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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
the reason I'm asking is from a topic above about TCA's. I had to quit Zoloft, I just can't tolerate SSRI's. Actually I can't believe I even went back on one to begin with but I was bullied by my pdoc while in a weak state. Anyway I was on it for depression but it was also working for hypnopompic and hypnogogic hallucinations with sleep paralysis. Which suck big time, so to cut a long story short any feed back about Amitriptyline (Endep) would be greatly appreciated. I've heard it's quite harsh.
Posted by d0pamine on November 21, 2007, at 18:25:11
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
It totally freaked out my sleep. Of all the meds I've tried, I've never had anything else effect me like this did. It happened over and over and over sometimes 20 times a night. I'd be dreaming and suddenly in my dream I wouldn't be able to move then the light would all slowly fade to black and I'd try to scream, but couldn't then finally after what seemed like an eternity I'd wake up screaming for help. It got so that I hated night time. After I quit taking it, it took over a year for this to stop. I personally wouldn't even touch the outside of the bottle now.
Posted by tecknohed on November 21, 2007, at 18:34:28
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
> the reason I'm asking is from a topic above about TCA's. I had to quit Zoloft, I just can't tolerate SSRI's. Actually I can't believe I even went back on one to begin with but I was bullied by my pdoc while in a weak state. Anyway I was on it for depression but it was also working for hypnopompic and hypnogogic hallucinations with sleep paralysis. Which suck big time, so to cut a long story short any feed back about Amitriptyline (Endep) would be greatly appreciated. I've heard it's quite harsh.
Not harsh if you work up slowly. Good sedative effect for sleep without morning hangover (take at night). Effects serotonin & norepinephrine/noradrenalin reuptake equally. I personally found it very effective for helping come off amphetamines when I abused them - held back much of the depression & low energy.
IMO a good old robust AD. You may get some anticholinergic side effects (dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and urinary hesitation) but I hardly noticed anything. Was on it at least 2 months I think. This was about 10 years ago so cant really remember my dose. Wasn't great for my social phobia but didn't worsen it either. Think I stopped it 'cause of a drug abuse relapse.Just my personal experience.
Posted by Phil on November 21, 2007, at 19:02:28
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
cactus, I should say that I would still use it again if needed. I was on a very high dose, 250mg. for 4-5 years.
At a much smaller dose, say 10-25mg for sleep, maybe it would work for you. SE's would be minimal for most at that dosage.
I would sleep 8 hours on it and wake up feeling like I really slept well. I've never felt that on or off meds.
Anyway..good luck.Phil
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2007, at 19:51:13
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it de, posted by Phil on November 21, 2007, at 19:02:28
Still trying to figure out what the TCA was I took at age 24 for first panic attacks. One pill walked the streets crying all night. Never took it again. Doc called it an upper/downer. Any ideas? Phillipa
Posted by tecknohed on November 21, 2007, at 21:00:32
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it de, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2007, at 19:51:13
> Still trying to figure out what the TCA was I took at age 24 for first panic attacks. One pill walked the streets crying all night. Never took it again. Doc called it an upper/downer. Any ideas? Phillipa
Maybe imipramine (Tofranil) or clomipramine (Anafranil) if it was for panic attacks. Obviously its an antidepressant (upper) but they can also cause sedation (downer). Less sedation with imipramine.
Think one of these were the one?
teck
Posted by bleauberry on November 21, 2007, at 21:44:21
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
Never tried it myself. I know a lady who took 50mg for a long time and is now on 25mg. She had many mercury toxicity symptoms, mostly gut and psychiatric stuff, and she was put on it for depression and sleep. It helps her depression but she says it mainly gives her good sleep. She takes it about 3 hours before bed and wakes with only a little hangover that goes away quickly.Just judging from watchin her and talking with her, I think it works pretty good because she seems pretty normal. You would never know depression was an issue unless she told you. Seems to work for her at a low dose. That's saying a lot for someone who is mercury toxic.
Posted by X-ray on November 22, 2007, at 2:36:25
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
Hello Cactus,
I have been on Elavil for 35 years, so I think that I know everything about this drug.
I have tried many other drugs, but I have always come back to Elavil.
Elavil is a very good medicine for sleep.
I am taking 50 mg two hours before bedtime.
The side effects are bad, but I can live with them.
I have been on Remeron for six months, but Elavil gives me better sleep and more sedation.
In the daytime I am on Buspar.
