What Causes Numbness In Lips, Nose And Head While On Amitriptyline?

Posted on Tue, 21 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 Answered on

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : i am on XXXXXXX amitriptyline i started with 10 mg then 20mg four months ago and started 25 mg three weeks ago my lips and nose feel numb and my head does not feel right i get what I feel is electrical shots up the back of my head and across the side and i get burning in my arms feet and chest do you think think this may be from the pill Ihad these sytems previous to taking the pills.

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Unlikely

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Those sensations that you mention are not among typical side effects of amitriptyline, although some abnormal sensations can at times manifest with it rarely. Had they appeared after the initiation of the drug perhaps it could have been thought about amitriptyline being at least partially responsible, but since you mention them to have been present before already I think it unlikely for it to be the cause.

That being said I wonder why you were given amitriptyline. If it was for anxiety (as those symptoms might suggest) then personally at your age I would have preferred other drugs with less side effects and similar efficacy like the SSRI group of drugs.

I remain at your disposal for further questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar