So my Dr prescribed amitrptyline yesterday. He said because I flare so much during stress that he believes that it would do wonders for me.
I took my first pill, 10 mg, last night. I woke up feeling completely drugged up. It wasn't just being tired, but felt like someone slipped me something. And had a steady headache all morning. I started to feel more like myself again in the late afternoon. It was really difficult to function this morning.
The pharmacist said yesterday that I shouldn't have too much of a problem because its such a small dose. Guess he was wrong.
I called my Dr this afternoon and explained how I was feeling and he said it should be less and less everyday, but to give it a week.
I'm nervous taking it again tonight. It was an aweful feeling.
I've read a little about some of the experiences people have had on here, and that didn't make me feel much better.
Has anyone had a positive experience?
At first I was really excited because I was finally able to picture myself going on road trips or just something as simple as not being in the bathroom hours before I have to be somewhere.
Any thoughts?
Mandy
Amitriptyline??
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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UkuleleLady
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Texas
Hi Mandy, I think an antidepressant for anxiety can be a good strategy, but it sometimes takes a lot of trial and error to find one that works for you. Psychiatrists are easier to work with when seeking pharma therapy for anxiety,etc, because they're more creative and willing to keep trying other medicines until you get the right mix of drug and dose. This has at least been my experience.
Amitryptilline had the opposite effect for me, kept me up all night and I was energized. Benadryl also does that for me, as well.
I switched to remeron and ambien for sleep for about a year and it did get me through the worst. I'm off them now and control through diet. I no longer drink alcohol and practice sleep hygeine (no screens in bed, etc) and these lifestyle changes have worked wonders for me. I'm in my second year of MC and doing great. It gets better, keep working with your diet to find a solid mix of non aggravating foods and work on stress.
Prayer and meditation, mindfulness, CBT, affirmations, therapy, etc, all or any of this stuff can work wonders in conjunction with everything else.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Amitryptilline had the opposite effect for me, kept me up all night and I was energized. Benadryl also does that for me, as well.
I switched to remeron and ambien for sleep for about a year and it did get me through the worst. I'm off them now and control through diet. I no longer drink alcohol and practice sleep hygeine (no screens in bed, etc) and these lifestyle changes have worked wonders for me. I'm in my second year of MC and doing great. It gets better, keep working with your diet to find a solid mix of non aggravating foods and work on stress.
Prayer and meditation, mindfulness, CBT, affirmations, therapy, etc, all or any of this stuff can work wonders in conjunction with everything else.
Best wishes,
Nancy
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~The Dalai Lama
Thanks for the tips!
Anxiety isn't exactly my problem. Not in general. But I've had some bad experiences on the road with no bathroom in sight. So the anxiety comes from knowing there won't be a bathroom and thinking about that sends me right to the bathroom.
Or just regular, everyday stress might cause me issues. Mentally I can manage them, but my bowels are a different story.
Anxiety isn't exactly my problem. Not in general. But I've had some bad experiences on the road with no bathroom in sight. So the anxiety comes from knowing there won't be a bathroom and thinking about that sends me right to the bathroom.
Or just regular, everyday stress might cause me issues. Mentally I can manage them, but my bowels are a different story.
I have taken 50mg Nortriptyline (same drug family) at bedtime for about a year now. My GI referred to this as antispasmodic. It seems to stop the spasms that cause night time accidents. It may help with stress as well.
As with most meds the side effects may lessen over time. I don't think I ever had any side effects other than drowsiness which is a plus taking it at bedtime.
I have been in remission since June 2014 using only this prescription, OTC meds and diet most of the time. I take Uceris for a while if I have a flare.
YMMV
As with most meds the side effects may lessen over time. I don't think I ever had any side effects other than drowsiness which is a plus taking it at bedtime.
I have been in remission since June 2014 using only this prescription, OTC meds and diet most of the time. I take Uceris for a while if I have a flare.
YMMV
Theresa
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
MC and UC 2014
in remission since June 1, 2014
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. ~Jim Rohn
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munsterman
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:50 am
Amitryptyline
Hi joanisna4
I have been taking Amitriptyline for years. Apart from mc, I have suffered with Migraines since schooldays. I do know that they cause drowsiness, this is why the Doc says take them in the evening. But they have been a Godsend for me in treatment of Migraines and therefore anxiety. I think it would be wise to persevere with them to help in your treatment.
I am taking 50mg a day and it has taken to some time to become used to them.
With regard to mc I am going through the elimination food offenders (discussed on here)which seems a great idea.
The specialist I saw at Roundhay Hospital Leeds changed the tablets prescribed by my GP to Ranitidine 300mg which has dramatically reduced my visits to the toilet (but obviously not completely cleared). I was on Omeprazole, it seems that although they help with gas they definitely make the symptoms of mc worse for some.
Hope this helps.
