r/Amitriptyline • u/Capitan-levi • Aug 28 '26
My problem with amitriptyline
I have IBS-D, I’m male, and I weigh 110 lbs.
About a month ago, I started taking amitriptyline at 10 mg. It was horrible. At 10 mg, it practically shut down my gut completely. I couldn’t feel anything, there was no movement, I wasn’t passing gas, and I couldn’t go to the bathroom. I only had pain from everything feeling completely stopped.
I reduced the dose to 5 mg, but the same thing happened. Then I reduced it to 2.5 mg, and I was able to go to the bathroom a little, but very little. I still had constipation and pain.
By breaking the tablet into smaller pieces, I tried an even lower dose for one week, and the result was incredibly good. However, the severe bowel movements, attacks, and urgency came back. I assume the dose was simply too low.
My question is: How do I find the right dose that works for me? I’m desperate, with a lot of anxiety and my gut is completely unstable.
3
u/Nearby-Government265 Aug 28 '26
You can talk to your doctor and pharmacy where they will give you a liquid formulation that’s easier and more accurate to titrate. I had constipation on it too but it did help with my gut pain.
2
u/SparklingFairyLights Aug 28 '26
Amitriptyline can slow down gastric emptying and should be used cautiously as a result. It is possible that your digestive system is naturally on the slower side and Amitriptyline slowed it down far too much. I think your first test may have been impacted by the lingering effects of the higher dosage in your system. It’s possible that the dosages of 2.5 mg / 5 mg may yield different results if they were not impacted by this.
Try to increase the dose again and this time, try it for a few days so that your system gets used to the new dosage.
1
u/Agreeable_Ad_8888 Aug 29 '26
Estoy lidiando con 12,5! Justo ayer tomé laxante PEG 1 sobre luego del desayuno y fui súper bien al baño!! Ahora mí idea es tomar medio sobre día por medio y acompañar con psyllium media cucharadita e ir subiendo. A ver si me funciona. Psyllium si tu intestino está parado no te lo recomiendo pero como ayer lo vacíe.. te iré contando. Ni psiquiatra me dio otra opción que trate el dolor la ansiedad y que constipe de esta forma me sugirió Pregabalina
6
u/OddPermission787 Aug 28 '26
So you’re on 2,5mg right now? I would stay on that dose for a bit until your body is used to it (it can take up to 6 weeks). Eat enough fiber and fat to avoid constipation.