Afraid to take elavil

[lonen86]

Hi I haven't been diagnosed with IC yet but have seen several doctors over a year . I saw an urologist who told me I did't have IC after an in office cystocopy.
I'm really going crazy about my pain because I don't know what is causing it and I'm taking all kind of pain pills that only help for a few hours.
My question is I asked my DR about Elavil , she did not know much about the use of elavil for IC pain but I told her about the website and also about some ladies and gent that have had some good results from it. She gave me a prescription for 25mg is it to high of a dose ? will I be able to work the next day? I took some time off work due to a flare only for 4 days and I think is a good time to start it.
Thank you for all the information I 've recieved from all of you

[meme]

I love Elavil!!!! I started out on 25mgs too, and I was a little sleepy the next day (could still function) but that went away within a week. I noticed great improvements within two weeks of starting the Elavil (I'd been on Elmiron for 4mos then and am still on it so that could be a factor). I upped my Elavil to 50mgs first of the year and it didn't cause any more noticeable changes so now I'm back to 25mgs. With it and the Elmiron and the IC diet, I am now symptom free most days. I can tolerate a lot more "bad" foods then I could before without any flares. My urgency and frequency is down also, and my anxiety as well. Since you're going to be off work anyway, I'd try the Elavil to see how it makes you feel. If its too much maybe try to go down to 10mgs and maybe it won't make you so tired. I did gain 20lbs in 4mos on the Elavil :o( but to me it's worth it to feel this much better. I'm weaning myself off of it right now because I'm TTC. Should be off of everything by June 1st! Hoping then I can maybe lose some of the weight before I actually get pregnant! Good Luck! Hope it works for you!

[leelee88]

Im with meme on this one.. Elavil has cut my pain in half..
I take 25mg at night.. To begin with I was a little tired in the morning, but after I got used to it. I did fine throughout the day..It also helps me get a good nights sleep...

[jen74]

How does elavil work? Does it actually help the bladder heal or does it just take the pain away? I tried elavil about two years ago for bad nerve pain I had, but ended up getting heartburn from it so I stopped it. I also read it causes bad constipation, and urine retention, is that true?
I was actually thinking about asking mu doc if I coulf try it again if nothing else works for me.
Jen

[PickPink]

I just started Elavil myself, and I definitely felt tired (and a little drugged - but happy drugged, haha) the first morning after. Then I read in my book "Patient to Patient - managing interstitial cystitis and overlapping conditions" (I'm putting in the whole paragraph b/c it's a good paragraph! Actually.. it's a GREAT book! I definitely would recommend it)

"The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil) is often prescribed in low doses for pain syndromes (low does antidepressants prescribed to reduce pain do not affect one's mood or depression). Many IC patients have benefited from its analgesic and antihistamine actions, as well as its sedative effects. As a matter of fact, amitriphtyline is made of five medications which appear to help with different symptoms of IC. Amitriptyline is recommended to be taken at bedtime when it helps to combat nocturia, however a small percentage of patients prefer to take it earlier in the evening for two reasons. The first reason is because amitriptyline can have a temporary stimulating effect before a sedating one, and the second reason being that the drowsy effects can sometimes last through the next morning if taken too late the night before"

Now the second evening (last night) I took it a few hours before I planned to go to bed. I felt drowsy after a little while.. and passed out pretty quick (which was nice for me, I tend to have troubles falling asleep) and then i stayed asleep almost the entire night without having to us the bathroom (:woohoo: ) and the this morning I wasn't nearly as drowsy as the first morning! It was great I agree with the author of this book (Gaye Grissom Sandler, who has IC - and her husband, Andrew B Sandler, Ph.D. wrote the book together. It has a whole chapter just from his point of view that is great for spouses to read! I love this book!!!) that Elavil definitely helps. And if your current doctor doesn't know about Elavil and the relief if gives IC patients, you might want to consider going to another doctor for a second opinion. Plus, a second opinion never hurts anyways! Good luck with everything!!

[Berkshire Road]

You can also try cutting the pills in half for a couple of days as your body gets used to the medication, and then moving up to a whole pill.

