of luck, Christos

[DanielleLeigh]

Thanks everyone!!!

WOW! I took one of the pills last night for pain in my back and within a 1/2 hour I was so tired I could barely function. I went to bed at 6pm and slept straight through until 7am this morning. Didn't hear my husband come upstairs to put my kids to bed or anything....craziness. I am feeling really drowsy thing morning though, like my body doesn't want to get up and move...but hopefully that will pass soon..

Thanks for all the responses.

Danielle

[worried878]

Elavil is often prescribed at 25 mgs or less for sleep or chronic pain..i take 10 mgs as needed for sleep.....50 mgs or more is considered a depression dose//anti-anxiety dose and helps sleep as well...but can be too much if u r not clinically in need  of amitryptiline (Elavil)  it can knock u out cold if u r not used to it...but even at 50 mgs or more the body adjusts and the groggy feeling in the am stops occurring..i took 75 mgs after my divorce for over a year and it helped me sleep and helped my anxiety/depression too...not addictive but tapering off any AD is recommended..altho i didnt know that back then and just stopped it...i may have started forgetting it so i may have kinda tapered off in a way//cant remember
it is safer than benzos for sleep...as is phenergan, even seroquil in small doses...ambien and lunesta are also safer but do not work if someone has a tolerence to benzos or is anxiety is the root of their insomnia...and ambien seems to be abused more often///course none should be taken with alcohol

good luck and get some sleep!  sleep keeps us strong!

[ellesparks]

Hi
I have been on elavil for 10 years for pain and recently tried to wean off of it. I ended up in so much pain that I had to return to my regular dose. This scared me and I wondered if these were withdrawal symptoms. My doctor said that the pain is probably my normal state, but I find that hard to believe. The pain was unbearable and I would be bedridden if that was normal pain. Please let me know if you have ever attempted to wean off the medication and what your experiences were like?
Thanks,
Danielle