Amitriptyline To Nortriptyline - Sleep Problems
Feb 12, 2015
I've been taking a low level of amitriptyline (10 - 20mg daily) for chronic pelvic pain for about 5 years (possibly longer). Recently, my specialist suggested I change to Nortriptyline (10mg daily) as it has less side effects - particularly the 'foggy-head' feeling in the morning that I often experienced.
I spoke at length to my GP about this and they assured me that I could just switch from one to the other, which I have done. Whilst I am definitely feeling less zombie-like in the morning, I find I can't sleep at night. With the ami, I zonked out quite easily, but with the nor, every night since I switched, I haven't slept properly at all. I'm quite run down at the moment so I'm a bit concerned that I'm going to make myself ill if I'm not sleeping.
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I have suspected Piriformis Syndrome & SI Joint Dysfunction also causing sciatica, have also had some nerve pain in the back of my thigh, occasional calf cramps, foot cramps, and foot pain. Since my last Cortisol injection into my SI joint it has made everything horribly worse, I cannot sit now for very long without severe left foot pain that makes me feel nauseous it's so horrible. I have informed the consultant of this and am on a waiting list to go back and see him, this is the 2nd time the injections have caused me extra pain so have now lost faith in these and want to try alternatives.
My consultant previously wanted to put me on Amitriptyline but I have been on this before and was taken off it due to serious sedative side effects (even fell asleep eating in a restaurant) was on a small dose and still didn't improve with time. So I've read that Nortriptyline is an alternative with less side effects, can anyone advise if they have had less sedative side effects with this than Amitriptyline please?
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after using Tramadol for several months with limited success I have now been prescribed Amitriptyline also to aid sleep. I was constantly waking up at night in pain but this is seeming to work thankfully.
Is it a concern though that it does knock me out and I do work night shifts.....
Perhaps I need to change my shift pattern temporary?
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I'm 14 years old and yesterday school started after two weeks of holidays. I went to bed at 11 PM and woke up at 4 AM. I tried to go back to sleep but I just couldn't. At 6 AM I got up and got ready for school. After school I was really tired and took an hour long nap, but I was still extremely tired. I went to bed at 9 PM and fell asleep in a second. I woke up at 2:30 AM and tried my best to fall asleep, but it didn't work. Its 6 AM right now and Ive done some homework, as I couldnt do them yesterday because I was so tired. The thing is, this didn't happen in my holiday, and I get really cranky when I don't get enough sleep. Do I have insomnia?
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I've been prescribed a low dose of Amitriptyline for IBS (10 mg per day). Can anyone advise if they have taken this for IBS and what the outcomes have been?
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Is anyone else getting this? If I come of the amitriptyline will it stop?
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I am new to this forum but was wondering if anyone could advise or help me. I don't know why but every night when i go to bed i manage to fall asleep but after a couple of hours in wide awake again hence me typing this now. I will manage to get back to sleep but then i am up with my alarm at 6.30am for work. It's driving me mad that i can never have a full night's sleep without waking up.
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I'm diagnosed sleep apnea and since it's onset, have been unable to wake myself up. This includes alarm clocks, opening windows, setting a sleep schedule, etc. The ONLY way I can wake up is by somebody physically waking me up and that only works after the first couple of tries. First issue is when I hear an alarm clock, I move from whatever dream I'm in to a separate dream where I think I've woken myself up, but I keep trying to turn off the alarm clock and it won't turn off. Sometimes I realize I'm dreaming still and "wake up" into a 3rd or 4th dream that seems more real and have the same issues. Secondly, my body seems to require 13-16 hours of sleep in order to feel well rested and wake up naturally. I am using a cpap machine, however, I sort of sleep walk and remove the machine in my sleep. Any ideas on how I can become independent and wake up on my own?
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So I'm 8 months into my latest debilitating 24/7 dizziness. After a clear MRI, a neurologist suggested my imbalance might have a migrainous element to it. There is such a thing as vestibular migraine.
At this point, I'm willing to try anything, so the Dr has out me on Amitriptyline as a migraine preventative. I've been taking 10mg per night for the last 5 days (I can go up as high as 60mg by gradually dosing up).
I know it can have side effects that take a while to wear off and that it might not become effective for several weeks. But honestly, it's making me feel much worse already. I wake up every morning with a pounding head as if I'd drank a bottle of vodka, which is worse than the cannonball-head feeling I had already. Plus, I think it's making me woozier and dizzier than before (which was already so bad I've been off work for 3 months).
Has anyone tried it? Does it get better? I'm finding it really hard to cope with the side effects on top of how I'm already feeling. Many thanks.
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Was on 600mg Gabapentin 3 times a day for peripheral neuropathy to little effect. Was prescribed Amitriptyline, took 25mg for 3 days then 50mg for 5 days - replacing the 2 Gabapentin at night. Reduced Amitriptyline to 25mg after awful side effects. Took for 2 days with 300mg at night (in addition to the 600mg in morning and new GP said stop Amitriptyline and increase morning dose to 900 mg. Was OK for a while, but then feet and lower legs started severe pins and needles, difficult to walk. Disturbed sleep last night and feet and legs still bad. Is this withdrawal from Amitriptyline? How long will it last? GP rang and said gradually increase Gabapentin to 900 mg 3 times a day and if necessary go to 1200 mg 3 times a day. Any suggestions? Will this gradually get better?
