I was on Diclofenac for years but GP has recently said I can't have it anymore because they found out it causes heart problems etc. And Amitriptyline is given to most people with chronic illnesses in the UK as far as I can tell - the pain clinic put me on massive doses of it - it drove me nuts - literally.
Joss and tania-I went nuts on elavil/amitriptyline. I was put on it for pain due to IC and fibro. Within one week I was manic on it. I had so much energy. I could get things done. I went from being exhausted to painting my entire apartment, redoing furniture and I became super creative. I was among the living, after being dead. But it was fake energy and I would have all over body tremors from it and start sobbing, like what is wrong with me?
But, because it gave me so much energy, I wanted on it.
After a year and a half of up and down crazy behavior and then not sleeping, I had to go off of it and it was horrid. I could not sleep and went through withdrawl. I loved that drug for a bit, but man was it awful.
After coming off of it, I went back to my normal CFS self after a few months.