# Tricyclic's (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, etc)- time till relief and dosage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized Older than 1 year\ **Created:** [June 10, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014 "2013-06-10T18:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoeE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JoeE](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/JoeE)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014/1 "2013-06-10T18:16:46Z")
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. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16146306](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16146306) 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...... ---
**Author:** ![AmandaD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@AmandaD](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/AmandaD)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014/2 "2013-06-10T18:51:50Z")
Hello, 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kc\_Dancer\_Kc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ebca7d/32.png) [@Kc\_Dancer\_Kc](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Kc_Dancer_Kc)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014/3 "2013-06-10T21:47:02Z")
Some here may not recognize the med family name…if you don’t get responses… Title the posting with the name of your med and its cousin amitriptyline. ---
**Author:** ![JoeE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JoeE](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/JoeE)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014/4 "2013-06-12T17:54:43Z")
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. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16913433](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16913433) AmandaD said: > Hello, > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![AmandaD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@AmandaD](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/AmandaD)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/tricyclics-amitriptyline-nortriptyline-etc-time-till-relief-and-dosage/5014/5 "2013-06-12T19:12:22Z")
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. Best wishes, JoeE