I have been struggling with a lot of wrist and elbow pain lately and as I work in a very busy office by the time I get home the pain is so bad I'm unable to do much around the house and I struggle to sleep as my arms are constantly throbbing. My consultant has just prescribed me Dosulepin which they said was for chronic pain but should have the added pro of helping me sleep as it can cause drowsiness.

I took my 1st tablet last night only 25mg which I increase on a weekly basis to 50mg and then finally 75mg. Well I slept until 10am today which is a record for me I never sleep later than about 6.30am. My GP gave me a sick note a couple of weeks ago for 3 weeks for complete rest both to rest my arms but also as she thought the lack of sleep was making me anxious and then I was stuck in a circle of pain, anxiety and fatigue due to lack of sleep.

Work have rung me though and asked me to go in for a meeting on Fri 9th to see if they can help me get back to work earlier as my sick note lasts until the following Weds 14th. Too be honest I don't really want to go back earlier as I will be taking my 1st 50mg tablet on Mon 12th and am concerned I won't be up to getting up at 6am for work the next morning if the result is anything like this morning. I am dreading the meeting as I know they will try to put pressure on me to go back earlier as they are very short staffed but the reason I had been so busy in the weeks before I was off is that we had several team members leave whom they hadn't got round to replacing which had subsequently vastly increased my work load and my poor wrists and elbows couldn't cope!

I have had a look at Dosulepin and it says it was firstly used as an anti-depressant but was then found to be effective for the management of chronic pain as it modifies the way that nerves conduct pain but drowsiness is a common side effect. Has anyone else taken this? if so does the drowsiness eventually wear off?
My main concern is that until I'm taking the full dose of 75mg the pain relief will not fully kick in so if I go back to work while still on the 25mg or 50mg dosage will it have any effect? If not, rather than going back early like work would like it may be better for me to take an extra week so that I have been on the full 75mg for a couple of days before my return - I doubt very much they will be happy with that.

So I have a week ahead of worry before the meeting

Deb x

Hi Jackie thanks for your reply.

I have given my boss the booklet when an employee has RA a year or so ago but to be honest I doubt she has read it. She was off for approx 3 months with stress and since she returned earlier this year she has rarely spoken to me or anyone else in the team. She is not friendly or approachable at all but I know tomorrow in the meeting she will be all smiles and will pretend to care as someone from HR will be sitting in on the meeting to.

I don't intend on going back early and will see my GP next week and see what they recommend, I'm hoping maybe to do a gradual return to full time hours over 2 or 3 weeks as it will be a couple of weeks before I'm on the full 75mg dosage.

Oh well I'll find out tomorrow...

Deb xx

Did you go in. They cannot make you. I hope your elbow pain
Has lessened. I get that and most uncomfortable. My spec said that
She thought it was to do with the fibro side of my condition. Who knows.

Let us know how you doing .

Rose