I have been taking Amitriptyline for years. Apart from mc, I have suffered with Migraines since schooldays. I do know that they cause drowsiness, this is why the Doc says take them in the evening. But they have been a Godsend for me in treatment of Migraines and therefore anxiety. I think it would be wise to persevere with them to help in your treatment.
I am taking 50mg a day and it has taken to some time to become used to them.
With regard to mc I am going through the elimination food offenders (discussed on here)which seems a great idea.
The specialist I saw at Roundhay Hospital Leeds changed the tablets prescribed by my GP to Ranitidine 300mg which has dramatically reduced my visits to the toilet (but obviously not completely cleared). I was on Omeprazole, it seems that although they help with gas they definitely make the symptoms of mc worse for some.
Hope this helps.
Hi munsterman,
Welcome to the discussion board. Your specialist was wise to change your prescription to an H2 antihistamine, because PPIs have caused many, many cases of MC over the years.
Regarding migraines, mine began when I was in my late 50s, at about the same time that the early signs of MC began to show up. And as my MC developed, the migraines became more frequent, and more severe. They were a major problem for a number of years because they sometimes kept me from being able to work. But after I changed my diet, to totally avoid gluten, dairy, and several other foods, and my gut began to heal, the migraines slowly faded away and I have never had another one since then. In fact, the only headaches of any type I've had since then were when I accidentally bumped my head on some machinery because I wasn't watching where I was going.
Amitriptyline is difficult to categorize regarding MC. For some of us it can definitely trigger MC. For others, small doses (such as 10–15 mg) seem to help regulate motility of the gut, especially in cases of constipation-predominant MC.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the discussion board. Your specialist was wise to change your prescription to an H2 antihistamine, because PPIs have caused many, many cases of MC over the years.
Regarding migraines, mine began when I was in my late 50s, at about the same time that the early signs of MC began to show up. And as my MC developed, the migraines became more frequent, and more severe. They were a major problem for a number of years because they sometimes kept me from being able to work. But after I changed my diet, to totally avoid gluten, dairy, and several other foods, and my gut began to heal, the migraines slowly faded away and I have never had another one since then. In fact, the only headaches of any type I've had since then were when I accidentally bumped my head on some machinery because I wasn't watching where I was going.
Amitriptyline is difficult to categorize regarding MC. For some of us it can definitely trigger MC. For others, small doses (such as 10–15 mg) seem to help regulate motility of the gut, especially in cases of constipation-predominant MC.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Mandy
the sucky part of MC is that a medication that works for one person, may not work so well for another.
for many, it is a tiring game of trial and error to figure out what works best for you.
I have used higher doses of the Amitriptyline for depression/anxiety after being Dx'd with MC - it was good at first but then as time went on, caused me to have the constipation issues... so I now use other forms of meds.
from memory, there are some (Monique comes to mind as one) that got a few years of semi- stability via the low dose to regulate motility. Albeit it did not provide long term stability and she has swapped over to LDN.
the sucky part of MC is that a medication that works for one person, may not work so well for another.
for many, it is a tiring game of trial and error to figure out what works best for you.
I have used higher doses of the Amitriptyline for depression/anxiety after being Dx'd with MC - it was good at first but then as time went on, caused me to have the constipation issues... so I now use other forms of meds.
from memory, there are some (Monique comes to mind as one) that got a few years of semi- stability via the low dose to regulate motility. Albeit it did not provide long term stability and she has swapped over to LDN.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
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munsterman
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2015 5:50 am
tex wrote:Hi munsterman,
Welcome to the discussion board. Your specialist was wise to change your prescription to an H2 antihistamine, because PPIs have caused many, many cases of MC over the years.
Regarding migraines, mine began when I was in my late 50s, at about the same time that the early signs of MC began to show up. And as my MC developed, the migraines became more frequent, and more severe. They were a major problem for a number of years because they sometimes kept me from being able to work. But after I changed my diet, to totally avoid gluten, dairy, and several other foods, and my gut began to heal, the migraines slowly faded away and I have never had another one since then. In fact, the only headaches of any type I've had since then were when I accidentally bumped my head on some machinery because I wasn't watching where I was going.
Amitriptyline is difficult to categorize regarding MC. For some of us it can definitely trigger MC. For others, small doses (such as 10–15 mg) seem to help regulate motility of the gut, especially in cases of constipation-predominant MC.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Thanks for the welcome Tex.
After years of putting up with symptoms, I was surprised to find I had a recognisable problem. A problem shared by many others. Having found this forum I am shocked that Doctors do not address the subject of diet. I have been looking at food offenders in my diet and been pleasantly surprised at my results so far. Having kept a food diary I have already found some foods I must avoid. As others have said even though we all have MC on here, we are all different as to the foods we can digest.
So keep up the good work Forum Friends.
Oliver.