Amitriptyline - Other options?

[katchange]

My doctor recently prescribed me amitriptyline to help with chronic pain due to a nerve injury. I haven't filled the script yet, and am really hoping I can explore other options, I don't even like taking cold medicine or advil, so I would rather avoid adding more pills to my life. Reading through the side effects people talk about, I just don't see it improving my day to day lifestyle. The pain sucks, but I feel like being a zombie would not be much better, especially since I've just started a new job and I really feel I need to be on the ball.
The doctor at the pain clinic really frustrated me because he wouldn't discuss other options with me, when I told him I didn't want to take the drug he said 'that's what they all say' and shut me down. :(

Are there any natural remedies that can help? Diet changes? supplements? yoga? I'm not looking for a wonder cure, but if there's something that can at least help a little, without putting unnecessary chemicals in my body, than I'd like to at least give that a try. If it doesn't help, than maybe I'll try the drugs.

thanks
kat

[quadcna]

My friend takes Pamelor, also recommended by the pain clinic for nerve pain. He takes a low dose, much lower than is prescribed for depression and doesn't really suffer from any side effects.

Hope this helps.

[Lee555]

You will never know how it will affect you if you don't try it. For many people it helps and since it's taken at night, you shouldn't be like a zombie after you acclimate to it. If you were going to start it, do it at the beginning of the weekend. I was given this stuff as well, but after two pills my tinnitis amplified by 10 (which is something I had already and it's a side effect of the drug. So I think if you have one of the side effect problems already, well, it might just get worse) so I had to stop it. I'm surprised he didn't suggest Lyrica or Neurontin for the nerve pain. What's the injury?

[metronycguy]

acupuncture

[razzle51]

Its a good med for pain but take it at night . also it is a weight gainer

[firesmurf]

just what is your nerve injury caused by?where is it located exactly and what does it feel like?this would help in giving you the best possible advice about options.there are many possible non med options depending on just where and what your actual injury is.the more info you could possibly give here the better.have you been Dxed with an actual type of pain syndrome or just neuropathic type pain from nerve damage?marcia

[metronycguy]

amy is very cheap, help you sleep lyrica is also used but will be way more expensive

[cheesecake]

Its a good med for pain but take it at night . also it is a weight gainer
They are one and the same drug:
Generic Name: amitriptyline (a mee TRIP ti leen)
Brand Names: Elavil, Endep, Vanatrip

[medic1]

I also have a lot of nerve pain, mostly in my calves. I use a cream that contains the lidocaine and amyitriptyline. This way it relieves most the pain without having to take another pill. I just apply the cream to area that is painful and it is absorbed through the skin right to the spot. Has really helped a lot.

[Mona~on~wheels]

Welcome to the board Kat.

I've taken different drugs for tingling.
I really don't have pain.
I'm currently on dorvet, baclofen, and neurotin.
I'm thinking about changing dorvicet for ultram.
I took "amy" several yrs ago, and I was a zombie!
I ran into the door and knocked off my large toenail.
I stopped it immediately.
Worse med I've ever took.
I know it would have gotten better in time.
But I lived alone.

I wish I could live on less meds too.

Good Luck :)

[metronycguy]

mona what dose of amitriptyline ?
for pain management 2o mg in the evening sometimes works well. when they use it for depression the dosage is usually over 50 mg, i think 75 and 100 is common.
you can get away with a lot less for pain management = lots less side effects. it is used a lot in conjunction with other meds like neurontin.

[Mona~on~wheels]

I don't remember Mike.
I assume it wasn't 20 mg.
More like 50-75 mg the way I felt.

[Van Quad]

mona what dose of amitriptyline ?
for pain management 2o mg in the evening sometimes works well. when they use it for depression the dosage is usually over 50 mg, i think 75 and 100 is common.
you can get away with a lot less for pain management = lots less side effects. it is used a lot in conjunction with other meds like neurontin.


Don't think it's used for depression anymore. I'm taking 1/5 the dose effective for antidepressant purposes. If I took five times the dose I'm taking I'd be a zombie too.:zombie:

[metronycguy]

10 mg of amy at 8 pm and i woulds sleep great,
the drug feeling is supposed to go away,, it never quite did for me, i still keep some around in pain really spikes, i always call my doc first to make sure it is ok, and mixed nicely with my current meds.