Question:
Amitriptyline...Anyone else take this for anxiety or depression...
I was just prescribed this by my PCP for anxiety...anyone know if this is ok to take after surgery? Also, does anyone know if this works well or if it has worked for you? Any side effects??? Thanks in advance. — Amy S. (posted on September 5, 2002)
September 5, 2002
Its been a few years now, but I saw this used a lot in a nursing home
setting for the elderly with depression, anger, anxiety, and behavioral
problems. And often doubled up with other drugs. Please be very careful.
I saw the results of a misheard drug order over the phone putting a very
normal elderly woman on a really large dose of this. It caused her to act,
well... insane. She was delusional, drinking out of her shoes, you get the
idea. I'm not sure if the size of your pouch and replumbing might not have
odd affects on this one. Also, if I remember correctly this was one of
those meds that had a wait time of up to 21 days before you could actually
decide the affectiveness of taking the med, adjust the dosages, etc. Just
be a little cautious.
— Shelly S.
September 5, 2002
Hi, amytriptyline was extremely sedating for me. Plus I gained SEVENTEEN
lbs. in TWO WEEKS! This was way before I had surgery. It's a tricyclic
drug, and they do tend to make people gain weight. I switched to an SSRI
and did not have that huge weight gain.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 5, 2002
I was prescribed this medicine a couple of years ago for having trouble
sleeping and I think depression but I don't think it really helped me and I
was scared when my mother thought she heard a report about it causing heart
damge. I am pre op still and because of WLS testing, I found I have sleep
apnea and minor leaking heart valves which makes me wonder. I probably had
sleep apnea at the time and was misdiagnosed; could my mother have been
right? I don't know but the tech who did my sleep test said the sleep
apnea could cause the valve damage so I don't really know. I just remember
I personally did not care for Amitriptyline. Perhaps you can look up
information on it and its possible side effects to make a more informed
decision on whether to consider and maybe talk it over with your doctor so
you can feel comfortable with your decision. God Bless You!
— Valerie Z.
September 5, 2002
hi. I take elavil, also known as Amitriptyline, for my condition known as
"chronic daily headaches" so i can only tell you about the side
effects. It is very very sedating. Every time my doctor has to raise the
dosage, i can sleep for days. And the dry mouth is horrible. I feel like i
have cotton in my mouth. I am never w/o a bottle of water, b/c it can get
really bad, unfortunately!
— Lezlie Y.
September 5, 2002
Hi,
I am on Elavil also because I have a hard time falling asleep and then up
and down all night. It has definately been a God-send for me. The 2
'side-effects' I have experienced both pre-op and post-op is dry mouth and
an unusual craving of sweets which I never had prior to taking this
medication. To stave off those two effects I drink lots of water and eat
sugar-free popsicles. This is a small price to pay for me to get a little
sleep. You will figure out what's the right decision for you.
— Tracey W.
September 5, 2002
Hello. I just wanted to add that although Amitriptyline is very, very
sedating, it is non-narcotic and doesn't pose the same abuse potential as
say Xanax.<p>Also, my cat was prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg several
months ago for anxiety and depression when she began pulling her fur out
when we brought a new kitten into the household. She slept ALOT and was
generally in much better spirits LOL. For a short term problem like that,
it worked great! Incidently, my mother takes Amitriptyline 50mg and says
it's a Godsend for her anxiety and depression.
— thumpiez
September 5, 2002
I was on Elavil for a period of about 3 years and when I first started
taking it, it made me sleep for about 12 hours a night. I was also
experiencing very bad nightmares, I asked my doctor about this thinking I
was losing my mind because I could not wake myself up out of them. He told
me this is a possible side effect, not common but possible. I was just
really sensitive to the medication. Once I got used to the dose it really
helped with the anxiety as well as my debilitating migraines. With the
weight loss my headaches have stopped so I no longer take it. Do not just
stop taking though without talking to your doctor because it is an
anti-depressant and you must be taken off of it slowly not all at once.
Hope this helps, I am sure your doctor will tell you what is right for you
to do.
— UMMADUMMASS
September 6, 2002
I have taken Elavil (Amitriptyline) for about 11 months..and I've gained
70lbs. It makes you crave sweets like crazy...when I went for my psych eval
they decided to try me on Celexa instead of Elavil because they were
worried about the sweet cravings in combinations with an anatomy that
couldn't tolerate sweets...
My psych told me there are so many different meds for depression that there
was no reason to keep me on one that was obviously causing serious side
effects like gaining weight, which obviously, I didn't need to do anyway.
Hope that helps. Good Luck.
— Amanda B.
September 6, 2002
Amitriptylene or Elavil is extremely sedating and also can cause
significant weight gain. If you take it to sleep at night, I would
recommend trying Trazodone (50-100 mg per night) instead. It's much less
sedating than amitriptylene and as far as I know is not linked to weight
gain. It's non-addictive too (another antidepressant). I don't think it
does anyhting for migraines though (although a blood thinner like
propanolol may help but of course you would have to check with your doctor
about that).
Cheers.
— Patricia E.
September 6, 2002
WEIGHT GAIN...WEIGHT GAIN....WEIGHT GAIN......Elavil was the beginning of
my weight problem 11 years ago...then came Prednisone and it was all
over!!!! See if you can get your doc to switch you to an SSRI. You'll not
have an extra burden of excessive weight gain on your shoulders at least.
Good Luck,
Barbara
— domedome
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