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Posted 9/23/2009 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Went to a neurologist today.  Love him!!  Everyone in the whole office was super nice.  Anyways...he is going to rule out diabetes with a 2 hr glucose test and he is also ordering a B12 test. He wants to put me on anatriptaline(sp)  What experiences have you guys had with this?

Missy

Posted 9/23/2009 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Do you mean amitriptyline? If it is that drug i did try to take it, but was so sensitive to it that i would stay in a zombie like state. This one night my mom was staying with me i took it, and argued over a rootbeer float that i had to have, well according to the story i made one and plopped down into the recliner. In just a flash i spilled it and it went all over my coffee table up the and soaked the kitten... none of this i remember. each drug effects everyone differently, but if this is the drug i looked up the spelling you have but can't find a match so don't panic it might be different drugs. If it's the same you may want a "babysitter" that first night.

Satsumi
Posted 9/23/2009 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
I take amitriptyline. the brand name is Elavil. i've been taking it for over 5 years and it has made a huge difference in my fibro fatigue. I take 3 tablets at bedtime, i think they are 75mg. i started with just 2.

before i started taking it, i would wake up as tired as i went to bed. i felt like a truck had run over me during the night. that was due to the common fibro related sleep disorder called alpha wave anomaly. that means that when you're asleep your brain is still in alpha wave mode, which is awake mode. you never get down to the deep stage 4 mode where the healing of the body actually occurs. that's why we wake up exhausted.

the amitriptyline actually promotes the stage 4 sleep, makes you get more of it. it doesn't just knock you out, it actually changes your sleep pattern back to what it should be.

yes, it can make you a little woozy when you first start it, but that will pass. the only annoying longterm side effect is dry mouth.

but i swear by it. NOTHING will make me give it up lol! it's still the first, best, gold standard option for fibro sleep disorder. and cheapest :-)
Posted 9/23/2009 3:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Missy! I take amitriptyline and it did WONDERS for my fibro!  It was like a miracle for me when I started it.  I had been struggling for months with flu-like pain and fatigue.  Within 2 days after I started it, I felt like a new woman!  I only take 25 mgs, so I had NO side effects.  I hope it works great for you like it does for me!

Take care,

Jenny

 


Posted 9/23/2009 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
I had some severe dry mouth with the amitryptaline, and just had to stop. I couldn't speak without sipping water first. Switched to Cymbalta and now am sweating and cranky. I know I'll find the right one eventually.
Posted 9/23/2009 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on amitriptyline for about 12 yrs, 100 mg at bedtime. It hasn't helped with fatigue but it helps the pain. The biggest problem is getting off of it after you have been on such a high dose for so many years. It does cause dry mouth and sweet cravings but I haven't had a weight issue cause of it.

 

It's like all other meds some hate it and some love it.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/23/2009 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
I wondered why I have had such a dry mouth-didnt think about the amitriptyline.  But I havent slept so well in many years.  I'll keep taking it.
Posted 9/23/2009 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
I started last fall at 5mgs. My doctor has raised it each time I complain of more breakthrough pain in my face or complaints with sleeping. My biggest complaint was having trouble getting up in the morning. I would try to take it about 8pm, but the nights I worked, I couldn't take it until sometimes 10-11pm, so I could safely drive home. In the spring, I told my rheumy I wanted to try something different that wouldn't make me so groggy in the morning (I was on only 15 mgs at the time). I tried Clonazepam, but the shooting burning pain came back with a vengeance, and since it wore off so quickly, I was up by 4-5am everyday. I went back on amitriptyline after only a few weeks. After a year, the grogginess in the morning is finally gone, and I am at 50mgs now. I still sleep only lightly after 4am, but at least it's some sleep. I do have dry mouth with it, so I always carry a few bottles of water with me. I do also get cravings, but they are usually manageable; besides, I'm not really convinced I wouldn't want the carbs and sweets even not on it. I'm still getting more pain in my face, but my doctor said he probably woudln't raise it again now that I am at 50mgs, but give me a combo if the pain keeps going. I'm a little upset about that and hope to change his mind. I don't really want to start on cocktails, and I know I tolerate this one well.
Posted 9/23/2009 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys...I was just weary about taking another antidepressant since I had such a bad reaction to the Cymbalta.  I will take it I guess and give it a try.  But I think I will wait until after the blood glucose test and make sure there is no diabetes because in articles I have read it says people with diabetes shouldn't take it.

Thanks again

Missy

Posted 9/23/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

watashi said...
Do you mean amitriptyline?
Satsumi

And yes that is what I meant LOL

Posted 9/23/2009 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Mamanan, spring before last I tried to cut back on my amitriptyline, very little at that, and went into a two week burning flare from hades so I went right back up to the 100 mg and I've not had that kind of flare since.

 

I was on amitriptyline when I got fibro, for anxiety, and I do believe it is what kept the pain away and took longer for a dx. I'm in a self induced and season changing flare right now but for the most part I don't have as much pain as many others do. Now if I could just find some magic for fatigue I would be happy.

 

I would rather carry a bottle of water with me than have the pain.

 

Still it is not for everyone and some will have bad reactions to it like all other meds.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 9/23/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
I started with 25mg of amatriptolyne and it didn't make much difference so they upped it to 75. I took it

for about 3 months and the dry mouth was a killer. It helped me to sleep a bit better but not a lot for the

pain issues. When my hair started falling out I said it wasn't worth it. (Neat side effect!) I was growing it

for Locks of Love so the hair was a BIG issue. I lopped off 2 1/2 feet.

I tried Cymbalta for 4 days and it was a nightmare. Hurt worse than before. My neighbor tried it and

had nightmares.

A stupid question for users....With the dry mouth how many of you are suffering from tooth decay and

loss? I think there is a link between this and Sjornes disease and peridontal disease. With the way the

meds are messing with our internal systems I seriously think this is possible. Unfortunately, I realized this

way too late and have lost most of my back teeth. Until I went on these meds I had no problem and

had the same fillings I got when I was a teenager. Most were 35-40 years old and all of a sudden my

teeth were decaying and breaking.

Posted 9/24/2009 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I've been taking Elavil off and on since 1994, and started taking it before I had FM.  It was prescribed for my by a gastroenterologist when I developed chronic diarrhea. (It "dries you out")  I take 25 mg tablets, one at supper, and another at bedtime.  However, I still get very sleepy even the next day, without fail.   I can't recall ever taking it and not getting really tired off and on the next day.
Posted 9/24/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am on amitriptylene now .. but only since last october, i found it has helped with sleeping at night i have put on about 30lbs since i started it just over a year ago... i get terrible sweet craving that no matter what i eat i can't get rid off and always have an incredible thirst i am only on 30mg a day

will probably have to go higher soon
Posted 9/24/2009 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
yes dry mouth can lead to tooth decay. i use biotene toothpaste, mouthwash and gum. i get my teeth cleaned twice a year and my teeth and gums are perfectly healthy.
Posted 9/24/2009 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Beanley,

   What's biotene toothpaste? I use baking soda straight out of the box. I don't like most toothpastes

as they foam and are minty. I don't do well with either. When I was a kid my dentist had a

chlorophyll toothpaste that didn't foam which was o.k.

Posted 9/25/2009 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
it's a special toothpaste for dry mouth. i buy it at the drugstore. it doesn't foam too much and isn't too minty.
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