Amitriptyline for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 5)

• Phi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2013

"I have been on amitriptyline HCL 25 mg at bedtime for less than one week and wake up groggy for about 20 minutes. I fall asleep but will wake up at least twice during the night, but I will fall back to sleep. And talk about the vivid and wild dreams, which I have never experienced before! I think I am very sensitive to this type of medicine."

• Tir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 9, 2015

"My family has a history of sleeping issues (insomnia, hypersomnia, narcolepsy), so it was no surprise when I started to see the signs. We went to the doctor, and they gave me this, and in my words, it was AMAZING. I loved, and still love getting sleep."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2009

"My problem was waking very early (e.g., 3:30) and slight depression and anxiety. This drug has been very effective with no side effects. I only need 10 mg and only take it occasionally if I have a recurrence of symptoms - it is still effective."

• Phi...
• October 27, 2016

"I started the medication after suffering from insomnia and general anxiety. I tried citalopram and basically didn't sleep for a month, along with numerous other side effects. I was skeptical the first couple of times I took 10 mg to help with sleep, and it had no effect. Maybe I needed to wait longer for the citalopram to clear out of my system. I left it a couple of days and tried 25 mg, let's just say I slept the best I had in a long time. I haven't really noticed any other side effects, maybe this is because citalopram made me feel so strange this doesn't even scratch the surface. Anyway, I'm now looking forward to bed, and I hope this continues as it is really helping me focus better at work, having more sleep."

• Anonymous
• December 29, 2008

"I have taken amitriptyline for more than five years for insomnia. Though it does not seem to bring on quick sleep, once asleep I am able to sleep well for more than six hours. That is close to a miracle for me."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

"Out of the blue, I've been having terrible insomnia and was given amitriptyline 25 mg at night. It has worked most nights for sleep, but the side effects are dry mouth and a big drop in my libido. As a 35-year-old man, I should still be in my prime in this regard, and now to suddenly lose 'interest' is not good. So I will have a word with my doctor about it. But overall, a good drug for sleep issues."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2017

"I suffer from major depression, anxiety, and insomnia. I was on trazodone 100 mg, which I cut back to 50 mg because it's very sedating. I switched from trazodone 50 mg to amitriptyline 10 mg to start 2 days ago. It is not as strong as the trazodone but does the same job, although I may need a higher dose eventually. I don't wake up as groggy as with other meds and sleep well. So far, so good, not many side effects, but some dry mouth. But I am also switching from Cipralex to Effexor, so it's hard to tell which side effect is coming from which med. But I do think this med is helping for sleep and anxiety. By the way, I was addicted to benzodiazepines for years, so this is a good substitute for addictive meds."

• Mon...
• May 10, 2016

"I was given 10 mg a night of amitriptyline for insomnia. I slept all night but was very dopey the next day, so now I take half (5 mg). I'm still a bit slow in the morning but am sleeping well. I just have a dry mouth the next morning. Not much of a price to pay."

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2018

Amitriptyline "Elavil 10 mg was prescribed mainly for my 24/7 migraine-type symptoms and increasing nerve pain. But also for these symptoms now keeping me up at night. I was always a decent sleeper. But 2 years ago, as the “head bounce” increased, so did my upset over it, and it caused chronic insomnia. Elavil works well for nerve pain. I found even handling jigsaw pieces felt like knives cutting into my fingers. Pleasant, right? Elavil allowed me to NOT feel that pain! Insomnia - works! However, a month ago, after the third night, it increased my head pain. Like sharp stabs. Soooooo, I take 10 mg once every few weeks. I realize that isn’t protocol, but don’t care. I mix my bedtime routine with an occasional Benadryl and nothing at all. Then another Elavil. Took the Elavil after not taking it for a month last night. Was able to catch up after 2 bad nights. Ahhhhhhhh... slept very well. Bottle goes back into the drawer for another few weeks."

• Cdo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2017

Amitriptyline "I've had insomnia for 2 years now. I think I've been on every prescribed and OTC med out there. I was frustrated. Until I asked about Elavil, and it was a godsend. The only side effect I noticed was constipation. Maybe an increase in appetite too."

• Sco...
• June 23, 2009

Amitriptyline "I used this for a year for insomnia, but once my sleep cycle got better, they took me off of it. I am going to ask for it again as I have been reduced to 3 to 4 hours of sleep once more. I hope it works as well now as it did 20 years ago."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2023

"I've had brutal insomnia for 35 years. At 55, this medicine has finally brought me relief. I tried absolutely everything - and I do mean everything. I had given up when I had to switch from Parnate to amitriptyline due to a supply problem. I sincerely can't express how thankful I am to have good sleep again. At 150 mg taken at night, I started to sleep. I was groggy the next morning for 3-4 weeks, but stuck with it, and the grogginess went away. I hope this might help."

