Your doctor has prescribed a medication for your pain. This type of medication is routinely used as a safe, long-term, non-addictive way of managing chronic pain or as a preventative medication for the treatment of headaches. Although these drugs are also used in the treatment of depression, their use in much smaller doses allows them to function as effective pain blockers.

This type of medication does not relieve pain in the same way as do analgesics such as aspirin, Motrin or Tylenol. This medicine needs to build up an adequate level in your body and must be taken on a daily basis in order to be effective. It may take at least 2 weeks to see any improvement in your condition and the full effect may not be seen for at least 6 weeks.

Your doctor will start you on a low dose of the medication and will give you instructions on the proper way to increase the medication for maximum effectiveness. It is important to follow these instructions so that both you and your doctor can adequately judge the effects.

As with any medication there are side effects. Dry mouth is one of the most common complaints. This can often be alleviated by sucking on sugarless hard candies if needed. Other patients have experienced drowsiness and dizziness when the drug is first started. These symptoms are not dangerous and will often subside after the first few weeks, but hazardous activities should be avoided until you know how much this affects you. Occasionally patients will complain about difficulty in urination. This should be brought to the doctor’s attention if it occurs.

This medicine is best taken at bedtime. This will allow you to sleep through some of the side effects mentioned. Occasionally people feel sluggish in the morning for a week or two after therapy is started, but this usually wears off.

Do not abruptly discontinue this medication. If you do not feel like the medication is helping please call your doctor before stopping the drug. A gradual decrease in the drug is usually best and your doctor will give you a safe schedule for this.