Hi there, I was advised by my BC nurse to start taking Amitriptyline for ongoing breast pain 10 months after completing radiotherapy. Have been taking them for two weeks now and although I slept better almost straight away, I was very woozy and weak in the mornings and actually collapsed at work one day and was taken to A&E for various tests and scans. I am convinced that this was down to the tablets and am now weaning myself off them as apparently you cannot just stop immediately. Has anyone else had this reaction and if so what did you do instead? Thanks a lot Sue x
Hello Sue,
You are the first person I have seen on the Forum who has also taken Amitriptyline for pain relief. I take it for severe joint pain which is caused by taking Anastrozole. Before my GP prescribed it for me, my joint pain was unbearable and impossible to live with.
I just wanted to let you know that I feel exactly the same way every morning and this has been happening to me for the past 19 months. Unlike you, I have not collapsed, which must have been frightening, but I can totally relate to feeling woozy and weak in the mornings. It is a very unpleasant feeling but I have had to accept it as part of my life because without Amitriptyline my chronic joint pain is unbearable.
Before taking Amitriptyline, I didn’t have these symptoms in the morning; they are definitely caused by the drug. The symptoms are listed in the possible side effects contained in the drug leaflet in every box.
How many mg do you take? I first started taking 10 mg at night but this did not control my pain so my GP increased the dose to 20mg which still didn’t work. I have to take 25mg to get some degree of pain relief.
Amitriptyline in low doses is used for neuropathic pain and works by altering the levels of chemicals in the brain to relieve symptoms. You are doing the right thing weaning yourself off them gradually after your ‘collapsing’ scare.
The only alternative forms of pain relief are the normally prescribed painkillers, Paracetamol, Tramadol, Morphine and all the derivatives of Codeine like Co-Codamol. I’m allergic to all these painkillers except Paracetamol which is why I have no choice but to take Amitriptyline and Paracetamol for my chronic pain.
The only other suggestion you could try is Acupuncture.
Take care,
M x
Hi ladies. I have been on amitriptylene for over two years now due to having trigeminal neuralgia. I often have breaks from them when the pain settles down but at the first sign of pain, which is very different from any other pain I have had, I start them again. I am on 10mg at night. I also tried carbemazepine but the made me very depressed. My GP has always said amitriptyline is a very safe drug and once you find the level that works for you it is not a drug you become used to so you don’t have to keep upping the dose. Also you can stop it without weaning off. I have found over the two years the best time to take it is around 6pm. That then lessens the woozy feelings in the mornings. Hang in there they really are a good safe painkiller. I have had no symptoms from my axillary node clearance but wonder if this is down to already being on the drug they tend to prescribe xx
Hi, I was put on 50mg amitriptyline several years ago to back pain. Subsequently I’m back on it again to boost the effect of temazapan to get some sleep. I have only noticed one side effect which is a welcome reduction in joint pain. Similarly I tolerate tramadol well, but my husband gets very woozy on it. We’re all different and it’s good that your GP is supportive and allowing you to try different combinations.