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At 12:01 am 22/03/98 -0500, Bruce Anderson wrote: >What if the the tricyclic (amitriptyline) was prescribed strictly as, and >taken strictly as, a sleeping aid? I believe imipramine is also prescribed as a sleeping pill. I wonder if he would suggest an alternative be found, which should be easier to do. ----------------------------------------------- In my case, amitriptyline 'was' presecribed as a sleep aid as well as an antidepressant, and it has worked reasonably well for me. While I do intend to discuss these latest findings with my doctor, I'm reluctant to change medications that are working for something else that may or may not work, especially since my system does not take kindly to the inroduction of new meds. Also if I take something else as a sleep aid, I would probably also need something else as a antidepressant, which means I would be introducing two new meds to my system. As my neuro said on my last visit, "It's better to dance with the devil you know..." Again I refer you to the following paragraphs of the article: >> Lead author Dr. Richard Hubbard says that ["although these findings need confirmation in other studies,] it seems sensible to suggest that [any patient with IPF who is taking tricyclic antidepressants, particularly imipramine,] should discuss with his or her doctor having this antidepressant changed to another drug." Hubbard adds that ["it seems sensible to avoid starting tricyclics in patients with IPF,] particularly now that there are a lot of other effective newer antidepressants available." However, he notes that treatment decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis between patients and their doctors, since "depression can be life-threatening, and some cases respond only to tricyclic antidepressants." The new finding needs to be confirmed by other studies, according to Dr. Gary Hunninghake, director of the pulmonary division at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. ["For now, I would advise that patients taking tricyclic antidepressants not stop their medications,"] said Hunninghake in a statement released by the American Lung Association. ["They may want to discuss this with their personal physician."] [log in to unmask] Judith Richards