HI
I just wondered if anyone has any experience of Amytryptyline working for them to help with vulva pain etc. I have been taking it for over 2 weeks and haven't yet noticed an improvement.
Hi Catherine
I suffered from vulvodenya for about a year before I plucked up the courage to go to the drs. After trying some creams she prescribed (which didn't work) we decided to try amitryptyline. I started off on 10 mg at night and noticed a difference within a few days. After about another 12 months I upped the dosage to 20 mg as I felt I needed it and have been taking that ever since. I now have mostly good days I am pleased to say. What doseage are you taking?
Hi
Thanks for replying. I have been taking it for 18 days; 14 of those on 10mg then the last 2 days on 20mg. Yesterday I thought I had cracked it as had virtually no symptoms but had pain again today. Is the recovery erratic?
Hi
Yes recovery is erratic so give it time. Good luck x
I took 10 mg for a couple of months then upped to 25mg . It helped a bit but I feel mine is more from muscle dysfunction than nerves .
I found I felt very down and depressed on it and tired all the time .
I stopped taking it and concentrated on swimming and the Hab it DVD which helps.
Remember what works for one may not for you .
As a rule of thumb give it a good few months to see if it suits you x
Hi Catherine.
Do you mind if I ask if you have a diagnosis for your vulva pain? Because the drug you're taking for it sounds really full-on. I just thought I'd mention, I suffered for years from vulval pain and itching, bad enough to stop me sleeping. It was eventually discovered that I didn't have vulvadynia, as originally diagnosed, but I was allergic to potatoes and tomatoes. Once I cut those out of my diet, everything resolved, no more itching or pain. The only time it comes back is when I accidentally eat something which has those two offending items in my diet, once at a friends place, she'd added some tomato sauce to a dish but hadn't thought such a "small amount would set off my problem", the other time when I didn't read the ingredients list and bought something which had potato flour added.You could ask you doctor to give you a pinprick test to determine if you're allergic to anything in your food. It's such a relief to be free of the pain and itching!
Good luck!
​Minamii
Hey,
I was prescribed Amytryptyline for suspected Vulvadynia and I've taken it for a year (I say suspected as I think my problem was more vaginismus although I did jump when she tried to examine the vulva area, more out of panic I think more then pain). I'm now between 50 and 75mg but I also had the dosage upped for my anxiety.
My own experience is mixed. I think that to some extent they have helped but I am still building up my tolerance with dialators and haven't had a smear in over 4 years.
I hope you have had better luck with it.
Best wishes
Hi, I was diagnosed with vulvodynia 4 years ago. I was on 20mg amitriptyline a day and it helped me sleep but I was still in some pain. I saw a consultant dermatologist who specialised in vulva problems and she said that I need to be on 50-75mg a day. My problem was that as soon as I upped the dose by 10mg I got side effects (rash, dry mouth, feeling drowsy and hung over, constipation). I found that of I increased the dose by 5mg every 2 weeks I didn't get side effects and was able to get up to 50mg which really helped with the pain. What got rid of the pain completely, though was a combination of the amitriptyline and western acupuncture which both work together to dampen down those overactive and hypersensitive nerves.
Yes I have noticed a huge improvement. It took about 1 month. I also take Gabapentin which also helps tremendously... until 10 pm at night. I sometimes still have burning pain... but it's not as bad as it was before. BEfore it was 10 on a pain scale... Now it's more like a 2 or 3. Much better! Best wishes Catherine.
Debi
Yes I have noticed a huge improvement. It took about 1 month. I also take Gabapentin which also helps tremendously... until 10 pm at night. I sometimes still have burning pain... but it's not as bad as it was before. BEfore it was 10 on a pain scale... Now it's more like a 2 or 3. Much better! Best wishes Catherine.
Debi