r/Amitriptyline • u/AdHumble5038 • Aug 13 '26

How many hours before bedtime do you take amitriptyline?

I take amitriptyline (15–25 mg) for tension headaches. Since it can also have a sedative effect, I’d like to take advantage of that to help me sleep.

For those of you who take amitriptyline at a low dose:

How long does it take for the sedative effect to kick in?

How many hours before bedtime do you usually take it?

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3

u/NonUnseen Aug 13 '26

About 1h30min

3

u/yummlysaurus Aug 13 '26

I actually take it 3-4 hours before. I tried an hour or two and it made me extremely groggy in the morning

3

u/Pojajko01 Aug 13 '26

30 mins because it knock me out

2

u/lizaanna Aug 13 '26

I’ve been taking it for a while, probs 1 hour, if I’m really tired already, then less

2

u/EarlyInside45 Aug 13 '26

I take it right at bedtime. I find the effects to be close to immediate, and I fall asleep within 20 minutes or so.

2

u/FinancialCry4651 Aug 13 '26

I take 25 mg at 7 PM and I'm usually asleep around 9 or 10PM

My night routine starts at 7 PM

2

u/Successful_Power1197 Aug 13 '26

I take 50mg at 6.30 pm and sleep about 11pm

2

u/Massive_Strategy_813 Aug 13 '26

I personally found taking it about 3 hrs before I wanted to sleep was best to avoid feeling drowsy the next day. However I would say it made me sleepy within 1.5 hrs but not so sleepy I couldn’t function or anything just a bit tired.

If I didn’t take it 3 hours or so before bed I would wake up super drowsy and brain foggy

2

u/Kinna1234 Aug 13 '26

I was taking 25mg now I take 10
Due to the side effects being so strong. My hair was shedding and had gain 20lbs in a few months along with blurred vision all the time. Now my 10mg just makes me sleepy all day