Amtripytyline

[[Bh...]]

Has anyone tried this antidepressant for sleep? I would like it give it a try.  I'm sick of the lack of sleep. OTC antihistamines are working, but not every night.  The sleep is sometimes broken.

 

Are antidepressants supposed to help you stay asleep and regulate your sleep cycle? I just want normal sleep so I can keep my job.

 

Thanks!

[[Bi...]]

Amitrip is very addictive.  Works for a little while and then more is needed.  Remeron at 3.75mg still helps me sleep very well after 3 years.  At that level it is a powerful antihistamine like 25mg seroquel.  Both will knock you out cold but MORE is not better when it comes to these drugs so be WARNED!!! They backfire in higher doses!

[[me...]]

Amitrip is very addictive.  Works for a little while and then more is needed.

Not true--I have a ton of experience with amitryptiline, at all different doses. It is not a strong drug, but may enable you to sleep a little longer. I obviously thought it was working for me all those years. I don't think it's that bad to take a sleep aid for a while, but I wouldn't take anything more than a month or so, as then withdrawal can become quite an ordeal.

[[...]]

I tried it for pain relief, I quit after about ten days, it gave me very bad muscle fasciculations in my calves and did nothing for the pain.  I was sleeping okay at the time anyway, so can't recall whether it had any impact there or not.

 

Have you considered MMJ?  There's a very good support group going with excellent info being shared.

[[Bh...]]

Thanks for your feedback on Amtriptyline! I'm still up in the air as to whether I want to try it. I'm using different antihistamines at the moment...benedryl and doxy. I wanted something to regulate to REM rebound and interupted sleep.  Remeron seems like a nice option...did you gain weight from that small dosage? I really don't feel like dealing with weight gain.

 

What is MMJ? Sorry I'm bad with abbreviations.

[[...]]

MMJ = Medical Marijuana

 

Support Group:  http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=165140.0

 

Another Option:  http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=168380.0

[[Bh...]]

Thanks for the info. I'm a school teacher in NY....I don't know that I can use MMJ.  Do you know if I can? Thanks! 

[[Be...]]

As long as no one knows

[[NJ...]]

I have used remeron since May. I have not gained weight. I use a higher dosage (15 mg) as this is the dose that has helped with anxiety and nausea as well as sleep. It made me crazy tired and fatigued for weeks and weeks after I started taking it, but now I am used to it and it is helping immensely.

[[Sh...]]

Amitryp worked well for me a few years back and knocked me out big time. It was great. But then it's affect wore off and I realised I started having horrendous nightmares. Night terrors that I would get trapped in and couldnt wake up from. Like sleep paralysis. Crazy bad. Awful stuff that drug.

[[Bh...]]

Benzofree...you are funny. I don't think I'll take that risk! 

 

Shamo...thanks for sharing your experience with me. I tried it last night and it gave me pretty bad insomnia, sweats and horrible muscle pain. It's not going to work for me unfortunately.

 

That's good to hear about the remeron NJstrength. I'll have to try that one! The good news I've only tried a couple of them so far!

 

 

[[Bh...]]

So I tried it the other night....instead of making me tired, i was wired with energy. I was groggy for about 30 minutes and then I got a second wind. Obviously no sleep that night. I also took off of work the next day too. I had worse withdrawal symptoms the next day too...really bad burning scalp, back pain and a nasty headache.

 

I guess its a no for me 

[[...]]

I really fear you're on the wrong path, BHealthy. 

 

Has anyone tried this antidepressant for sleep? I would like it give it a try.  I'm sick of the lack of sleep. OTC antihistamines are working, but not every night.  The sleep is sometimes broken.

 

Are antidepressants supposed to help you stay asleep and regulate your sleep cycle? I just want normal sleep so I can keep my job.

 

Thanks!

 

No, they are not, and unfortunately no chemicals (ie meds) can regulate sleep cycles!  Quite the opposite.  In many (most?) cases, especially the SSRIs/SNRIs they disturb sleep and/or cause insomnia, which is why you'll find most people are then prescribed an adjunct medicine for the insomnia caused by that AD which was prescribed for insomnia.  Following?    Typically the adjunct med is yet another AD such as Trazodone or Remeron (Mirtazipine) or a benzo.  And so the merry-go-round from Hell begins.

