Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
Primarily an anti-depressant drug, Amitriptyline is marketed under a number of brand names including Elavil, Tryptanol, Endep, Elatrol, Tryptizol and Trepiline. It is a tricyclic antidepressant which inhibits serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain.
Approved Use
Amitriptyline is approved for the treatment of endogenous depression and involuntary melancholia.
Unapproved Use
Amitriptyline is also an effective pain-reliever and sleeping tablet and has many unapproved applications including:
- Insomnia
- Migraine
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Paraesthesia in Multiple Sclerosis
Side Effects
It appears that Amitriptyline has an extensive list of possible side-effects which can include:
- Headaches
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Upset stomach
- Anxiety
- Hot Flushes
- Dry mouth
Refer to the links below for a more comprehensive list.
From my own experience, the drowsiness was the factor that precluded the long-term use of Amitriptyline. I was prescribed this drug for irritable bowel stomach pain which it did help with. However, the usual MS brain fog got so bad that I could not function. The fog was a zero-visibility low-cloud, I didn’t know what day it was and, had I tried, I probably couldn’t have tied my own shoelaces.
At the time I was working so this side-effect could not be tolerated. I subsequently spoke with my mother who also has MS and she described exactly the same outcome. My GP has since suggested it as a sleeping aid and I, not surprisingly, turned Amitriptyline down.
I’m on this drug mainly for pain management
Although pretty ineffective,I can relate to your excellent blog
I found Amitriptyline too soporific to the point I could not function the day after I had taken it. My mother who also has MS reports the same side-effect.