Has anyone used Amitriptyline before ?

The GP has prescribed me Endep which is a generic name for Amitriptyline.  I know its a Tricyclic anti depressant but finding much information on it for use with Bipolar patients is not proving that easy and I sort of wanted to know a bit before taking it (The GP is useless in this regard and my pdoc is on holiday for a month)

Its also known as Elavil, Tryptanol,  Elatrol, Tryptizol, Trepiline, Laroxyl, Saroten, Triptyl.

I know the common side effects I can find are dry mouth, extreme weight gain, drowsiness, muscle stiffness, nausea, constipation, nervousness, dizziness, blurred vision and insomnia. Some rare side effects include tinnitus, hypotension, mania, psychosis, anticholinergic effects, heart block, arrhythmias, lip and mouth ulcers, extrapyramidal symptoms, depression, and hepatic toxicity.

As you might guess the mania and psychosis bits sort of ring alarm bells for me but I cant find much about it and the frequency of occurence.

So has anyone used this drug before? Any thoughts or advice on it?

[Amyjo101]

My daughter uses this PRN for sleep and has since before she became symptomatic with Bipolar. It has never caused any mania issues with her and other than sleepiness she has never had any real issues with the medication. She has used it for 3 years now so if that helps.

[horselover65]

I've used both amitriptyline and nortriptryline (not simultaneously). I had to take a fiber supplement. Other side effects were very, very mild - a little drowsiness is all I remember. I was on one or the other for 6-12+ months at a time. I was not on any other psych medications at the time. It was one of a series of things we tried to prevent migraines and try to combat the depression. We tried to kill two birds with one stone because the depression has usually been the most troubling, long-lasting part of my bipolar - and I was "off" shrinks at that time. I do not recall any psych problems from it - certainly not anything resembling psychosis. I'm sure I still went up and down, but that was just life back then. I should add that I have had repetitive muscle strains and disc problems, so if that was a side effect I had, I would never have known the difference. Several other family members have also taken amitriptyline and I don't recall them having any serious issues with it either. In fact, my mom has taken this or Welbutrin (Bupropion)  for SAD close to 20 years - though she does skip years. I think with a MS that the risk for mania or psychosis is supposed to be much lower than without.  

Personally, I have a short list of meds that I would prefer to have added to the lithium if necessary and this one is on it. Let us know what happens, monkeyc.

[monkeyc]

Well i filled the script, at only $13 for 50 tabs its not a big cost and I will then decide to take it or not, hardest part is right now I am not taking anything..

[sun_shine613]

can i take Amitriptyline to help my withdrawls from oxys , i was told it will help with the pain , i was just wondering if anyone would know ,
thanx

[monkeyc]

On that subject your doctor is the person to speak to - there is an addiction management protocol for drugs like this.

[fedupofhotfeet]

Amitriptyline is the most lethal pill ive ever taken and heard of...it causes bad fluid retention reason for a lot of weight gain....my friend who had been on it for 8 years ended up in hospital with a burst bladder wall as she couldnt go to the loo,the build up of fluid caused this,it makes you sleep but next day it feels like youve been drunk the night before.i was on it 4 years i took it for bad leg aches as ive arthritis...the result was my weight went up and i got swollen legs and feet,my ankles became painful,it was hell! and it takes your brain over. it was then i met my friend who took one look at my legs and asked if i was on amitriptyline.i came off it 8 months ago and now ive got a clearer head my weight is going down but im struggling to get the fluid away from my legs and feet,im on water pills to do this. it buggered my life up and im now so unsure of taking any drs pills again...so beware of it

[hell1971]

How come you are currently on nothing? shouldnt you be on a ms first before adding this.

[Carly812]

Hi,
I just joined.  Sorry if I sound like new-vy but here goes.  I haved tried Paxil / Effexor separately in the past .  Hind-sight is telling me these brought on my extremes of highs and lows. I am presently on 20mg of Elavil.  The swollen knees are making it difficult u/d  stairs. I was glad to read that this side effect is real.  The vivid dreams do not bother me but difficulty going to the loo is.  Funny thing is that it was supposed to help me with Fibromyalgia.  Not.  Good sleep and not feeling dead inside are a plus though.  My reg. Doc wanted to take xrays of my knees but was not willing to suggest that Elavil is the cause.  He prescribed Seroquel today and from what I am reading, yikes!!!!  I suggested Lamictal but he wants me to see a Pdoc for that.  Thanks monkeyc for your valued input.

[medicmommy]

Personally, I think Amitriptyline is a dangerous drug to give to someone who can become severely depressed. It doesn't take much to overdose and die on it, and patients go through pretty awful withdrawals if they suddenly stop taking it...that aside, there are better medications with fewer side-effects available...Too often I've heard lethargy, lack of emotion, and weight gain as some of the day-to-day sides from it...-Just my 2 cents worth from a paramedic's view...~MM

[LeftCoastChick]

Many of the drugs if taking in excessive quantities can do the exact same thing. Most of the psych drugs take time to get out of your system as well have some side effects, which differ from person to person. I know of two people who have chronic pain syndromes and it's helped them immensely. I was on a med that supposed had very limited side effects and I got very ill, I'm on a med now that supposed to have a ton, yet I don't have any side effects.  I think it's best up to the medical professional and the patient on which meds to take you know?  Brains are intricate organisms, what works for some may not for others.

[irishwriter]

yes i have taken this with mannerix and lithium etc. it did help but one day pharmacist refused to fill prescription as she said these drugs could not be mixed. pdoc anyway was about to change whole combo so it didn't matter at the time. i hope you get benefits from it. goot to hear from you, hope you are doing better.