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Re: Who takes tricyclics?

Posted by sailor on January 12, 2004, at 7:40:28

In reply to Who takes tricyclics?, posted by femlite on January 10, 2004, at 16:37:28

Amitriptyline (Sp?) ,for a while, I think starting in the late 60's was considerede the "gold standard" (my psychiatrist's phrase back then) and was widely prescribed and dramatically helpful to lots of people. I took it for about ten years. It is especially effective at helping with insomnia, a condition often associated with depression. In fact, some depression diagnoses could in fact be a primary sleep disorder--chronic fatigue from poor sleeping can mimic depression.
It was very effective for me, with a few side effects that I could tolerate back then. The most pronounced was an intense craving for sweets/carbohydrates that can obviously lead to weight gain. There was also some sexual dysfunction, I think occasional difficulty with erection and/or anorgasmia, but most of the time I was able to overcome those tendencies. I don't remember for sure (this was almost 20 years ago), but I think I was taking 150mg/day. I do remember other people I knew then who were responding very positively. Some ER docs still prescribe it for short-term resolutuion of insomnia. It's also potentially fatal at overdose, which is one drug feature the companies have tried to "select out" of newer drugs for liability reasons. It's now often referred to as one of the "dirty tricyclics" meaning it's side effects are allegedly not always worth the benefits.
However, I don't trust the politics (motives) of drug corporations nor the prescribing guidelines of some docs (pre-occupation with liability), so I would do some research of your own on the drug and make your own decision. It has been a life-saver for some. It's also very cheap in generic. The original brand name was Elavil. I hope this is helpful. Regards, Sailor


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poster:sailor thread:299074
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040109/msgs/299714.html