Amitriptyline is an old antidepressant which these days is used for
people with chronic pain (such as from adhesions, arthritis), to help
them sleep at night. It has a side effect of sedation. If the person
also needs an antidepressant (and nearly everyone with chronic pain is
depressed, because of dealing with chronic pain and all the losses
associated with it),there are numerous newer antidepressants being used
such as prosac, paxil, effexor, celexa, zoloft, etc. Anytriptelene does
cause constipation for some people, so it is very important to drink 8
or moer glasses of water a day, and do whatever else works for you for
constipation. Doses are from 10 mg. to 100 mg or more. I was on 50
mg. before I went to Germany for my surgery, and now I am down to 25
mg. I want to get down to 20 and will probably stay at that dose as I
still have pain from arthritis and degenerative disk disease that makes
it impossible to sleep. Amytriptelene is considered a very safe med. It
also makes some people feel mentally slow and groggy in the morning.
mary lou