1. < Neuropathy

Taking amitriptyline for neuropathy?

Posted by meow59 @meow59, Jun 11 10:44pm

Hi, everyone, I take amitriptyline & tramadol for my issues with neuropathy, does anyone have advice on dealing with the side effects?

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jun 12 6:30am

Hi, @meow59
I assume you like cats? I have 8 and a proud “cat lady!” lol

I have spinal stenosis, DDD and small fiber neuropathy. Mya arms/hands/fingers and legs/feet get numb regularly (used to get a lot more burning/tingling/pins and needles but my neuropathy has progressed to mostly numbness now). When I was first diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, my neurologist prescribed me a low dose of amitriptyline and I had to stop soon after because I could not function on it (made me too tired to work/take care of daily responsibilities). I stopped taking it and then started to take alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements which are known to help small fiber neuropathy. My burning/pins and needs in my feet improved and my numbness in my calf improved. Another alternative to amitriptyline is Cymbalta or generic Duloxetine. I was out on Duloxetine and it did help reduce nerve pain (it is also used for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and depression). If you have chronic pain and depression, Cymbalta/Duloxetine may be a better option for you. Talk to your doctor about alternatives if you are getting bad side effects from the amitriptyline. Good luck!

REPLY
2 replies
tgregg99 | @tgregg99 | Jun 12 7:12am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "Hi, @meow59 I assume you like cats? I have 8 and a proud “cat lady!” lol..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

Hi, @meow59
I assume you like cats? I have 8 and a proud “cat lady!” lol

I have spinal stenosis, DDD and small fiber neuropathy. Mya arms/hands/fingers and legs/feet get numb regularly (used to get a lot more burning/tingling/pins and needles but my neuropathy has progressed to mostly numbness now). When I was first diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, my neurologist prescribed me a low dose of amitriptyline and I had to stop soon after because I could not function on it (made me too tired to work/take care of daily responsibilities). I stopped taking it and then started to take alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements which are known to help small fiber neuropathy. My burning/pins and needs in my feet improved and my numbness in my calf improved. Another alternative to amitriptyline is Cymbalta or generic Duloxetine. I was out on Duloxetine and it did help reduce nerve pain (it is also used for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and depression). If you have chronic pain and depression, Cymbalta/Duloxetine may be a better option for you. Talk to your doctor about alternatives if you are getting bad side effects from the amitriptyline. Good luck!

Jump to this post

I take the lowest dosage available of nortriptyline (10mg) at bedtime with my other meds, and it helps contain my PN numbness in my toes/feet so I can sleep with minimal sedation upon rising from bed in the morning. I also apply lidocaine to my toes/feet and wear warm thick socks (not tight) for sleeping, which helps. But before I took nortriptyline, I tried amitriptyline (25 mg) and I could not handle the increased sedation it caused, so I switched to nortriptyline, with a much better outcome. It made a difference.

Please use caution when combining amitriptyline with tramadol, due to the potential increase with sedation, etc., but I'm no doctor, so you may want to discuss with your doctor. I've also found it helps to chat with my pharmacist about medications and potential conflicts. Good luck!

REPLY
1 reply
meow59 | @meow59 | Jun 12 7:27am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "Hi, @meow59 I assume you like cats? I have 8 and a proud “cat lady!” lol..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

Hi, @meow59
I assume you like cats? I have 8 and a proud “cat lady!” lol

I have spinal stenosis, DDD and small fiber neuropathy. Mya arms/hands/fingers and legs/feet get numb regularly (used to get a lot more burning/tingling/pins and needles but my neuropathy has progressed to mostly numbness now). When I was first diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, my neurologist prescribed me a low dose of amitriptyline and I had to stop soon after because I could not function on it (made me too tired to work/take care of daily responsibilities). I stopped taking it and then started to take alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements which are known to help small fiber neuropathy. My burning/pins and needs in my feet improved and my numbness in my calf improved. Another alternative to amitriptyline is Cymbalta or generic Duloxetine. I was out on Duloxetine and it did help reduce nerve pain (it is also used for osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and depression). If you have chronic pain and depression, Cymbalta/Duloxetine may be a better option for you. Talk to your doctor about alternatives if you are getting bad side effects from the amitriptyline. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Thanks, tried duloxetine it was too much for me. Lol

REPLY
meow59 | @meow59 | Jun 12 7:29am
In reply to @tgregg99 "I take the lowest dosage available of nortriptyline (10mg) at bedtime with my other meds, and..." + (show)
@tgregg99

I take the lowest dosage available of nortriptyline (10mg) at bedtime with my other meds, and it helps contain my PN numbness in my toes/feet so I can sleep with minimal sedation upon rising from bed in the morning. I also apply lidocaine to my toes/feet and wear warm thick socks (not tight) for sleeping, which helps. But before I took nortriptyline, I tried amitriptyline (25 mg) and I could not handle the increased sedation it caused, so I switched to nortriptyline, with a much better outcome. It made a difference.

