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Has anyone used Amitriptyline??

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 8/17/2012 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
 Sorry to bother everyone again, but new doctor and new courses of action and not sure what to expect. Was discussing symptoms with my doc the other day and some of the things I have tried that have not worked. He called me in a prescription for Amitriptyline. I was wondering if anyone has tried this or something similiar to this and if it works. It is a antidepressant med primarily but he is confidant that it will help sooth the nerves in my gut to help things. Did some reading and it the theory seems sound and it looks like some people have had sucess with this, but I trust the opinion of you guys on here and need feedback. I have not tried it yet because waiting for the weekend just in case I have a bad reaction to it I dont miss any work.

 I have tried other antidpressant and anxiety meds in the past but they just made me feel disconnected and in some cases it made things worse so I am a little timid about trying this. I am trying to not Google doctor it to much so I dont have my panic button pushed, but I am sure at some point before I take the first pill I will do that and end up not trying something that could possibly work.

Posted 8/17/2012 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Raydo

I do take this med, not for IBS even though I do have it. I take it to try and help me with insomnia and hopefully eventually pain. I've been on it about 2 months. Are you taking it at night or morning or both? I take it at night and it does make me quite sleepy, and a bit groggy in the mornings, the side affects are just starting to lessen now i've been on it longer, but basically.. I have found it effective for what I'm on for, and I think it could be very good for you! It's a good drug because it's not a very bad drug in terms of side affects and damage it can do! If you can start in the lowest dose possible and build it up gradually I found that worked well for me, the first few days on each new dose I was a bit out of it and daydreamy and disconnected but that definitely improved and was okay if I stimulated my brain lots and did exercise to switch me back on!!

Good luck, definitely give it a go, if your doctor thinks it could work, why not try!! I haven't heard many stories of bad side effects! Let me know how you go :)
Posted 8/18/2012 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
I was given it from my RA dr when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I took it for a year or more but did not notice any change.
Posted 8/19/2012 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
Had it for anxiety and insomnia and it helped my insomnia but gave me dizzy spells all day every day for 6 months and then I quit. Hope it works well for you. Good luck
Posted 8/20/2012 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your input. I started taking it the other day. Besides the blurry vision through the first part of the day after waking up I have not noticed much. Hopefully this works. If nothing else maybe it will help calm my anxiety issues.
Posted 9/3/2012 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Raydio

I hope you are feeling better. I suffered for years with symptoms you describe in your other posts and also with bleeding hemorroids and low iron. around 2007 I was prescibed Citalopram, which is an SSRI drug used for treating anxiety and depression. It really helped me to live a normal life, i was on them for about 18 months and i was fine for until mid 2010 when i had a relapse so went back on Citalopram for 2 or 3 months and again have been fine up until a few days ago when i started to get that dread feeling again.

I asked my doctor as to whether there is a link between low iron, which in my case was caused by heavy bleeding hemorroids, and anxiety. She said there wasn't, however there are numerous articles on the web linking them. in my case i believe there is a link whether it be a direct or indirect link and i am taking iron supplements to see if this helps.

I hope this goes someway to reassuring you are not alone and that you will get better.
Posted 9/3/2012 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chris. I may ask Dr about that citalopram.
I have also thought about the link with the iron levels. I can definitely tell the days I am running on the low side. I have been taking iron supplements for about a year and half. I only take them every other day because I noticed if I did everyday I had bad cramps. I generally feel better the days I take it. My new doc recommended that after I run out of the iron to start taking the Flintstones vitamins with iron every day and it should help . I had to laugh, but going to give it a try.
Posted 9/4/2012 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Raydio

I was reading this article about the link between iron and anxiety, see what you think.

http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?id=6991

I am no expert but Citalopram is one of a group of drugs called SSRI's. I believe they increase the seretonin in your body. This article says that Iron is needed to synthesise seretonin and dopamine. If you have low iron this doesn't work so well, perhaps creating an imbalance of one or the other.

I am certainly no Dr, but i guess in my case the Citalopram worked for me by increasing the seretonin and therefore this restored the balance with dopamine.

In my experience, i haven't noticed a significant improvement when taking iron supplements but then again i haven't been taking them as regularly as i should have. However i assume if i replenish iron fully this will have the same effect.

What kind of iron tablets are you on, i might be wrong but i think you can get various types of these too. I am on Ferrous Furmate and i haven't noticed any stomach cramps
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