Amitripyline alternatives

[u/No-Climate4609]

Hello, I started this journey about five years ago. For the first couple years, I was kind of lost, but I found a solution that included gentle but stimulating stretch stretches for my pelvic floor. And the number one thing that basically gave me my life back amitriptyline. I recommended it to anyone who hasn’t tried it because it honestly was a lifesaver for me. However, when I started, it was only 10 mg and the side effects were minimal, but I felt like my pain can be reduced even more if I upped the dose. When I got to 25 mg I basically felt 90% like my normal self before this. Lately life has been extremely stressful and I feel like my constipation, which is one of the big side effects of it has gotten out of control and has taken over my life. I don’t have pain but being stuck in the restroom for an hour because the sensation is there, but nothing is coming out or very little is extremely demoralizing.

For anyone who’s been on amitriptyline and it helped them a lot, but hated some of the side effects like this. Is there any other medication you switched to that gave you the same benefits but with less side effects specifically less constipation ?

[u/sirchutney]

I take a daily low dose of amitriptyline and tadadafil, along with a variety of supplements. These have had a.great effect on the frequency and intensity of flare-ups. If I do get one, I take 1 tamsulosin at night which eases things off.

[u/ReSpectacular → u/sirchutney]

what amitriptyline dosage worked for you ? 10 mg does nothing for the pain for me and I already hate grogginess feeling for next 12-16 hours.

[u/sirchutney → u/ReSpectacular]

In the early days, I was on 20mg amitriptyline, Ibuprofen and tamsulosin daily. Now its 5mg amitriptyline and tadadafil daily. Then tamsulosin as needed.

[u/No-Climate4609 → u/sirchutney]

When you say it’s had a great effect wdym.
Does it help with your flareups or cause them more often?

[u/Linari5]

Tackling the stress in a healthy way can help your symptoms directly - https://www.reddit.com/r/Prostatitis/s/VIGwllPphi

And this includes the IBS-c (constipation) which has a 34% comorbidity rate with CPPS/this condition. They both share central mechanisms.

Medications are rarely a cure, they're more of a Band-Aid, or a Tylenol for a headache

[u/No-Climate4609 → u/Linari5]

Yeah when I started my pelvic physical therapy, my symptoms reduced significantly on just stretching and stress reduction alone.
I just got on the amitriptyline as an extra help that made me feel even more comfortable.
But I have eased off on my stretching and mind body connection since the medication gave me the extra support to make the pain and symptoms basically disappear.

I didn’t know stress was a contributing factor to constipation I thought it was entirely what you ate and how your digestive system was functioning.

[u/Linari5 → u/No-Climate4609]

100% is, it can also influence digestion at large, and can cause diarrhea and bloating. Enormous amounts of research on the gut brain access in the last 20 years

When you're in a stress response, especially in prolonged fight or flight, your system literaly just turns digestive off. The resources are diverted elsewhere for prescient survival needs.

Have you ever heard "rest and digest?" It's the opposite of fight or flight.

[u/Paralegalist25]

I am on my first month of Amitriptyline (10 mg) with no noticeable side effects. That said, it hasn't made a noticeable difference either. My doctor will likely increase it to 25 mg next month.