topsy123
06-10-2009, 08:58 PM
Hi,
I went to the doctor today as I was in alot of discomfort and pain. My neck is stiff, my lower back is so bad, Im not sleeping well at night and I have one big constant headache.
My GP thinks I have MS even the the neuro isnt sure. However that aside, she gave me steroids and Amiltryptiline. My question is this. I am on Citalopram, a low dose of 20mg per day, she gave me 10mg of Amyltrptiline. Is this safe to take along side the Citalopram. She said it will help, but I HATE taking tablets, due to an extremly bad reaction on Prozac. It has left me with real fear of what other meds may do.
Would really appreciate your help here guys. What will the Amiltryptiline do? Is it used in MS..etc etc......Thanks
I went to the doctor today as I was in alot of discomfort and pain. My neck is stiff, my lower back is so bad, Im not sleeping well at night and I have one big constant headache.
My GP thinks I have MS even the the neuro isnt sure. However that aside, she gave me steroids and Amiltryptiline. My question is this. I am on Citalopram, a low dose of 20mg per day, she gave me 10mg of Amyltrptiline. Is this safe to take along side the Citalopram. She said it will help, but I HATE taking tablets, due to an extremly bad reaction on Prozac. It has left me with real fear of what other meds may do.
Would really appreciate your help here guys. What will the Amiltryptiline do? Is it used in MS..etc etc......Thanks
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MSNik
06-10-2009, 10:57 PM
Amitriptyline is a drug sometimes used for helping people sleep, however it is more widely prescribed for anti-depressent use. The lowest dosage is 25 mgs the highest dose prescribed is about 150 mgs...so figure out where you fall in that catagory. If you are only taking 10 mgs, Im not sure how you are even getting a 10 mg pill- Ive not seen it come in that dosage, but assuming you are getting it that low, youre not taking much at all.
Citalopram is used to treat both anti-depressent and anxietys...its normal dose is between 20-60 mgs a day. Both of these drugs are sometimes used to treat migranes. You said you are having headaches....either of these drugs might help, but unless they are specifically migranes, they wont do much for any other type and even migranes is hit or miss.
There is no real drug reaction with taking both of these drugs, however you should be very careful with taking any herbs or supplements. There are allot of reactions noted with herbs and also with certain antacids...
Now, as for steroids...Id be concerned. Not of side effects from the other drugs, but of how they will make you feel. Im assuming you were given a steroid pack? The type where you start high and each day take one less pill? Its call Titration...If thats the case you arent taking much steroids, but enough that you will feel the effects. Youll not only be hungry and possibly nervous, but you wont sleep...unless you are taking enough of the other two drugs to counteract the sleeplessness. Steroids notoriously make people hyper and sometimes moody. People with MS are not prescribed any of the two pills you mentioned, unless there is a specific reason, such as anxiety or depression which accompany it; for lack of sleep, specific drugs are usually used such as Ambien....for aches and pains, Steroids are NOT used; however for honest to goodness relapses, IV steroids are presribed, usually a 5 day (sometimes 3 day) treatment of 1000 mgs a day, given thru the arm. The idea that you were given a steroid in a pill....makes me wonder what they are trying to accomplish. Please also know that steroids have long term effects. When the pack is done in 5-7 days, they stay in your system up to a month and when used often, become less effective and can do long term damage to you if used excessively...by excessively I mean interveneously several times a year. Taking a steroid pack isnt going to hurt you, I promise, but with what you describe as your history, they might make you jittery and uncomfortable.
I hope this helps...and no, Im not a doctor- I just happen to be sitting here looking up this stuff, as I am currently familarizing myself with these drugs for a work related purpose!(and I have taken steroids in both pill and IV form several times) Feel better soon.
Nikki
Citalopram is used to treat both anti-depressent and anxietys...its normal dose is between 20-60 mgs a day. Both of these drugs are sometimes used to treat migranes. You said you are having headaches....either of these drugs might help, but unless they are specifically migranes, they wont do much for any other type and even migranes is hit or miss.
There is no real drug reaction with taking both of these drugs, however you should be very careful with taking any herbs or supplements. There are allot of reactions noted with herbs and also with certain antacids...
Now, as for steroids...Id be concerned. Not of side effects from the other drugs, but of how they will make you feel. Im assuming you were given a steroid pack? The type where you start high and each day take one less pill? Its call Titration...If thats the case you arent taking much steroids, but enough that you will feel the effects. Youll not only be hungry and possibly nervous, but you wont sleep...unless you are taking enough of the other two drugs to counteract the sleeplessness. Steroids notoriously make people hyper and sometimes moody. People with MS are not prescribed any of the two pills you mentioned, unless there is a specific reason, such as anxiety or depression which accompany it; for lack of sleep, specific drugs are usually used such as Ambien....for aches and pains, Steroids are NOT used; however for honest to goodness relapses, IV steroids are presribed, usually a 5 day (sometimes 3 day) treatment of 1000 mgs a day, given thru the arm. The idea that you were given a steroid in a pill....makes me wonder what they are trying to accomplish. Please also know that steroids have long term effects. When the pack is done in 5-7 days, they stay in your system up to a month and when used often, become less effective and can do long term damage to you if used excessively...by excessively I mean interveneously several times a year. Taking a steroid pack isnt going to hurt you, I promise, but with what you describe as your history, they might make you jittery and uncomfortable.
I hope this helps...and no, Im not a doctor- I just happen to be sitting here looking up this stuff, as I am currently familarizing myself with these drugs for a work related purpose!(and I have taken steroids in both pill and IV form several times) Feel better soon.
Nikki