Anyone tried amitriptyline for pain?

After over a month of moderate/severe abdominal pain, and an pretty good looking scope, we are going to try amitriptyline to see if that would ease the abdominal pain.  Anyone tried it with or without success?  I am wondering about some of the side effects too--weight gain and hair loss? 

Thanks!

Kelsie (mom of teen with UC--currently remicade only)

After my bowel rest 2 years ago my colon was completely healed but I was still having symptoms and my GI said my brain was probably still used to my intestines being raw and it was overreacting so he put me on ami. and I swear I couldn't live without it.
Its a very universal drug. My mom takes it for migranes

It's an old drug, not prescribed much, maybe only when the newer drugs don't touch the symptoms (depression that is). I have chronic pain, have UC & IBD, lots of pain when I eat, pretty much all the time (for several years now). UC diagnosed over 10 years, pretty bad past 2-3 years. Anyway, I take Prozac, helps some, but have to admit nothing really works than the occational Percocet I have to take; I've gotten to a point in my life that I won't put up with pain anymore and I've done all the positive thinking I can (along with acupunturce, biofeedback, therapy, pilates, etc....) I have lots of access to psychiatrists and have done my personal research re: pain and psych meds and have found they all pretty much work on the same level. I heard Cymbalta was suppose to be better that the standard SSRI, i.e. prozac, zoloft, etc. but my personal physician, who specializes in chronic pain says, in his personal practice, he does not see a difference between the SSRI's (when it comes to pain). I see that this question may pertain to your child? If so, pain management is going to be tough b/c the younger you are, the less doctors are willing to prescibe pain medication (due to addiction issues, which makes sense--not that the "old" can't get addicted). Good luck.

Hi..I took it for a month when I was having a process called "spray and stretch" done for myofascial syndrome. I felt pretty good on it emotionally, and it did help my pains.

It's prescribed for people with body discomfort/pain where there's also an emotional reaction/ fatigue from it.

It's an old drug, but with new uses and seems to be effective in low dosages.

We all know there's a brain/gut connection....I've found good results from antispasmodics. At least there's an option in the future if they stop working.

Kelsie...what dosage are you on?

quincy

Thanks for all your replies!  Quincy, I am not on it, my daughter is---was.  10mg for 5 days, and it was terrible--at least the GI and I think it was from the ami.  Severe dizziness, saying words completely out of context, fatigue (although that could be the UC), problems writing words, really bad headaches, etc.  If things don't get under control, we may give it another try and see if it happens again or if it was a fluke--maybe side effects from the colonoscopy anesthesia??  Never had a problem with that before, and for that many days afterward, but who knows.  Now we are giving cortisone enemas a try--and is that torture or what??!!  I will have to post on that one.  She had a scope last week and it showed her disease to still be mildly active.  She just had 2 remicade infusions 4 weeks apart, so that was a bit discouraging!  We are hoping this is just a little flare that we can get under control, she was doing so well!! 

Kelsie (mom of teen with UC)

Better question is to ask YOU if you've been on pred over the past 6 months at least? That and being in a flare, pregnant, on the pill, on cholesterol or high blood pressure meds, extreme distress or illness or having anything thyroid related?

I'm pretty sure amitriptyline isn't on the list of causing hairloss.
q