• Gab...
• March 9, 2016

"I was prescribed 50 mg, and the first time I took it, this was WAY too high of a dosage. I felt drowsy for the entire day the next day, like I was on drugs. I was prescribed this a few months ago, and I still have many pills left because I only take it when I feel like I won't be able to sleep, and I cut the pill in half so that it's only 25 mg. I usually sleep like a baby, but it is really hard to wake up. If I take it on the weekend, I end up sleeping about 10 hours. I still feel pretty drowsy with 25 mg, but it wears off by the middle of the day."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2025

"I was just prescribed amitriptyline on Wednesday. I was told I could start at 10 mg. I am extremely sensitive to 'drowsy inducing meds,' so I started at 5 mg. I have taken 5 mg for 3 nights now. The first night I took it as indicated online...1-2 hours before bed. It took me quite a while to fall asleep. I took note of how many hours it took. The next night I took it before supper and fell asleep sooner. No grogginess the next day. Did the same on the third night. Only problem...woke up after the third night, and I was extremely angry and agitated. What a way to wake up. I am also taking 10 mg of escitalopram. Today I only took 2.5 mg at 4 pm. By 7 pm, I can feel the grogginess setting in. I am concerned about the change in emotions to extreme anger. I am going to discuss this with the pharmacist. I have been sleeping better, although I do wake up a couple of times a night. I am extremely sensitive and get side effects from most meds or OTCs. I can't even take melatonin."

• dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2018

"I am not keen on taking any drugs, but I was so desperate for sleep that I decided to take 1 tablet two nights a week to get sleep. I am a different person the next day - productive, less congested with phlegm, focused, creative, but perhaps a bit less physical energy first thing. It's a wonder drug for me, but I would like to know why I can't sleep naturally, as I have no issues to cause insomnia."

• kcl...
• August 28, 2018

"I have sleep apnea and suffer from night terrors, and now that I am taking this, when I awake, I fall back to sleep. No more night panic attacks or hallucinations. I still wake up constantly, mostly due to being sore and stiff, but I fall back asleep more readily. Also, I stress out less and worry less, and overall a happier person. I take 50 mg to 100 mg a day at bedtime."

• Am-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2015

"For me, this is/was a very effective hypnotic. It literally saved my life when I had lost my ability to sleep due to a damaged CNS. I started off at 25 mg per night and eventually increased my dosage up to 50 mg per night. Over time I was able to cut my dosage down to ~6 1/4 mg per night before moving on to a more desirable hypnotic. The biggest downside is its anticholinergic effects...nothing like waking up with a mouth full of sand."

• KAB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2016

"I was given this for my horrible migraine and for my insomnia. I was prescribed 20 ml every night, and I must say it is a life saver. I'm a full-time student, and I had a tumor removed from my spine, and after that, I wasn't able to sleep like before, and my migraine went five levels up, horrible. But this medicine is the best thing ever. The first week I tried it made me SOOOO hungry, so I stopped it for like a month, but my migraine was killing me. I started it again, no more side effects. I have energy for my day, it worked out great for me."

• Dav...
• February 22, 2015

"I still woke up after 3 hrs sleep but was able or seemed to fall back to sleep as it felt more like a daydream sleep. I still feel the need for a deep sleep. What's strange is after falling back to sleep it seemed like 30 minutes would pass by and I never fell back to sleep when 4 hrs actually passed by."

• Aan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 13, 2021

"I have been on amitriptyline for 11 years, most of which has been at a very high dose of 200 mg. I was 17 when I was first prescribed it, and as I've gotten older, I've noticed that I'm struggling more with the hangover side effects, making it harder to take. However, this has been the ONLY thing that has been able to put me to sleep. I would recommend this medication to people with very severe insomnia. I'll take the hangover feeling over sleeping for 4 hours every 3 days."

• sle...
• September 26, 2016

"Amitriptyline worked for me for some time, but its wore off after a while. I have been on amitriptyline for six straight years. The first three years were my best, as it gave deep, dreamless sleep. I felt really rested each morning, but after that, its effectiveness wore off, and even an increased dosage from 50 mg to 100 mg up to 200 mg has not been able to help. Now it only allows me a maximum of 2 hours each night."

• Doc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 1, 2024

"I have been using amitriptyline for insomnia, jet lag, and anxiety, and it's a very good medicine for me. It's suitable for my body. My dosage is 75mg every night, 3 hours before bedtime. The most common side effects of amitriptyline are dry mouth. If you stop taking it suddenly, you may experience migraines and restlessness."

• igw...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 11, 2016

"I'm 19 and have been taking this medicine for insomnia since I was 8 or 9 years old. It's been so long that I can't recall exactly when I started. It is the only thing that can put me to sleep as my insomnia is so bad that if I don't take amitriptyline, I will be up for days. The only issue is that it does make me very groggy in the morning, but that could just be due to the fact that I am a teenager."

• rjh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 30, 2018

"I don't think there will ever be a 'natural' replacement... This is the only thing I can take to help me sleep. I need to be sharp at work. I work out every morning and practice every weekend. I'm in my late 30s, but I still have to take amitriptyline. I'm back at 25 mg (from 100-50 mg) over the years. But I don't think I could ever have a city job and decent sleep without this..."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 10, 2018

"I was put on this after having postpartum depression and not sleeping because of it after I had my son. My doctor knew I needed to sleep badly! He started me off on 100 mg a day in the morning and at night. It has dry mouth side effects and a bit dizzy, but not bad, and after 2 weeks, I was feeling way better. I could cope with having a new baby and sleep at night!! The side effects go away after about 3 months, and you just feel normal. He had me lower the dose to 50 mg just at night, and it helps very, very much for sleep. I have been on this for 25 years, and I lowered my dose clear down to 10 mg a night. There are times I go up to 25 mg or 50 mg, but I always come down when the crisis of something is over. If you're looking for a good pill, it's this one. It's been around forever and it works for pain as well, like with migraines. And yes, you do gain weight, but I'd rather sleep at night and try to control my appetite! It's a good pill, I think. Out of all of them, this one works good."