Amitriptyline
"Systemic Lupus for 3 years, severe spinal issues and now a trapped nerve in my buttocks. After no sleep for 5 days I became suicidal. Doc prescribed 10 mg's of Elavil...but it didn't work UNTIL I increased the dose to 30 mg's.  NOW I am finally getting sleep and pain relief.  This medicine is more effective than Oxycontin, hydromorphone and many other medicines I have taken for pain (ibuprofen, and other OTC medicines.) For me, the key was to increase the dose.  Yes, there are side effects - constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness - but this is mild compared to suffering in so much pain that I did not want to live anymore."