Amitriptyline, to the best of my sketchy knowledge, is not a SSRI. It is an older tricyclic antidepressant with fairly sedating (tiring too) qualities the higher the dose you take. I know that it helped me sleep at even a tiny fraction of a dose. Over time, I did get a weird heart beat thing with it; but, it wasn't alarming at the time. If memory serves me correctly, it is also used for non-psychiatric purposes, like for back pain and bladder issues.
I've tried zoloft and the newer SSRIs and they make me wiggy...but, I have difficulty with most drugs and really have to try alot to find one that works. Tried to take SSRIs and got more anxious and was told to take sedatives for the sake of the antidepressant factor in the SSRIs. Didn't work for me.
The tricyclics are easier to come off of than the SSRIs -- but that isn't any reason to avoid SSRIs.
Have heard people say good stuff about Klonopin for anxiety.
Sorry I can't be of more help, but I thought I'd toss what I know into the circle.
Best O'best,
wiserforit
Posts: 508 | From Banks of the Hudson | Registered: Jul 2006
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geniveve
Unregistered
posted
the only thing that helps me sleep is elavil. i've tried trazadone, paxil, pamelor, you name it. i literally bounced off the walls and my heart went crazy.
i'm only on 10 mg but it works. puts me right out. other than being a little groggy the next day, i'm ok.
stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
i take zoloft ,trileptal, and trazadone. zoloft was the only ssri i could take trileptal was given to stop highs and lows. trazadone (very similar to elavil) i take at night with trazadone and clonopin to sleep.
i am very medicine sensitive. if there is a reation i will get it. i tried 25 ssri's and older meds prior to the zoloft. never get to theraputic doses.
right now my biggest problem is dry mouth and severe dry eyes. restasis for the eyes.
docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
Buy or rent the book,
Prescription Alternatives Third Edition
By Earl L. Mindell
This book is VERY good. Tells of each antidepressant and what transmitor it affects
like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine.
VERY good to know.
I went to a ND that dealt with Phenolics, and used these drops for depression and so on.
He gave me a list of the symptoms of... Dopamine deficency,
Serotonin Deficency,
norepinephrine deficiency.
I would think that this would be GOOD to know that way when you get this book you can KNOW which antidepressant to take.
I will look to find this sheet to paste to everyone.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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For pain elavil had an amazing effect. Paxil worked in the begining phases of my disease for social phobias. Zoloft didn't do much for me. It's all hit or miss. I currently take clonazapam for anxiety attacks but I'm slowly getting off it with a Lithium/Taurine combination.
Lithium has been bad mouthed because...well it's not patentable and they can't make $$$ of us. It's by far less damaging and has even been termed neuro-protective.
Here's a site on Lithium...best of luck
The new data suggest that lithium may calm overexcited areas of the brain or, more provocatively, preserve the life of brain cells whose presence guards against manic depression.
ConnieMc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 191
posted
Most people who take amitriptyline gain weight. So if you take this one, watch out for that. It increases appetite dramatically. It also can make it very hard to wake up in the morn, but as soon as you get going, the fog resolves. Good for sleep. I took it once for about 8 months or so when I had a horrible fall on the ice and badly bruised both sciatic nerves. Before starting amiltriptyline, I could hardly walk. This drug helped significantly with the horrible pain I was having.
Posts: 2276 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2000
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Elavil will pack it on!
My daughter takes Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. That combo has been great for her. She started this whole mess with psych issues before it went body-wide.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
I wouldn't take any of that garbage. I'm doing enough damage to my body with abx without throwing this crap in there too. In the long run they will complicate your Tx. Interactions with other drugs are not fully known. Be sure and check out the side effects before you take a gamble, and that's just what it is, a gamble. Here's the side effects for Elavil. Not for me, thank you.
Side effects: Anticholinergic effects (e.g. dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation, palpitations, tachycardia, associated sublingual adenitis or gingivitis). Weight loss or gain. Tinnitus, drowsiness, nervousness, insomnia, Hypotension, dizziness, rash sweating, confusion, mania, psychosis, heart block, arrhythmias, extrapyramidal symptoms. Gastric upset. Endocrine effects (e.g. changes in libido, impotence, gynecomastia, galactorrhea). Rarely, bone marrow depression, hepatic toxicity, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, severe cardiovascular effects in patients with cardiac disease, photosensitivity, Dysarthria, stuttering, renal failure. Withdrawal symptoms.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
I've been on most of things coming out on the market over the years.
