I have a paralysed arm as a result of nerve damage. I take low dose (20mg) of Amitriptyline for pain relief at night before I go to bed. I have no depression problems, the drug is purely for pain relief. I qualified (PADI Open Water) last year & I was not on the drug at the time. What are your feelings of recreational diving on that drug? If I absolutely had to, I could come off the drug. I go to the Red Sea in 3 weeks time.
Amitriptyline for pain?
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H2Andy
Contributor
i was not aware that amitriptyline was used as a pain killer. it's a tryclic (sp?)
anti-depressant, and it does cause drowsiness, so some doctors use it on
patients to aid sleep. just be careful of drowsiness during the day.
(i am not a doctor, etc.)
anti-depressant, and it does cause drowsiness, so some doctors use it on
patients to aid sleep. just be careful of drowsiness during the day.
(i am not a doctor, etc.)
H2Andy
Contributor
cool... learn something new every day
did you ask your doctor about diving while taking it?
did you ask your doctor about diving while taking it?
I'm not a doctor, either. I don't know what you may already have done to look for information about this from other sources, but there is at least some discussion of the potential risks specific to diving here:
http://scuba-doc.com/alertdiver2.pdf
That seems to be assuming that most people are taking these drugs for depression, and is therefore considering depression as another factor in the decision, in addition to the effects of the medication.
One of the considerations listed for some of these drugs and activities like driving is that you should see how you react to the medication after taking it for a while before deciding what you can safely do or not do. That sounds like good advice. But if you decide you are going to dive using the medication, you should be aware that the way it affects you in the atmosphere is not necessarily the way it will affect you in the water, so I would want to go slow if I were going to dive.
http://scuba-doc.com/alertdiver2.pdf
That seems to be assuming that most people are taking these drugs for depression, and is therefore considering depression as another factor in the decision, in addition to the effects of the medication.
One of the considerations listed for some of these drugs and activities like driving is that you should see how you react to the medication after taking it for a while before deciding what you can safely do or not do. That sounds like good advice. But if you decide you are going to dive using the medication, you should be aware that the way it affects you in the atmosphere is not necessarily the way it will affect you in the water, so I would want to go slow if I were going to dive.
Low dose amitriptyline are common use for pain causing by nerve dysfunction such as diabetic neuropathy. It is not a pain medication per se but it can reduce nerve irritation and such like. It is also prescribed as prophylaxis medication for people with frequent migraine headache or use sometimes as sleeping pill since it can be quite drowsy even at low dose. It is not really used much for depression anymore as it can be quite drowsy and has quite a lot of side effect especially at high dose which is needed for depression.
One concern would be that if you get dizziness, drowsiness or similar, it could be worse at depth. Also, since you may not get any CNS side effect while taking the drug on land, at depth with extra nitrogen load, the CNS side effect may become more obvious.
One concern would be that if you get dizziness, drowsiness or similar, it could be worse at depth. Also, since you may not get any CNS side effect while taking the drug on land, at depth with extra nitrogen load, the CNS side effect may become more obvious.
WarmWaterDiver
Contributor
Do a 'search' on DAN's site using 'tricyclic' and you get these 2 hits. It also references use for pain, sleep, and in some cases migraine headaches. The second link mentions this under 'disc surgery' near the bottom of the article.
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=31
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=44
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=31
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?articleid=44
Lloyd
Contributor
Even though this is a low dose, I wonder if it could induce seizures at high Po2 levels.
Lloyd
Lloyd
Thanks for all the links.
ssra30 what are "CNS side effects".
I think I am going to try & come off the medication prior to our holiday. I'm sure the diving will help to take my mind off the pain. Does anyone know how long I should be off these for the affects to be out of my system? Days? Weeks?
Thanks again
ssra30 what are "CNS side effects".
I think I am going to try & come off the medication prior to our holiday. I'm sure the diving will help to take my mind off the pain. Does anyone know how long I should be off these for the affects to be out of my system? Days? Weeks?
Thanks again
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