More than 15 million prescriptions for amitriptyline are issued in the UK in a year, mainly to deal with chronic pain conditions
The NHS has issued important information for people prescribed amitriptyline for pain relief or migraines. Chronic pain affects around 28 million adults in the UK with about eight million of these suffering moderate to severely disabling levels.
According to NHS figures one in three adults have chronic pain. This figure rises to more than half of those aged over 75.
While data shows up to half of GP consultations are for the problem, there is often little that can be done aside from giving pain relief. One drug commonly used to treat chronic conditions is amitriptyline. While this was initially developed and approved to treat depression, today it is more commonly used at lower doses as pain relief for those with a variety of different painful health problems.
Latest figures show there were more than 15 million prescriptions for the drug dispensed in the UK in 2022-23. However, according to the NHS, there are a number of side effects people should watch out for, including one which means you should dial 999 or go straight to A&E.
The NHS has issued instructions for people taking the drug for pain and migraine. It warms there are several “common side effects” affecting more than one in 100 people.
It advises: “Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.” These common side effects include:
- Constipation
- Feeling sleepy or tired
- Difficulty peeing
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Feeling dizzy
There are other rare but more serious side effects. The NHS advises calling a doctor or 111 now if:
- you get a fast or irregular heartbeat
- the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – these can be signs of a liver problem
- you have a headache, you feel confused or weak, or you get muscle cramps – these can be signs of a low sodium level in your blood
- you have eye pain, a change in your eyesight, or swelling or redness in or around your eye
And there are three occasions which everyone taking the drug needs to be aware of. If you suffer any of these you should dial 999 immediately. These are if:
- you have weakness on one side of your body, trouble speaking or thinking, loss of balance or blurred eyesight – these can be signs of a stroke
- you have a seizure or fit
- you get severe chest pain – this can be a sign of a heart attack
There is one other important time when you should call 999 or go to A&E. This is if you have thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life.
The NHS adds: “Many people sleep better while they’re taking amitriptyline. Although amitriptyline is an antidepressant, the doses are lower when used to treat pain. Taking amitriptyline as a painkiller will not have the same effects as taking it for depression.”
