Amitriptyline for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 5)

• wilsal
• June 28, 2015

"For years I couldn't sleep properly, i could get to sleep most nights but woke every 2-3hours or to any slight noise. It all caught up with me & I was an anxious sleep deprived freak who was on prozac. I went to a new Dr about constant migraines & he started me on amitriptyline 75mg, the first few days I felt so weird but after a week or so it kicked in. My migraines stopped, my anxiety was so much better & a strange side effect was that I could finally sleep through a whole night! I am so grateful this drug is around, I am no longer a sleep deprived freak :D good for my depression too mixed with 40mg prozac. YaY Endep"

• sezgirl
• April 22, 2011

"I was put on 25mg of amitriptyline because of my dependence to zoplicone (a horrible sleeping pill). It took a few weeks for the amitriptyline to kick in but once it did I was able to easily fall asleep, stay asleep for 8-10 hours and wake up feeling refreshed. I am happy to say that it's been 3 months and I haven't had to take any zopiclone which is a big deal for me. I only take 10mg now a night but actually feel like I don't even need it. I plan to completely stop it next week. "

• Lis
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2018

"Between the age of 15-38 I struggled with severe insomnia. 23 LONG years. I had seen sleep specialists for sleep studies, I took a scary cocktail of sleep aids nightly, I tried meditation, hypnosis...I tried pretty much anything doctors could think of. I was desperate. For some reason, no one thought to have me try Elavil. It was actually a lung specialist who suggested it. He started me on 50 mg and it helped a little. So we increased it to 100 mg and I am now sleeping somewhat like a NORMAL person! In October of 2018 it will be 2 years that I've actually been sleeping. I don't need sleep aids anymore, and I didn't think that was possible. My life has improved because of this medication. I'm active and I wake up actually feeling like I got restful sleep. Unfortunately, I did gain weight from taking Elavil, but I just try to be more cautious about what and when I eat. I will deal with a little weight gain if it's in exchange for good, restful sleep!"

• 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 150mgs 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."

• MrC
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2023

"I use amitriptyline on and off for sleep due to some pain which keeps me up. My experience and advice: - take 1 to 1 1/2 hours before bed as onset takes some time - it is not a 30-minute pill like Ambien - I only need 12.5 mg (so it is half a usually prescribed 25 mg tablet) most times I sleep all night and wake up to pee but fall back asleep, you can also do 12.5 mg at say 8:30 PM and then take half that 6.25 mg at 10 PM so that onset for sleep is at say 10 and the second dose kicks in if you wake up later to ensure you get back to sleep - side effects are constipation from it slowing motility through digestion, I suggest Now Foods mag oxide caps (oxide pulls in water to bowels and citrate helps move things along) Get more fiber from apples, some cereal that has soluble and insoluble fiber in it like Barbara's oat crunch cereal, some Bob's Red Mill ground flaxseed to sprinkle on cereal."

• shayla
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2015

"I have taken over the counter sleep aid for 7 years and the past year they stopped working for me and I would fall asleep but would wake up several times a night and it would take me 2-3 hours to go back to sleep so I asked my doctor for something better and she started me on this medicine 25mg a night at bedtime for sleep and pain and I've been taking it for 2 weeks now and I sleep so good and if I wake up I go right back to sleep and I wake up in the morning with no pain and feeling refreshed."

• Aano
• 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 200mg. I was 17 when I was first prescribed it & as I've gotten older I've noticed that I'm struggling more with the hang over side effects, making it harder to take. However, this has been the ONLY thing that has been able to put to sleep. I would recommend this medication to people VERY severe insomnia. I'll take the hangover feeling over sleeping for 4 hours every 3 days."

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

"I suffer manor depression anxiety and insomnia. I was on trazadone 100mg, which I cut back to 50mg because it's very sedating. I switched from trazadone 50mg to amitriptyline 10mg to start 2 days ago. It is not as strong as the trazadone 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. Btw I was addicted to benzodiazepines for years so this is a good substitute for addictive meds."

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

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

• Jonboy
• December 13, 2019

"I was started on amitriptyline 10mg to help me sleep but with no success, & have been trying the drug increaseing 10mg dosages with the approval of my doctor but haven't reached the right dosage yet. I am now trying 40mg to see if that works. My G.P. doesn't seem too concerned about me upping my dose after all I am 79 years of age !"