Using ZOLOFT for mood swings/keeping temper from flying off the handle.
Amytriptiline...BAD NEWS FOR ME! 3-5 times I had 4x6" patch of SKIN peel off my R. shoulder in 3-6 months. Had 4 skin biopsies; 1 showed "UNKNOWN BUG BITE...UNDETERMINED"!
So they felt I was 1 of 100,000 folks who REACTED TO MED! Took me off immediately and never bothered again. I was a walking zombie on it!
OR, was it the lyme disease acting up? I'll never know. Bettyg
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posted
I do well on elavil (and yes, that is correct about it not being an SSRI, it is a tricyclic) -- I take a small dose at bed (usually only 25 mgs, though I have taken up to 75 at times) for sleep -- It does help, and it doesn't make me a zombie. I've been losing weight ( I needed to lose it) since starting treatment, and the elavil hasn't changed that. I can't tell that it has done much to relieve pain, however.
I've taken Paxil -- a cousin of Zoloft-- in the past, and it helped my neuropsych stuff a great deal at the time. I tolerated it well. I'm now on Cymbalta (works on norepinephrine as well as serotonin) -- I was put on it for pain, and though I can't tell how much it does or doesn't help with that, it does seem to help control the mood symptoms that can go with herxing. I haven't had any bad effects from it that I can tell.
I also tend to tolerate most meds well, so keep that in mind.
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
the most important thing about any of these meds is they should be given by a very good psychiatrist
the medicines alone will only help to a point. they must be titrated to the correct dose. and changed constantly, no LLMD can do this.
there are many cases i know i'm not the only one ,that have many meds prior to finding the right combo. this a scary time , because the side effects are extreme.
along with drug therapy, psycotherapy is totally necessary. the drugs can only do so much. with psycotherapy your only doing half the job. usually woman are better than men at this, since they tend to show compasion better.
it is beat to shop around , talk to the therapist for a consult before picking. remember, this person will be like your best \ friend and they need to understand what you are going thru.
it is best if you can find one, to use a therapist that deals with job burnout, chronic illnesses, and also family issues.
yes they are out there but you have to shop. the best place to ask is an oncologist in the area. they know therapist that deal with disease, family and unable to work. they usually work in tandem with the oncologist.
they may also help you find a lawyer that can help you with health benefits and work related problems. ie workman's comp. missing work, lethargic at work, filing for ssdis.
all these usually work as a team with the oncologist as a team leader.
most llmd's don't have the circle of trust to provide a team of support.
good luck,
docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Personally, I would stay away from the "older" antidepressants, the tricyclics, e.g., Elavil. Too many side effects IMO. I used to work for the company that made one of them - answering questions on the products, etc.
I am on an SSRI, Lexapro, a low dose, 1/2 tab/day, and am doing fine. It really has made a difference in my brain functioning.
I had started on Zoloft. My prescriber described it as the aspirin of the antidepressants. I did very well on Z, but had a rash, and had to switch.
Oh, and make sure you monitor how you feel when taking these drugs. They often try to push you to take the "optimal" dose. But one size DOES NOT FIT ALL. Too much and it did wig me out. That is why I only need a small dose. I was insistent on not sticking with a higher dose. Start out low and slow and see how it goes.
Good luck !
Posts: 90 | From New Jersey | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Hi all - wow thanks so much for your help - never expected to get so many replies
I've learned so much - i never knew amitriptyline was not a SSRI so i guess that's not a good option if it makes you sleepy as i really want it to help concentration levels.
has anyone found zoloft good for concentration?
quote:Originally posted by Health: Buy or rent the book,
Prescription Alternatives Third Edition
By Earl L. Mindell
This book is VERY good. Tells of each antidepressant and what transmitor it affects
like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine.
sounds interesting Trisha - that would be great of you could paste the page here for us to see.
Thanks again everyone Posts: 47 | From SP | Registered: Oct 2005
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