[jjt001]

Elavil gave me my life back

I was just thinking today about my life pre-Elavil. Last fall when my son started pre-school my husband and I talked about whether I needed to let his teacher know about my chronic illness, since my son was very aware of what was going on with me. Today I thought, "now why would I have wanted to bring that up?" Funny how I almost forgot how terrible my life was before the Elavil -- in a way it was good to think back as it helped me realize just how far I've come. I started taking Elavil in mid-October at 25mg in the evening. I was sleepy the first few mornings (and especially in the evening, I took it one night before a meeting and was terrified to drive the two miles or so home because I thought I'd fall asleep!). The sleepiness wore off for the most part, and I felt immediate relief for a couple of days, but then the symptoms returned. One week after starting at 25 mg I went up to 50 mg, and didn't really notice a significant change in the sleepiness. After two more weeks I went up to 75 mg and again didn't see a significant increase in sleepiness, but my symptoms just got better and better.

At about the three month mark I realized I was having almost no flare-ups. I did have one a couple of weeks ago and still occasionally feel some discomfort at night, but I've only taken a few Pyridium since the New Year (maybe five?), which is a real indicator for me of how much better I feel! I still can't eat my trigger foods, but now that I'm feeling well most of the time I can really tell what my triggers are! (before I felt bad every day, and diet seemed to make little, if any, difference).

I do wonder if I could have stayed on a lower dose and seen the same results at three months, but I've adjusted really well to the side effects. I have gained some weight, but I really think it's more about my feeling good and eating more than about the Elavil. I'm trying to lose it, so I guess we'll see! I do have to sleep a little more than I used to, but it's more than worth it to me to have a little less awake time if there's not pain and frequency going on! And, I noticed this week that if I need to get by on less sleep I can get up early without really feeling out of it.

I had a horrible summer last year -- I was on the Elavil trial (clearly on the placebo) and just felt awful all the time. I'm so looking forward to a great summer this year?! So, can you tell that I'm a fan of Elavil? :-) Good luck to you, I hope you find something that helps you soon!

[stacyY]

HI;
Elivil is great and 25mg is the smallest dosage. I am on 150mg. It has never has a side effect for sleeping. You take it at night time, it helps the muscels in side relax is all. I had mine given to me by my ob/gyn acculy cos my vaginal muscles are to tight causing more pains. I was on 25 to start and she just keep going up cos the inside hurt to much cos its so tight.
I have been on it now for like a year. I have had no issues with it at all. I hope it will help you out too. good luck.
stacy

[ICNDonna]

Elavil comes in doses as low as 5 mg and 10 mg. My husband takes 10 mg. for arthritis pain. It helps with pain by interfering with the pain receptors in the nerve system. It does not actually heal the bladder, but if it helps make you feel better so you rest better, that's good.

Donna

[lonen86]

Hi ladies thank you to all for your responce .I started elavil 25mg two days ago.I don't feel any diffence I still have to get up in the middle of the night to pee and the frequency is the same . How long until it starts working and maybe I need more because it doesn't make me sleepy!

[stacyY]

HI you have to give it time ot get into your system. Give it a good couple of weeks. At the lower dosage i dont think it willmake you sleepy at all. If after a month you dont feel any differance talk to your doc to increase the dosage.
Good luck.
stacy

[Rosalie]

I am another champion for Elavil (known as Endep in Australia). As jjt has said, your posts have made me think about life before this wonder(in my opinion) drug. After going undiagnosed for more than 40 years, it was such a relief not only to get a diagnosis but a prescription for Endep straight away.
Starting on 10mgs per night, I got relief within a few days and the drowzy feeling went within a week. After a few months we increased the dosage to 25mgs and there I have stayed for about two years. The only side affect is the 20lbs or so that I have gained. I have fought the weight battle all my life so it didn't bother me too much. After all, the benefits outweighed (pardon the pun!) the side affects as far as I'm concerned.

[funkyic]

I love Elavil

I am also a fan of Elavil. I have been on it for 4 days now, starting at 20mg and moving to 30mg already. Today, my 4th day, my pain seems to be much much lower. It is that noticeable for me. I am thrilled.

As I have lost a lot of weight over the last year due to GI problems (IBS), I am looking forward to the weight gain side effect.

Oh, and the Elavil seems to help me sleep more soundly too. Don't be afraid of Elavil.

[lonen86]

I love Elavil

Thank you so much for responding to my message. I'm pleased to tell you I LOVE ELAVIL:woohoo: I feel so much better .The pain is still there but NOT like before is only been about 1 1/2 weeks and I already feel different. I used to take pain medication twice a day and now I only take it once .About been tired or sleepy no change and it doesn't make me hungry either :woohoo: Thank you LOREN

[stacyY]

LOREN
I am really happy to hear your feeling so much better. Glad you took the chance on the Elivil. It does help so much. I hope it keeps working for you!
Once you feel the relief isntit a great feeling. Its like night and day. I hope you continue to feel even better.
take care and good luck
stacy