Side Effects from Amitriptyline Normal?

Question:

I have chronic pain, and my doc prescribed 10mg of Amitriptyline, starting last night. I took it at 5:30PM, and passed out about 45 minutes later. I woke with my alarm at 5AM, and was very nauseas, and vomited. I felt like my head was in a cloud, and had vertigo like symptoms. I made some tea and ate a biscuit and sat down on the couch, and fell asleep again. i was woken up around 8AM and i then fell asleep again until about 10AM, and woke up with my heart racing. I left a message with the doctors, and sipped about 24 oz of water. I fell back asleep again sometime after that and was woken up again around 12:30 when the phone rang. It was my doc and she told me i didn't have to take the meds if i didn't want to but there would be side effects with this drug.

Are these common side effects? will they go away as i "get used" to the drug? I can't work if i can't stay awake, so I'm thinking of abandoning this treatment. Has anyone had similar issues with this drug that can give me advice?

Answers:
Endep, Trytanol, Apo-Amitriptyline (generic name: amitriptyline, note lower case "a") has a number of adverse effects. The common ones are: orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and dry mouth. There are many less common effects, so I'll list only some: Tremor, dizziness, weaknes, hallucinations, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, urine retention and hyperglycemia. The life threatening effects are: coma, seizures, CVA (stroke), MI (myocardial infraction...heart attack), heart block, numerous blood cell disorders and hypoglycemia. You have described nausea (less common), vomiting (less common), dizziness (less common) and tachycardia (common).

The dizziness usually subsides after a few weeks. Don't drive or engage in activities that require alertness or good motor skills in the meantime. Take with food to avoid the nausea and vomiting. Take at bedtime and in the morning be careful of orthostatic hypotension. This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you sit or stand up. Take it slowly and sit on the edge of the bed until you're sure you're fine. For the tachycardia, perhaps the doctor can lower the dosage a little or prescribe it in divided doses.

I hope this helps you.

Other Answers:
I too take this drug and have for 6 years. I was prescribed it for nerve pain. Now I take it to sleep at night. I hate it because it makes my mouth very dry and gives me a funny taste in my mouth. Sounds like your side affects go along with this drug. Give it some time. If you continue to have problems, contact your doctor.

I was on Amytriptyline some time ago for Fibromyalgia and had the sleepiness for several weeks plus other symptoms. I went off this drug. Now, (several years later) I am on Nortriptyline and do not get the sleepiness or the other symptoms. Ask your Doctor.

I also was prescribed Amitriptyline for treatment of chronic pain (fibromyalgia). I took the medication for a fairly extended period of time without any serious side effects although I do recall that it affected my speach. I often had periods of mental "fog" and confusion and was tired during the day. I quit taking that particular medication due to side effects that were unpleasant and I just found it to be not worth the discomfort.
If you're having side effects to the extent that you mentioned in your question I would seriously stop taking it. It's really not worth that kind of discomfort and mental stress. I am now taking an anti-depressant by the name of Trazodone. I find it very effective in regards to sleep. I was waking up several times through the night and had trouble going to sleep in the first place and this is helping tramendously. I think it's also deminishing the pain level to some degree. Also keep in mind that if your quality and quantity of sleep is deminished that will increase your pain as well. I also purchased magnetic therapy jewellery and that has decreased my pain by probably 15% or so. That might be worth a try as well. Another med you could consider trying is Cyclobenzaprene. It's an anti-inflamatory I believe (not an anti-depressant) and I found that worked pretty well for pain management as well. Just a few options for you to consider or talk to your doc about. Taking Amitriptyline with the side effects your experiencing truly just isn't worth the risk.
I hope this helps you. Good luck and God speed.

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Side Effects from Amitriptyline Normal?

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