 

If you're seriously considering Remeron, there are a couple of support groups here which you may wish to check out.

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=80102.0 

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=168829.0

 

FYI, Remeron was recommended to me as the magic pill for my weird undiagnosed rocky boat and muscle tension which naturally they concluded was from "anxiety"    Usual story, usual ignorance, and a way to try and get me out of their offices.  However, the Doc also informed me that I would need to have my glucose levels constantly monitored whilst on it, as Remeron can cause pre-diabetes. 

 

Anyhow, that's my two cents.  To me, it's playing with fire!!!  Anything but more psychotropic meds, and particularly those with a withdrawal component!

[[Bh...]]

I really fear you're on the wrong path, BHealthy. 

 

Has anyone tried this antidepressant for sleep? I would like it give it a try.  I'm sick of the lack of sleep. OTC antihistamines are working, but not every night.  The sleep is sometimes broken.

 

Are antidepressants supposed to help you stay asleep and regulate your sleep cycle? I just want normal sleep so I can keep my job.

 

Thanks!

 

No, they are not, and unfortunately no chemicals (ie meds) can regulate sleep cycles!  Quite the opposite.  In many (most?) cases, especially the SSRIs/SNRIs they disturb sleep and/or cause insomnia, which is why you'll find most people are then prescribed an adjunct medicine for the insomnia caused by that AD which was prescribed for insomnia.  Following?    Typically the adjunct med is yet another AD such as Trazodone or Remeron (Mirtazipine) or a benzo.  And so the merry-go-round from Hell begins.

 

If you're seriously considering Remeron, there are a couple of support groups here which you may wish to check out.

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=80102.0 

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=168829.0

 

FYI, Remeron was recommended to me as the magic pill for my weird undiagnosed rocky boat and muscle tension which naturally they concluded was from "anxiety"    Usual story, usual ignorance, and a way to try and get me out of their offices.  However, the Doc also informed me that I would need to have my glucose levels constantly monitored whilst on it, as Remeron can cause pre-diabetes. 

 

Anyhow, that's my two cents.  To me, it's playing with fire!!!  Anything but more psychotropic meds, and particularly those with a withdrawal component!

You're right...I don't honestly plan on going on any AD anymore. I am still contemplating buspar as it's non-addictive. I don't know how my body will react to it though, so we shall see.

 

They definitely do want to prescribe more drugs. I'm over it! Thank you for your thoughts and feedback.

[[bl...]]

Hi Bhealthy!

You had replied to my post about the itchy/burning spot (which I really appreciate) and then I decided to look up some of your posts b/c it seems like our benzo journeys are somewhat similar.  I also CT'd off of xanax after using it for about 10 months although mine was an accidental CT while in the hospital for a major surgery.  My doc just did not order it for me while there and they were giving me so many other drugs that it was masking the withdrawal until I got home and ran out of pain meds about 2 weeks later.  Then the withdrawal hit full force but I didn't know what it was.  I had no idea what a benzo was or that you need to taper off slowly. I just knew that my doctor had given me this little pill to help me through menopause and help me sleep.  I was completely ignorant about what I was taking.  So, I did some online research, found Benzo Buddies and figured out what was going on with me.  When I told my primary care doc at my surgical follow up appt. what I beleived to be going on he didn't dismiss it but also didn't embrace it.  He thought I was depressed because I wasn't sleeping and also wanted to put me on amitriptyline.  I thought about it for a second but decided against it because I am honestly so afraid of taking any kind of  mind altering med. ever again.  I just don't want to take a chance and have to go through another withdrawal from another drug somewhere down the road.  I just want to get through this and have it be over and get back to life.  So, I decided to try and improve my sleep in a more natural way and it has actually helped.  I began using an essential oil blend for relaxation and even put it in a diffuser next to my bed so I could breathe it in during the night.  I have become very rigid about my bedtime routine and find that I need to start winding down no later than 9pm and head to bed by 10pm or I don't sleep well.  I read for about 15 minutes and then turn out the lights.  At first I was happy to get 2 or 3 hours of sleep but I am now up to 6 or 7 hours of good quality sleep...unless I mess up my routine.  I just wanted to let you know what had been helpful to me on the sleep issue.  I still have other symptoms that I am dealing with but at least this one seems to be on the upswing.