Amyltrptiline

[tinyandme]

Or however its spelled! Anyhoo, just wondering what does you all are taking and how long it took for effects to be seen? Hubby started just over a week ago on 10 mg, with instructions from Doc to increase up to 50 mg as needed. Need it to start working! Wondering if theres a standard dose everyone ends up at

Thanks

 

[affected]

Hi Tiny,

firstly why is your PALS on it, as in what effects are you hoping to achieve?

my PALS also had FTD, which was not formally diagnosed as he was such rapid progression there was nothing to be gained for putting him through the process of the testing and the resultant paranoia he already had towards me.

However, he did finally agree to amitriptyline, but only because his specialist said it may help him sleep better. He started on 5mg (doc assured him it was only a baby dose ... he was SO paranoid about taking any medication), and said if good after a week take it to 10mg but at least stay on the 5mg for 3 weeks straight before deciding if there were true side effects. This is because in the first week or 2 there can be some temporary side effects that go away.

I put him up to the 10mg after a week, and he stayed on this for his last 5 months.

For him we had the following good effects: he DID start to sleep. After 18 months of broken sleep he started to sleep through the night for a good 6 hours or so. Or he would at least be ok dozing for the last couple of hours, not becoming restless and having to get up, or as he progressed be gotten up.

It took the 'edge' off his FTD. He never had another full rage after starting this. It didn't stop the FTD of course, especially on low doses but it did calm him just a little. I admit however that he then also was rapidly progressing, the total loss of speech and arms may have contributed to him not being as able to go into a rage. Maybe getting sleep every night also helped him in this regard.

Hope that helps a bit

 

[olly]

Depends on what he is on it for its used to treat....
Depression
Saliva issues
Chronic pain ....
And much more.

With these it can take a few weeks.
Larger doses are used for depression were as lower doses for long term pain ect.

I was on 20mg at night but I have low bp and they were making it worse so went to 10mg.

Intresting facts.....they supress the need for alcohol and are given as treatment for alcoholics ...wondered why I'd gone off tipple.
Also they can increase weight gain which would be a plus for Pals ...I put on at least a stone on 20mg a day.

 

[bigmark1954]

I have some experience with the A word.... I was put on it before my diagnosis for sleeping and saliva. Started with 25 mg....about a month later it was upped to 50 mg (keep in mind that I am a Neanderthal).
My last clinic they reduced it back to 25 mg, because I complained of being groggy and sleepy until afternoon. It did help with my grogginess a little bit...but I was also put on Nuedexta.
I definitely slept a bunch better on 50 mg........and think I may go back in time. Right now I have to much to do, and can still walk with a cane...so the lighter dosage works better for me. The only thing I miss about the 50 mg is that I could fall asleep quickly, and sleep through the night.

 

[tinyandme]

Trying it for sleep, saliva and pain. PAL very adamant he is NOT depressed and so doesn't "Need no Damn antidepressant " **ahem :/

I'll take it!

 

[olly]

Just testing if I can post and see replies since yesterday.

 

[olly]

Tinyandme.....they are used for many things and illnesses...just tell him that.

 

[zoohouse]

Each person is different when it comes to dosing, and the dose is also dependant on what it is being used for. Many years ago I was put on it for chronic back spasm and pain, at 5 moms. It did make me feel extremely groggy and took several weeks for me to get use to it and feel normal. Higher doses are used as an antidepressant, but then I never knew about its use for ALS, but then again I rarely even heard about ALS.

Paulette

 

[affected]

The 10mg did nothing for my PALS saliva. I wish I had known back then that it can help with saliva as I would have seen if we could have upped the dose a bit.

However, I was never sure that Chris had excess saliva, rather than the inability for his mouth to deal with any saliva...

 

[hjlindley]

I take 75 mg at night: sleep, lessens my peripheral neuropathy, helps with depression and dries out my mouth.

 

[bigmark1954]

I take 75 mg at night: sleep, lessens my peripheral neuropathy, helps with depression and dries out my mouth.

That is the highest dose I have heard of.....I am on 25mg. How does it affect your alertness the next day...I am bettin you sleep like a rock?

 

[dalvin]

Mark, you should meet her in person. She's one sharp lady, knows her stuff. I met her at a recent ALSA meeting here. Highly alert

 

[MaxEidswick]

>Mark, you should meet her in person.

who?

 

[dalvin]

Max, Holister Lindley

 

[MaxEidswick]

>Holister Lindley

oops, I thought Hollister was a guy .

just updated my name's worksheet ... she is now Hollister in pink