Amitriptyline
Hot
https://www.ei-resource.org/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/250x250s/23/c8/25/2529_amitriptyline_122945086443.jpg
Amitriptyline belongs to a class of antidepressant drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). This class of drugs were one of the first used in the treatment of depression and work by raising levels of important mood controlling neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline/norepinephrine in the brain. They do this by prolonging the time these neurotransmitters are present in the synapses (gaps) between nerve cells which means brain activity continues to be stimulated.
One of the drawbacks of TCAs is that they also block receptors for another neurotransmitters - acetylcholine. This leads to side-effects such as drowsiness and memory loss. This is one reason why TCAs are not used much today but have generally been replaced by newer drugs such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac.
The 'side-effects' of amitriptyline however have been used in recent years for the treatment of conditions including sleep disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and fibromyalgia. ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients almost always have sleep disturbances and the anticholinergic effects of amitriptyline are used to help patients with this. The drug may also help with the pain of fibromyalgia.
View the very BEST Environmental Illness Videos!
1. Your Health is Governed by Your Environment | Prof. BM Hegde | TEDx Talk
2. Demystifying Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
3. Social Determinants of Health - An Introduction
Editor reviews
That would have been fine but the next day I felt extremely drowsy and wobbly on my feet and was basically unable to function. It was like I was walking around like a zombie. My memory was also affected.
It could be that I was particularly sensitive but 10mg is already a low dose (much higher doses of 50mg+ are used for depression treatment) so there was little point tinkering with dosages.
Not a good experience for me. In terms of medications the benzodiazepines such as diazepam/Valium help with sleep without the next day side-effects and I have also found melatonin and phosphatidylserine supplements highly effective.
| Overall rating | 3.4 | |
| Perceived Effectiveness | 4.0 | |
| Lack of side effects (tolerability) | 2.0 | |
| Ease of use | 5.0 | |
| Value for money | 2.0 | |
| Would you recommend? | 4.0 |
Reviewed by
Maff
December 16, 2008
Last updated: July 29, 2009
#1 Reviewer - View all my reviews (107)
Caused severe drowsiness
I used low dose amitriptyline (10mg) as a sleep aid for sleep problems associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). I found it helped with getting to sleep. It basically knocked me out in a way that felt like a general anaesthetic.
That would have been fine but the next day I felt extremely drowsy and wobbly on my feet and was basically unable to function. It was like I was walking around like a zombie. My memory was also affected.
It could be that I was particularly sensitive but 10mg is already a low dose (much higher doses of 50mg+ are used for depression treatment) so there was little point tinkering with dosages.
Not a good experience for me. In terms of medications the benzodiazepines such as diazepam/Valium help with sleep without the next day side-effects and I have also found melatonin and phosphatidylserine supplements highly effective.
Please Help Support EiR with a Positive Google Review!
If you like EiR and / or enoyed this content; please help us keep going by leaving a Positive Google Review:
Review EiR on Google NOW!
P.S. This is entirely secure, we collect no data other than what is freely available from Google and you can remain anonymous!
Related Articles:
Mold Testing & Sanitizer:
ADVERTISEMENT
