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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Amitriptyline/Elavil isn't that great of an antidepressant by itself. It's mostly used as a sleep aid.
Might be a very bad idea. Both Amitryptyline and prozac are capable of contributing to Serotonin Syndrome.I was wondering if anyone is using/has used this combo of drugs to treat their cfs/me.
Amitrip gave me severe gut problems. I didn't help my sleep or pain. In the mornings I was like a zombie and as time went on it just got worse and worse. We tried different doses but at the end I was far worse off than when I started. Prozac left me feeling poisoned and also fuzzyheaded. On both my blood pressure went lower and I had more POTS / fainting.
Thought that there has been some research showing high serotonin in PWCFS but I've not been able to find it again.
What research have you seen that would indicate that this combo would be helpful?
One or two specialists use this combo and it was suggested I start it.
I am weary as I have severe stomach trouble anyway and I feel very dizzy and groggy on meds such as these.
I also get urinary trouble, which I hear can be made worse on ami.
I think a higher dose of Prozac is more likely to cause problems than a lower dose of Prozac combined with amitriptyline. I don't have any studies to back this up, but I don't think there's any studies suggesting otherwise either. SSRIs are much more of a heavy hitter compared to TCAs (in my opinion).Might be a very bad idea. Both Amitryptyline and prozac are capable of contributing to Serotonin Syndrome.
There is one person at this website who ended up with a permanent damaged bladder due to Amitrip (frozen bladder where they no longer can go naturally), there are two people at this website who have permanent gut/stomach issues after Amitrip (we recently were talking about it on another thread). That drug taking just a short term, low dose trial of it in my case permanently damaged my bowel (prolapsed it to the point in which I almost needed surgery). One of the physiological effects of this drug is it slows down bowel peristalsis so affects muscle function in that area.. I assume that's what it did also to the one who got her bladder permanently damaged from it).
All of us who got these permanent issues from this drug were those who have ME (rather then general CFS). If I had to say what is the most dangerous drug for a ME person I'd say this drug as it can be permanent and doctors cant fix the issues it leaves. If you fit Canadian defined CFS or the international consensus ME defination.. Id say certainly avoid it, its shown too much risk.. there would be safer drugs around which you could try.
This is the only drug which has given me permanent damage.
Someone just created a thread about that a few days ago:Also how do you know if you have cfs (canadian) or me?
Thanks.
Oh god, that sounds awful. I'm so sorry.
I really am weary of this drug as I don't like some of the effects.
Do you have a link for where it was discussed before please? Thanks.
Also how do you know if you have cfs (canadian) or me?
Thanks.
Wikipedia says amisulpride isn't approved by the FDA in the United States.
Cosmo, personally I would be worried about your doctor(s) if all they were offering to prescribe was a combo of antidepressants.