Amitryptiline - pain relief?

[k c]

I was wondering is anyone had success with this medicine and sciatica? How is it meant to modify the pain? As an alternative or in conjunction with other meds? Thanks

 

[BATMAN ? Natascha]

Hi
I was on Amitriptyline for pain relief for 15 years, and it really gave me back my life when I was ill.

It's indicated for nerve related pain, and sciatica is pain arising from the sciatic nerve, so it should work very well. It works by blocking the pain impulses before they reach the brain, so the nerve still fires but the brain doesn't receive it.

You shouldn't need any other pain meds once it's had a chance to kick in, after about 3 weeks. Having said that, I slept for most of the first 3 weeks (I hadn't slept properly because of the pain for a couple of years!). I'd been taking DF118 (dihydrocodeine) and had reached 16 a day, with the pain not being touched. The codeine had got me hooked, and I had to come off them gradually. I think it took me about 4 months to stop taking it. (I've still got the bottle just in case!)

It should work very well with sciatica. Good luck with it!

 

[tristinm]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for replying. I have been on the Amy for 4 weeks now and was wondering if it had any effect. I sleep too, boy do I sleep!! It seems for up to 10 to twelve hours if I am left lol. What time in the evening do you take yours? I only take mine at night. This last week I have had to get up for meetings and so I stopped the amy, I got up ok, but by the third day I was back on heavy painkillers and what seemed like new routed symptoms of sciatica. I know my back is degenerating so wondered if the amy had actually given me any relief as my problem seems to change almost daily.

Your post has given me something to think about, thanks

 

[Smiling]

Well I've come off the Ami now, and here's the first warning: Don't just stop taking it. You could have all sorts of nasty things happen. You have to come off gradually.

I used to manage my life thus: if I had to be up for work, I'd take the Ami after tea at about 6.30. That meant I'd be compos mentis by about 8 am. However, it also meant I'd be in bed by about 9 pm. (That's actually the hardest part to get used to now: I really don't know what to do after 9 at night!)

You were getting relief from the Ami, you've proved that by having to go back on stronger painkillers. Once you've learnt how to manage it for yourself, then you should have no need for the other painkillers.

 

[dog]

All you both say is true, if taken around 5 -6 pm it does aid sleep and greatly eases pain levels the day after. But Just a word of causion re: Amitriptyline. They can greatly elevate and destablise your blood peasure, so make sure you check your levels often.

All the best

SPINELF

 

[The Illuminating Ghost]

Oh no re blood pressure, all my life I used to have normal low bp, now it is normal normal, thanks for the heads up