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Following my appointment to the neurologist, I have been prescribed Nortriptyline 10mg for 4 weeks. I was previously on Amitriptyline, and felt really bad while taking them. I did tell this to the neurologist hence why the 10 mg. My only concern is becoming dependant on these tablets for a long period of time which as a 21 year old I do not wish too. Can anyone offer me any advice? I am finally getting sleep on my own as my body got used to the Amitriptyline.
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Just been given nortriptyline for a pain in my leg ?
i thought these were for depression ...
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I've been on Amitriptyline for 6 months for pain management - lowest dose 10 mg in evening and I am getting on fine after the side effects at the start!
This week I've been started on fluoxetine 20 mg per day for other issues. GP said it might interact with the Amitriptyline but might not so give it a go.
Has anyone else taken these two medicines at the same time? How did you feel?
I've taken fluoxetine before so I'm ready for the crazy initial side effects (off work for 4 weeks so I can get through it!)
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Ive been using 25mg amitriptyline for migraine headache, i was told by dr that it will block headaches from coming.. for 4 days i've been taking this med. & it has me sluggish, tired, dry mouth, & delusional thoughts ( is this normal) Although the few nights i have taken it, i haven't had a headache, i just feel tightness & delusional thought in my mind, feels very scary, want to stop taking them. Everyone around me says, im not the same person i once was.. feeling sad/ very emotional..
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Was on 600mg Gabapentin 3 times a day for peripheral neuropathy to little effect. Was prescribed Amitriptyline, took 25mg for 3 days then 50mg for 5 days - replacing the 2 Gabapentin at night. Reduced Amitriptyline to 25mg after awful side effects. Took for 2 days with 300mg at night (in addition to the 600mg in morning and new GP said stop Amitriptyline and increase morning dose to 900 mg. Was OK for a while, but then feet and lower legs started severe pins and needles, difficult to walk. Disturbed sleep last night and feet and legs still bad. Is this withdrawal from Amitriptyline? How long will it last? GP rang and said gradually increase Gabapentin to 900 mg 3 times a day and if necessary go to 1200 mg 3 times a day.
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I've been taking amitriptyline for about a year for chronic tension headaches and i'm convinced they have made me gain weight. I've always kept an eye on my weight and i know how it can vary from day to day, but i always remained 2 lb's either side of my ideal weight.
Since taking amitriptyline i've gained over half a stone, I even gained weight while trying to lose it! I've been eating around 1200 calories a day and still nothing!
I have asked several times at the doctors about this, and they all say that amitriptyline is not known for weight gain, but when looking on the internet it says that it is a well known fact, so i am quite confused.
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I have spent 4 month trying to ween off, now its cold turkey. stopped taking amitriptyline last night. already feel slightly better, but heighten anxiety..Scale of 1-10...
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I have MAV, and recently tried amitriptyline and had increasing anxiety on it, so the ENT took me off of it. He said the nortriptyline is in the same family as the ami but has less side effects.
I am afraid to try it, I don't do well on meds have lots of side effects. I've tried many SSRI's but cant take any of them.
I wondered if any of you have been on the nortriptyline and how you did, did it help the dizziness and anxiety? When you stopped using it was it hard to stop? Did you have side effects and which ones?
The Ent says the only way to know if its MAV is to try the meds. The ami stopped the dizziness and my tension headache but boy it activated some awful anxiety. So he said yes you have MAV coz the med stopped the dizziness.
My symptoms are, started out with this awaul rocking and swaying sensation that lasted for months, I've had this for a year in July, dizziness of course, falling feeling, I get slight dizziness that is preceded by either headache with neck pain or dizzy with upper shoulder pain and tightness, vision is off at times, when sitting feel like I'm moving and that goes thru my entire body, fear and worry, legs ache sometimes from having to stabilize my balance, off balance when walking, feels like the floor is going up and down, when I bend forward in the shower or vacuuming or mopping I get bad dizziness that will last for hours to days, just showering make me dizzy when washing my hair, I don't even have to put my head back just moving my hands up and down on my scalp will do it, doing dishes the looking down can cause it, looking down to write will do it, sinking feeling when sitting and more but thats enough I think. Do any of you have these?
Does your dizziness go on all day and sometimes on and off? Do you have anxiety with it? Gosh I had awful anxiety for months I just couldn't get use to the thought of having this forever. But my ENT and VRT therapist say it will go away.
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I have just been put on nortriptyline for my pain has anyone else had this and did it work was there any side effects.
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My ENT gave this to me today because I had worsening anxiety on the ami. He said this has less side effects. I'm wanted to know if anyone took ami and had to switch to nortriptyline and how did you do? Did it help your dizziness and or headaches? Did you have anxiety done fire taking it and did it affect it?
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So i've been on nortriptyline for over 4 years for chronic migraine. I'm 25 and have had migraines for years, they used to be constant everyday, when i waken up etc, my neurologist had me try all medication but i had no luck with beta blockers, topamax etc and my last chance was nortriptyline and if it didn't work, the next option was an injection into the base of my skull (which i didn't want) luckily the nortriptyline at 75 mg decreased the severity and frequency of my chronic daily migraines.. now i have other health problem undiagnosed yet, and very bad constipation problems and fluid in my abdomen with bad distention, i never thought until recently that the nortriptyline could have been causing this but from reading on the internet its possible.
So im considering weaning off to see if my bowel problems go away and the fluid water retention, has anyone any suggestions on how to wean off this?
Withdrawal symptoms?
I know its possible that my terrible migraines could come back but i want to take a chance.
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