Contacts
If you have any questions or worries about your child’s
medication please contact the pain nurse specialist on 0115
9249924 extension 64551 / 64813. If there is no answer, please
leave a message on the answer phone with your name and
telephone number and the nurse will get back to you.
Please contact your own doctor outside the hours 8am to 4pm
Monday to Friday.
In the case of an emergency, please contact your local accident
and emergency department.
Feedback
We appreciate and encourage feedback. If you need advice or
are concerned about any aspect of care or treatment please
speak to a member of staff or contact the Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS):
Freephone: 0800 183 0204
From a mobile or abroad: 0115 924 9924 ext 65412 or 62301
E-mail: [email protected]
Letter: NUH NHS Trust, c/o PALS, Freepost NEA 14614,
Nottingham NG7 1BR
www.nuh.nhs.uk
Antidepressants and pain
(chronic pain)
Children’s Pain Management
Information for parents
This document can be provided in different languages and
formats. For more information please contact:
Children’s Pain Team
Nottingham Children’s Hospital
Queen’s Medical Centre campus
E Floor, East Block
The Trust endeavours to ensure that the information given here
is accurate and impartial.
Hannah King, Sharon Douglass, Michelle Bennett, Children’s Pain Team © May 2016 All
rights reserved. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Review May 2018. Ref: 0422/
v6/0516/AS.
Tel:0115 9249924 ext 64551 / 64813
About antidepressants
Side effects
Your child has been prescribed an antidepressant for their pain.
This is common for the treatment of chronic pain. Please be
reassured that we are not implying that they are depressed or
that the pain is ‘in their mind.’
If your child is on a low dose they may experience no side
effects at all. If they do have side effects they may improve over
the next week. However, it may be necessary to reduce their
dose and gradually increase it over a period of time.
How do they work?
Possible side effects
A low dose of antidepressant medicine helps reduce burning,
shooting or stabbing pain. Antidepressants work by affecting
chemicals in the brain that help control pain. They are not
addictive. They need to be taken regularly to be effective.
Chronic pain can make people feel low, tired and frustrated. If
these symptoms are severe your child may also be suffering
from depression and may need a higher dose of antidepressant.
They may then feel brighter and better able to cope with the
pain.

When to take the medication
Your child may take their medicine on an empty or full stomach.
Most people take their medicine about an hour before bed.
However, if your child feels drowsy the next day they may take
them earlier in the evening. It is important to take the medicine
regularly so that it can build up in your child’s system and
reduce the pain.
When will they feel better?
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Rare side effects
Confusion, trouble passing water, sensitivity to sunlight, nausea,
sweating, rashes, fast pulse.
If your child experiences any of these symptoms please report
this to your own doctor.
Important information
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It may be several days before your child feels the benefit of
taking the medication. They usually start on a low dose and your
own doctor may need to adjust the dose until it is right for them.

Benefits
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Your child’s pain may improve so that they can do more.
Their sleep pattern may improve so that they feel more
energetic.
They may feel more positive.
They may cope with their pain more effectively
Drowsiness, dizziness, unsteadiness. If any of these
continue after a couple of weeks see your doctor.
Dry mouth. This usually gets better. Your child may like to try
sucking sweets or using a water spray.
Constipation.
Weight gain.

Never give your child more than has been prescribed.
If your child misses a dose, they should just take it the next
time it is due. They should not take a double dose.
If your child has been taking these medicines for more than
eight weeks it is important to come off them slowly. Sudden
withdrawal may make them ill. Please seek your doctor’s
advice if your child wishes to stop taking them.
Please store all medicines in a safe place away from
children.
If your child is admitted to hospital please bring all their
medicines with you.