I don't know if they r the same. I do take amitiriptyline for migraines and it also helps me fall asleep

No they are not the same drug
Been on both

NO, they are not the same.

Each person with anxiety/depression usually has to go thru a trial of several different drugs before they find what works for them. It sounds like effexor is working. Why would your MD want you to move from a working drug? Amitripyline is an old drug and has been used effectively in pain conditions, migraine syndromes, and depression. Most folks complain of weight gain, and being quite sleepy till they adjust to it. Many complain of nausea and sensitivity to sun.

If this is your regular MD that is prescribing the meds, could you ask for someone who is well versed in mental health meds to evaluate you? Most regular MDs while good at what they do, are not knee deep in the special nuances that come with many of the chemical reactions and interactions of these meds. I would hope that you would schedule an evaluation visit if your insurance covers it.

Feel better ((hugs))

by the way my neuro gives me Ativan to use when the MS hug is present and that way I dont have to worry about switching or going off of meds that work for other things that are happening in my life.

I recently started Effexor again for Depression. I have been on 25mg of amitryptiline or nerve pain for about a year now and its not working much anymore. But you can't just 'start or stop a drug like Effexor'. You will likely suffer withdrawal.

Theraputic doses of tri-cyclic anti depressants (like amitryptiline) are 50-100mg/day and up with lots of side effects. Many neurologists and pain Drs. use them in small doses for symptomatic relief.

I was strongly advised against Cymbalta because of the drugs effect on the liver. If this is a neurologist doing this they should know better. It a bad move. Consult your PCP, mental health provider or pain dr asap.

Good Luck

Melanie

http://www.drugs.com/pro/amitriptyline.html

http://www.drugs.com/effexor.html

http://www.drugs.com/cymbalta.html

My neuro wants me on amitriptyline for pain/depression but my pcp put me on Effexor. I told my neuro that I just need something for the MS hug pain when it happens.

I have asked him about xanaflex

I had a problem with insomnia and was given that for insomnia. It didn't work. I forget what it did but it didn't do much of anything. It didn't help me sleep so I stopped taking it. I had no pain so there is nothing to report there.

Perhaps the neuro knows something about pain and amitriplyline. I looked it up on Wikipedia and didn't see anything about pain. See..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitriptyline. You might want to ask your doc for more information. Also, call your pharmacist. They seem to have the best information about drugs. At least, that is where I get the best info about drugs and their interactions and side effects.

I just noticed in your last post about zanaflex: I take that for muscle spasms but it makes me real sleepy. I wouldn't know if it works for MS hug because I don't get them but it does work for muscle spasms but it is a sleeping pill, IMHO. It works better than anything for putting me to sleep. I have insomnia and cannot sleep without zantaflex. It will put you to sleep so make sure that you are not going to do anything when you take zantaflex.

I take amitriptyline and it is working for me. I do not have bad side effects from it but I do take it at bedtime with the generic of zanaflex. So of course I sleep all night.

i started amprtirplolyn no side effects- works great!!!

I am on both.