General fitness, health and nutrition · Public discussion

Amitriptyline + Verapamil

Email address hidden · 2003-09-22T11:09:56+00:00

It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3 times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a 25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana

Started by Email address hidden · 22 September 2003 · Last activity 24 September 2003 · 10 posts · 263 views

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01 / Original postAmitriptyline + VerapamilEmail address hidden · 22 Sep 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–10Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #10Derek F · 24 Sep 2003

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Original section: General fitness, health and nutrition
Published: 22 September 2003
Last activity: 24 September 2003
Original author: Email address hidden
Posts: 10
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 263
Views / 30 days: 0

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Original post
Email address hidden
Archived post

22 September 2003, 11:09 UTC #1

It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana

Report
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Archived post

22 September 2003, 22:11 UTC #2

[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
I'll confirm it. Ask your GP for a different class of medications to
help you sleep (a class the preferably has no effect on the electrical
system of the heart).
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Report
Derek F
Archived post

22 September 2003, 23:09 UTC #3

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
From the British National Formulary:
potentially hazardous
Verapamil + Antidepressants, Tricyclic
Derek.

Report
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Archived post

24 September 2003, 16:21 UTC #4

Anna said:
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
[email hidden] wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
I'll confirm it. Ask your GP for a different class of medications to
help you sleep (a class the preferably has no effect on the electrical
system of the heart).

Just another indication of how useful it is to have Dr Chung on this
newsgroup! Incidentally my husband followed Dr Chung's advice
and has lost 7 lbs in weight and increased his walking. His diastolic
blood pressure has dropped 10 points. The only advice from his
own doctor was "keep an eye on it".
(deep bow)
Quoted message said:

He has also reduced his, already low, beer consumption
and has replaced it with the occasional glass of red wine and
we are wondering if that might have had an effect too.
Red wine is preferable to beer, speaking as a cardiologist.
Interestingly, the research in this area suggests that the more expensive the
red wine, the better the effect on lipid profile.
Cautionary note: folks with hypertension should eschew ethanol altogether
unless their doctor says otherwise.
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Report
Derek F
Archived post

24 September 2003, 17:11 UTC #5

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Anna said:
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
[email hidden] wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
> It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
> goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
> help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
> have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a

log
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
> times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
> 25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
> the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
> two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
> gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
I'll confirm it. Ask your GP for a different class of medications to
help you sleep (a class the preferably has no effect on the electrical
system of the heart).

Just another indication of how useful it is to have Dr Chung on this
newsgroup! Incidentally my husband followed Dr Chung's advice
and has lost 7 lbs in weight and increased his walking. His diastolic
blood pressure has dropped 10 points. The only advice from his
own doctor was "keep an eye on it".
(deep bow)
Quoted message said:

He has also reduced his, already low, beer consumption
and has replaced it with the occasional glass of red wine and
we are wondering if that might have had an effect too.
Red wine is preferable to beer, speaking as a cardiologist.
Interestingly, the research in this area suggests that the more expensive

the
Quoted message said:
red wine, the better the effect on lipid profile.
Cautionary note: folks with hypertension should eschew ethanol altogether
unless their doctor says otherwise.
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

How about Whisky? I was in hospital once, a guy was brought in after a heart
attack. The next day one of his first questions to the doctor was would he
still be allowed his nightly glass of Whisky. When the doctor said that he
could he was immediately on the phone to his wife asking her to bring a
bottle in for him at visiting time. Would that be allowed in an American
hospital?
Derek.

Report
Email address hidden
Archived post

24 September 2003, 18:03 UTC #6

Derek F said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
From the British National Formulary:
potentially hazardous
Verapamil + Antidepressants, Tricyclic
Derek.
Thank you very much Derek. I will check that straight away. To be
honest, I was grateful for the good night's sleep I was getting but I
knew the way I felt the next day was not right; just too extreme. But
I am surprised that such a small dose of a tricyclic could have caused
such an interaction. Apparently, amitritryptiline is the only one
approved (in the UK) for that particular problem, i.e. to improve
sleep and help with arthritic pain. Maybe if my Verapamil is ever
reduced I will be able to have the the tricyclic. Diana
Quoted message said:

Report
Email address hidden
Archived post

24 September 2003, 18:09 UTC #7

On 22 Sep 2003 15:11:24 -0700, [email hidden] (Dr. Andrew B.
Chung said:
[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a log
but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
I'll confirm it. Ask your GP for a different class of medications to
help you sleep (a class the preferably has no effect on the electrical
system of the heart).
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/
My GP does know about the tricyclics ablity to cause arrythmia but I
think she thought it would not matter with the very small dose and the
fact that I have paroxysmal AF and flutter and always will have. She
obviously does not know about the possible hazard of the two drugs
being taken together as mentioned by Derek in a separate posting.
Diana

Report
Email address hidden
Archived post

24 September 2003, 18:51 UTC #8

Quoted message said:

From the British National Formulary:
potentially hazardous
Verapamil + Antidepressants, Tricyclic
Derek, I cannot find this reference on the BNF site. Where is it?
Thank you, Diana
Quoted message said:

Report
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Archived post

24 September 2003, 21:05 UTC #9

Derek F said:
"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Anna said:
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> [email hidden] wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
> > It's possible that no one will be able to help me with this but here
> > goes. My GP prescribed 25 mgs Amitriptyline to be taken at night to
> > help me sleep as my bladder wakes me at two hourly intervals and I
> > have a lot of osteoarthritic pain. When I take it I sleep like a

log
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> > but am also very sleepy the following day. I have tried it only 3
> > times and experienced the same reaction which is too extreme for a
> > 25mg dose of this drug. I believe it is because I have taken it at
> > the same time as 120 mg of Verapamil. Can anyone confirm that these
> > two drugs should not be taken together (or at the same time). My GP
> > gave me one of her blank looks when I asked her about it. Diana
>
> I'll confirm it. Ask your GP for a different class of medications to
> help you sleep (a class the preferably has no effect on the electrical
> system of the heart).
>
Just another indication of how useful it is to have Dr Chung on this
newsgroup! Incidentally my husband followed Dr Chung's advice
and has lost 7 lbs in weight and increased his walking. His diastolic
blood pressure has dropped 10 points. The only advice from his
own doctor was "keep an eye on it".
(deep bow)
Quoted message said:

He has also reduced his, already low, beer consumption
and has replaced it with the occasional glass of red wine and
we are wondering if that might have had an effect too.
Red wine is preferable to beer, speaking as a cardiologist.
Interestingly, the research in this area suggests that the more expensive

the
Quoted message said:
red wine, the better the effect on lipid profile.
Cautionary note: folks with hypertension should eschew ethanol altogether
unless their doctor says otherwise.
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

How about Whisky?
No.
Quoted message said:
I was in hospital once, a guy was brought in after a heart
attack. The next day one of his first questions to the doctor was would he
still be allowed his nightly glass of Whisky. When the doctor said that he
could he was immediately on the phone to his wife asking her to bring a
bottle in for him at visiting time. Would that be allowed in an American
hospital?
Unlikely.
--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Report
Derek F
Archived post

24 September 2003, 22:27 UTC #10

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From the British National Formulary:
potentially hazardous
Verapamil + Antidepressants, Tricyclic
Derek, I cannot find this reference on the BNF site. Where is it?
Thank you, Diana
Quoted message said:

Go to Amitriptyline and click on interactions, if you scroll down it comes
up as the very last one.
Have a good nights sleep:-)
Derek.

Report

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