I've been on Amyltriptilene(Elavil) since 1990. Only two side effects (when taken prior to bedtime), 1) weight gain from craving for sweets, 2) dry mouth during the day. I started at 15mg. gradually got up to 100mg. 1 hour prior to bedtime. Occasionally, when my Fibro flare is severe and I'm in misery, I take 25mg. during the day. That is only when I am not getting any relief from my pain meds. Then, when taken during the day, although it stops the neurological pain like horrible tailbone/spinal pain which doesn't respond to reg. pain meds like tylenol with codein, I have to pretty much stay in bed that day because the side effects are much more irksome. I'm wobbly, feel hungover, dry mouth, feel kinda like my skin is crawling, prespire, have trouble tolerating heat. Sort of flu like symptoms. So, it's a trade-off. The spinal pain which is unbearable, or take the amyltriptilene, stay in bed and feel hung over. Fortunately, this situation occurs only about
every three weeks or so and generally lasts only a day or so. Originally, Amyltriptilene was the only medicine the docs would give me for Fibro. I think, ever so slowly, they're beginning to awaken to the reality of what this disorder is, how it manifests and how best to treat it. Back in 1990 I clearly was scorned at when I raised the issue of having Fibromyalgia. As if I was making up stories to get attention and pain meds. Now, through these forums and research by hugh pharmaceutical companies who would market a cure for a ham sandwich if they thought people would buy it, slowly, the docs are beginning to believe. It is a useful med to promote the levels of sleep required by the body to heal. Therefore and therein lies the secret to how to manage the Fibro. Get the patient sleeping well, promote stressless surrondings, and manage fibro flares with appropriate pain meds. Oh yeah, maybe move to Arizona to avoid barometric highs and lows, lol.