• Phile...
• October 27, 2016

"I started the medication after suffering from insomnia and general anxiety. I tried citrolpram and basically didn't sleep for a month along with numerous other side affects. I was sceptical the first couple of times I took 10mg to help with sleep and it had no effect, maybe I needed to wait longer for the citrolpram to clear out my system. I left it 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 affects, maybe this is because citrolopram made me feel so strange this doesn't even scratch the surface. Anyway I'm now to look forward to bed and I hope this continues as it is really helping me focus better at work having more sleep."

• Chris
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

"Out of the blue I've been having terrible insomnia and was given Amitriptyline 25mg at night, it has worked most nights for sleep but the side effects are dry mouth & 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 will have a word with my doctor about it. But overall a good drug for sleep issues."

• sleep...
• June 18, 2013

"I've started on 25mg and steadily increased. Now I'm taking 200mg every night! It does nothing for my pain, or anxiety and barely touches my insomnia. I wake up 3-4 times every night with night terrors. I think next Drs. appointment she will increase my dosage even more. I have extreme post traumatic stress disorder and have several fractures in my spine. All I know is my dosage is already higher than most of the comments I've read. And my wife is on an even higher dose than me."

• Davex
• 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..."

• Mon...
• May 10, 2016

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

• alex
• August 23, 2018

"Amitriptyline is a good for insomnia but you have to know it how to use it, which means when you start with low dose like 10mg then if you manage to sleep take it for 10-15 days then start to minimise the dose . If you don't sleep with 10mg, try with 25mg if not 25mg then try 50mg . Then after 15 -20days later start to reduce the dose. So if you were taking 50mg start taking 35mg and check your sleep condition, what I mean if you feel terror or restless legs or something then back to take 50mg but if you just sleep 5-6hrs that is fine, you don't need to sleep like before because you are on withdrawal ,then from 35mg reduce to 30mg wait 3 or 4 days same dose then take 25mg 3 or 4 days then 15mg 3 or 4 days then 10mg 3 or 4 days then 5mg 3 or 4 days still check your physical condition symptoms like restless leg, terror, sweating it will happen during withdrawal that is fine. It is just we didn't have enough rest and 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."

• Tammy
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2023

"I’ve been on amitriptyline for 9 years and it’s been the only thing that helped me sleep. Now my new doctor wants me off of it because she said it’s very dangerous, especially at my age of 65, so I’m weaning off for the last two weeks. The new medicine she’s giving me instead is Hydroxyzine and I haven’t slept in about two weeks! She has not even checked on me and I called the office and got no call back so frustrating. I heard amitriptyline can cause heart attacks and strokes has anyone else heard that? I’m so confused about what to do but I really need to sleep! Any suggestions, please?"

• manda...
• March 16, 2015

"Currently at 200mg to control insomnia and migraines. Only small side effect is occasional slight dizziness. Other than that, now that I am on correct dosage, minimal side effects and complete relief from issues.. as an aside, was unable to get refill for a week once and experienced extreme, worsening withdrawal symptoms: constant, mild headaches. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Debilitating nausea, dizziness and vertigo. Runny nose. Complete loss of appetite. Feeling dehydrated. Constant panic attacks: uncontrollable anxiety, racing heart, profuse sweating and feeling dehydrated and like I'm gasping for air. I've had remarkable success with the drug, but I caution anyone considering stopping to confer w their dr and wean off rather than cold turkey."

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

Elavil (amitriptyline) "Elavil 10mg 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 yrs 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 10mg 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 drawer for another few weeks"

• doggy...
• 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 next day - productive, less congested with phlegm, focussed, 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."

• tash
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2019

"Rating amitriptyline a2 because first night it made me drowsy and sent me to sleep. Every night after that I felt like I was alert and awake the whole night and did not get a restful sleep whatsoever. Everytime I woke up it felt like I had never even gone to sleep."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2009

"My problem was waking very early (eg 3.30) and slight depression and anxiety. This drug has been very effective with no side effects. I only need 10mg and only take it occasionally if I have recurrence of symptoms - it is still effective."

• Scoti...
• June 23, 2009

Elavil (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."

• Night...
• November 16, 2016

"I was very curious to know has anyone here been to a sleep specialist or even had a couple sleep labs done? I'm familiar with all meds mentioned. If I had not been down that long road, I wouldn't know their names. I was bounced around with this med and that and combinations (as I have pain and other issues as well) Not until I had 2 sleep studies done, and after 4 yrs seeing a Neurologist who specializes in insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea. He also has a Phd in Pulmonology but doesnt practice that any longer. There are definitive reasons why different people sleep or don't, how long, feel rested, or not. The body as is was meant to be awake approx. 15 hrs and asleep approx. 8-9 hrs. I would like to share some things that may help. K"