Hi all
I was wondering if somebody knew what the difference is between Amitriptyline and Venlafaxine? My private neuro told me I can take Venlafaxine alongside Amitriptyline as they work differently? How do they differ from one another? Do they work differently in the brain?
Interested to find out more…
Thanks in advance! 
Correct me if I’m wrong… amitriptyline is an ssri - basically when serotonin is released into the synapse, the ‘leftover’ chemical that doesn’t bind to a receptor site usually is reabsorbed (reuptake) back into the presynaptic neuron. But this med prevents that increasing levels of serotonin.
A snri- venlafaxine - does this too, but also with norepinephrine.
This is my understanding of it. I teach basic neural transmission and just based on its meaning… this is what I get from it.
Amitriptyline is not an SSRI, it’s a Tricyclic
Amitriptyline is different chiefly because it is a strong vestibular suppressant and Anticholinergic which increases motion tolerance largely through the reduction of nystagmus and dampening down of the Vestibulo–ocular reflex
This is why Ami is particularly useful for people with vestibular dysfunction of some kind.
Unfortunately Venlafaxine lacks this property, which is why your neuro may want you on both.
Thank you James, that is a great explanation. Right now personally I want to trial it but my Neuro isn’t sold with the private Neuro. I guess ultimately I can try the ADHD medication first and then decide if it helps or not.
Hi
I’m really resisting going back on amytriptyline as i have bad memories of being on it, the unpleasant side effects and the eventual withdrawal was horrible.
I seem very sensitive to meds. I had a full blown anaphylactic reaction to a painkiller I’d taken for years. But I’m getting desperate for some relief from my symptoms. They seem to be getting worse, not better. I wondered if a low dose of amytriptyline could work?
Hi Dizzy
Sorry about that. Do you have a Neuro you can speak to about meds? That would be my first port of call.
Amitriptyline might be better for you the second time around, titrating tiny doses? It does help me massively but doesn’t stop bad relapses.
I need more migraine prevention I think or just to be single would probably help! 
Hi
No, no neuro, I’m waiting for an ENT referral but here in the UK there’s a long wait. I took amytriptyline for Fibromyalgia symptoms years ago and it helped with pain and sleep but I found it very sedating and it made me feel zombie like. I’m scared of going back on it.
I had this initially but it does get better the longer I was taking it.
2 posts were merged into an existing topic: ENT referral time.
These tend to dissipate considerably with time. I took it for 1.5 years and after a few months the only annoying side effect was the slow bowel.
How long were you on it and at what dose?
Ooh my mistake!! Wrong anti depressant! Sorry 