Please use caution when combining amitriptyline with tramadol, due to the potential increase with sedation, etc., but I'm no doctor, so you may want to discuss with your doctor. I've also found it helps to chat with my pharmacist about medications and potential conflicts. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Thanks, funny thing doctor recommended i take both drugs like that. Thanks again.

REPLY
ivon54 | @ivon54 | Oct 5 9:39am

Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime?
I just started on it.

REPLY
6 replies
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Oct 6 6:33am
In reply to @ivon54 "Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime? I just started on it." + (show)
@ivon54

Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime?
I just started on it.

Jump to this post

@ivon54
I tried it for small fiber neuropathy but could not take it because it made me so tired that Incould not function during the day. I was on a very low dose, too.

I did better on Cymbalta/duloxetine but no longer taking it. It helps with nerve pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, depression but does have side effects that some don’t like.

I have also taken gabapentin but it makes you tired/dizzy, even on low doses (I was prescribed 100 mg at nighttime but would wake up loopy/dizzy and I don’t want to fall).

I take alpha Lipoic acids, Acetyl l carnitine supplements to help my neuropathy and melatonin to help me sleep.

REPLY
1 reply
ivon54 | @ivon54 | Oct 6 9:47am
In reply to @ivon54 "Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime? I just started on it." + (show)
@ivon54

Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime?
I just started on it.

Jump to this post

Thank you for the information you experienced. I am on day 2 with this medication. I do wake up a little drowsy, but it clears in about an hour. So far the burning on the bottom of my feet has gotten better. I will try the Alpha lipoic acid as well. My foot Dr. Recommend it.
Stay safe

REPLY
1 reply
allegheny | @allegheny | Oct 6 1:20pm
In reply to @ivon54 "Thank you for the information you experienced. I am on day 2 with this medication. I..." + (show)
@ivon54

Thank you for the information you experienced. I am on day 2 with this medication. I do wake up a little drowsy, but it clears in about an hour. So far the burning on the bottom of my feet has gotten better. I will try the Alpha lipoic acid as well. My foot Dr. Recommend it.
Stay safe

Jump to this post

Hello, make sure you take the R Alpha Lipoic Acid, without the R it is useless. I also take Gabapentin 100mg in AM and 200 MG in evening. I also sprau all natural organic magnesim on my legs and feet at night, I believe the spray magnesium is helping me the most, but who knows....I also take magnesium gummies in am and pm. Best wishes to all with idiopathic PN, I have been dealing with this for8 yrs.my biggest complaint is BALANCE, and burning, tingling at night. PT, swimming, exercise, has also helped....

REPLY
kforrest | @kforrest | Oct 6 4:21pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@ivon54 I tried it for small fiber neuropathy but could not take it because it made..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@ivon54
I tried it for small fiber neuropathy but could not take it because it made me so tired that Incould not function during the day. I was on a very low dose, too.

I did better on Cymbalta/duloxetine but no longer taking it. It helps with nerve pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, depression but does have side effects that some don’t like.

I have also taken gabapentin but it makes you tired/dizzy, even on low doses (I was prescribed 100 mg at nighttime but would wake up loopy/dizzy and I don’t want to fall).

I take alpha Lipoic acids, Acetyl l carnitine supplements to help my neuropathy and melatonin to help me sleep.

Jump to this post

alpha Lipoic acids, Acetyl l carnitine supplements to help my neuropathy and melatonin to help me sleep.
do they work as well?

REPLY
kforrest | @kforrest | Oct 6 6:46pm
In reply to @ivon54 "Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime? I just started on it." + (show)
@ivon54

Has anyone used the drugAmitriptyline 25mg. taken at bedtime?
I just started on it.

Jump to this post

I want to add it. Amitriptyline 25mg

REPLY
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