The pain is real!

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that is sometimes used in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tenderness in specific points on the body. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not fully understood, it is believed to involve abnormalities in the way the nervous system processes pain signals.

Vivid dreams are often described as dreams that feel very real, intense, and sometimes even unsettling. While some people find these dreams interesting or enjoyable, others may find them distressing or disruptive to their sleep. My personal experience with this side effect is an original one.

I saw my doctor recently and she changed one of my medication. I use to take Tramadol for Fibromyalgia pain.

1. Tramadol isn’t covered by many insurers, which was my case. This made it too expensive an option.
2. Tramadol is no longer recommended for Fibromyalgia.

So she prescribed Amitriptyline. It’s important to note that the use of amitriptyline for fibromyalgia is an off-label application, meaning that the medication was not initially developed specifically for this condition.

However, it has been found to provide relief for some individuals with fibromyalgia who do not respond well to other treatments. As with any medication, there can be potential side effects and interactions, so it’s crucial to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage and monitor any potential adverse effects.

Amitriptyline can be beneficial for fibromyalgia for several reasons:

1. Pain Modulation: Amitriptyline is thought to work by affecting the balance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play a role in pain perception and mood regulation. By influencing these neurotransmitters, amitriptyline can help modulate pain signals and reduce the sensitivity to pain.
2. Improved Sleep: Many people with fibromyalgia experience sleep disturbances, such as difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or achieving restorative sleep. Amitriptyline has sedative properties that can help improve sleep quality and duration, which in turn can contribute to a reduction in pain and fatigue.
3. Central Nervous System Effects: Fibromyalgia involves changes in the central nervous system’s processing of pain signals. Amitriptyline has been shown to have effects on pain perception and the way pain signals are transmitted within the nervous system.
4. Neurotransmitter Regulation: Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline can help regulate the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can have a positive impact on mood, anxiety, and stress levels. Managing these psychological aspects can also indirectly help with the overall experience of fibromyalgia.

It’s recommended to take it an half-hour before bedtime because it causes drowsiness. So, I took it for the first time last night and this happened:

I was dreaming that I was on the city bus and that the bus was arriving at my stop. The first passenger got off the bus and the bus driver started to drive away right away. Even if there were people still waiting to get off and get on the bus. In my dream, it was very important that I not miss my stop, so I jumped off and woke up when I landed on my knees next to the bed.

I had really jumped off in real life.

I did a bit of research and apparently, antidepressants can cause vivid dreams. Side effects like vivid dreams often occur during the initial weeks of starting a new antidepressant or when adjusting the dosage. In many cases, these side effects can lessen as your body adjusts to the medication.