If you are depressed and have a problem sleeping, I think that Elavil might be worth a try.Best of Luck,
X-ray
Posted by bleauberry on November 22, 2007, at 13:09:41
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by X-ray on November 22, 2007, at 2:36:25
35 years. Pretty darn respectable. For a med to provide benefit that long, and to come back to after leaving it, says a lot.
Question. You say the side effects are bad. What are the side effects you have at 50mg?
Question. Your primary comments were about sleep. But what about mood? Is it a good antidepressant? Or is it more of a sleep aid and less of an antidepressant?
My doc has mentioned TCAs for me, and I know someone on amitriptyline, so I am interested in knowing more.
Thanks!
> Hello Cactus,
>
> I have been on Elavil for 35 years, so I think that I know everything about this drug.
> I have tried many other drugs, but I have always come back to Elavil.
> Elavil is a very good medicine for sleep.
> I am taking 50 mg two hours before bedtime.
> The side effects are bad, but I can live with them.
> I have been on Remeron for six months, but Elavil gives me better sleep and more sedation.
> In the daytime I am on Buspar.
> If you are depressed and have a problem sleeping, I think that Elavil might be worth a try.
>
> Best of Luck,
> X-ray
Posted by X-ray on November 22, 2007, at 21:34:46
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal? » X-ray, posted by bleauberry on November 22, 2007, at 13:09:41
Hello Blueberry,
Elavil has a bad reputation among doctors because of the side effects.
- It's a dirty drug, one doc said.
- That's rat poison, another doctor commented.However, I think that Elavil is an effective medicine.
The drug is a great help for many people with various problems.Elavil gives me a dry mouth and a bit of constipation.
This is not a problem for me since I am used to it.Decreased sex drive is another side effect.
I noticed a big difference during the six months that I was on Remeron.
And I feel a little drowsy in the morning.But Elavil is a good antidepressant.
The drug helps me to function relatively well.
Most of the time I get a good night's sleep.
So I can work hard when I want to.Best of Luck,
X-ray
Posted by cactus on November 22, 2007, at 23:39:56
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by X-ray on November 22, 2007, at 21:34:46
thanks for all your responses everyone, if the sleep paralysis etc.... Doesn't improve I'll consider it.
Posted by linkadge on November 23, 2007, at 19:25:46
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by X-ray on November 22, 2007, at 21:34:46
Unlike many new antidepressants, the TCA's have a good history of being able to get people well.
A number of studies show that many people don't need TCA's for more than a year. Ie, depression resolves to the point where treatment is no longer necessary.
This is less often the case with SSRI's, where patients end up taking them for years, without really getting well.
A number of studies show that the TCA's are more effective for severe depression than the TCA's.
Sure, they're dirty, but thats part of what some believe makes them more effective than the SSRI's.
I found the TCA's much more effective than either SSRI's or venlafaxine. SSRI's and effexor did much less for problems like sleep, anxiety, appetite, motivation, or apathy. I felt like I had entered a different dimention. I just kept stopping the TCA's because every time I went on them, I just snapped out of the depression to the point where I thought it was all a figment of my imaginiation. I've never had that with a SSRI, ie I just felt blunted and drugged.
For me, TCA's feel much different from SSRI's or venlafaxine. They really gave a kick to some part of the brain registering the will to live.I am not saying they are without side effects. I found the side effects more tollerable than those of SSRI's.
If they could tweak the TCA molecule more to lesson cardiac side effects, maybe they'd have something.
The TCA's cannot be reduced to serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibition. The TCA surmontil has no effects on monoamine uptake, but is as effective as other TCA's for depression. It also induces similar adaptive changes in dopamine, and opiate systems as the other TCA's.
I read a study which shows that chronic treatment with TCA's upregulats cannabanoid receptor functioning. This is a unique mechanism that has not been demonstrated with other antidepressants.
Linkadge
Posted by cactus on November 23, 2007, at 21:46:57
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by linkadge on November 23, 2007, at 19:25:46
Posted by Justherself54 on November 24, 2007, at 1:10:31
In reply to Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it deal?, posted by cactus on November 21, 2007, at 17:27:56
10 mg. put me out for a full day. I don't know why I react to TCA's like that..even tried nortryptaine..same thing happened..must be something in my chemisty that makes me react like that to such a small dose..needless to say no more anything with tryptaline at the end of it.
Posted by 4WD on November 25, 2007, at 21:54:17
In reply to Re: Amitriptyline, who's tried it and what's it de » cactus, posted by tecknohed on November 21, 2007, at 18:34:28
It made me fly into furious rages over tiny things. I took it for about a week and then quit it. It was weird.
Marsha
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