I have gradual made my way up to 50 mg of nortriptyline a night and have been on that top dose for about 3 weeks. There may be a slight reduction/ desensation to the pain, but it’s tough to tell For those who have had success with tricylics how long till you got significant relief?
I did find a study, where some people contusing seeing improvement from month 1-3, and even small amounts up to a year, but seems like a while to wait.
Also curious of the dosage. At 50mg my doctor made it sound that should be a good therapeutic does for facial pain. I don’t really have any side effects so far either, so I personally feel I can go up, but wondering the benefit......
I started taking a tricyclic anti depressant (Amitriptyline) over a month ago. I began with a low dose of 10mg only at night and they totally knocked me out. I didn’t feel any benefit at first, but eventually I got up to 50mg night and day and I developed a tolerance to them so I didn’t feel as sleepy. Only when I reached 50mg, after over a month since I started taking them, did I feel the benefit.
Thank you for sharing Amanda, hope you get continued relief soon.... So you do 50 mg day and night? Right now I am just 50mg nortriptyline at night so I might try taking some during the day as well. I seem to tolerate it well very well at least.…..
Found this as well. Granted the study is for somatoform facial pain (which I suspect is reallty trigeminal neuropathic or TN2 type pain) but the average dose for relief was 77 mg. Some had to go as high as 150mg and 200mg for relief.
I started taking a tricyclic anti depressant (Amitriptyline) over a month ago. I began with a low dose of 10mg only at night and they totally knocked me out. I didn't feel any benefit at first, but eventually I got up to 50mg night and day and I developed a tolerance to them so I didn't feel as sleepy. Only when I reached 50mg, after over a month since I started taking them, did I feel the benefit.
I suffer from atypical tn, so I have constant, burning pain. Anti-convulsants don’t relieve atypical pain so I was prescribed Amitriptyline. When I found that the Lyrica alone in the day time was not relieving my pain, I rang my doctor and asked if I could up my dose and try taking Amitriptyline in the daytime. I have to spread my pills out to control the 24/7 pain. If you feel you need to alter your dose make a quick call to your doctor, if you’re in pain it’s worth trying anything to get even a few hours relief.