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  • #1

    dosing questions...

    I've heard that the doses of tri-cyclics antidepressants for pain and mental aspects are different, that for the emotional benefit the dose must be higher. However, I was wondering if you can still get the benefit of treating pain when on the doses for depression.
    I've been offered to try elavil or cymbalta to try and help treat my bi-polar type II condition by my therapist... and am wondering if it could help my IC too. I've done some research on the medications individually, and am still stuck on which one may provide the most benefit for my pain.
    "It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired, you quit when the gorilla is tired." :woohoo:
    -Robert Strauss
    Info:
    20 year old toilet slave
    Professional Bed Wetter
    Zillions of "UTIs" since I was 3 yrs old
    FINALLY diagnosed with I.C. 4/04
    Diagnosed with Grade IV Kidney Reflux 1/07

    Current Sitch:
    My InterStim trial has started... and so far IT'S WORKING!!

    Meds:
    For physical:
    Lidocaine instillations 3x per day
    Lidocaine urethral suppositories prior to cathing
    Elmiron
    Vicodin
    OxyContin
    Aleve
    Urelle
    Prelief
    Macrobid
    Atarax
    Estrace
    Uroxatral

    For Emotional:
    Lamictal
    Tags: None
  • #2
    My uro just gave me elavil on Wednesday for my pain and frequency. I'm currently taking 25 mg. If you read the boards ALOT of people have said that they get a lot of relief w/ the elavil. I've read that some say it has cut their frequency and pain in half! I've only been on it for a couple of days so I think it's too early to say how much it is helping but I'm very hopefully. Personally I would probably go with the elavil because it has helped so many IC people and if your therapist is offering it to you why not try it and see if it will help the IC along with what your therapist is prescribing it for. Doesn't hurt to try I would think! Good luck
    Christine



    I have been diagnoised for 6 1/2 years now. I have taken a long break from the ICN but really miss helping out my fellow IC patients and want to get back into posting.
    1st hydro 4/07 showed no visible signs of IC but tons of mast cells in all my biopsy samples which did prove IC.
    2nd hydro 4/13/09 showed dark purple glomerulations and I had a capacity of 450 cc's. This hydro proved that my IC had progressed.
    I have tried every oral medication as well as rescue instills and DMSO.

    I have been lucky enough to see Dr Hanno, the top IC specialist in PA who has told me due to the fact that I have not responded to any "standard" treatments that I have a severe, end stage case of IC with a horrible quality of life (didn't have to tell me that last part!)

    Proud wifey of Shane, mommy to Griffin, and step-mom to Logan and Gage
    Also proud mom to the best Bullmastiff on earth, Claus

    Comment

    • #3
      When it's given for pain control, it can take a much smaller dose of something like elavil. Our doctor explained that it helps by interfering with the pain receptors in the nerves. Some ICers take up to 50 mg for pain control and it helps. My husband, on the other hand, only takes 10 mg for arthritis pain.

      Donna
      Stay safe


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      I am not a medical authority nor do I offer medical advice. In all cases, I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.       [3MG]

      Anyone who says something is foolproof hasn't met a determined fool

      Comment

      • #4
        Yeah, I think the dosage for pain control is actually lower than the dosage for depression. So, if you are on a good dose for depression, it would stand to reason that it would also help the pain.
        Je vous souhaite de la joie, de la bonne santée, et tout ce qu'il y a de bon dans la vie.
        Wishing you happiness and good health, and all the best out of life.

        Peace, Carolyn
        ___________________________________________________

        Laura (11), Susannah (12 1/2) and Maman (that's me!), North Wildwood NJ, September 2007


        On the Beach with IC

        Comment

        • #5
          elavil

          I had quit elavil...for like a week..
          trying to detox myself..because my hair was falling out from the elmiron..
          i wasn't sure it was really helping me...or not anyway

          anyway...boy oh boy...i was i wrong.
          it has helped me substanstially!!

          i went back on a week ago. i feel soo much better
          it helped with frequency

          i would try it.
          Quit ELMIRON due to hair loss
          Cystoprotek ROCKS!

          find me on FACEBOOK -
          search my email [email protected]

          Current Meds:
          AM Cystoprotek & ATARAX 50mg
          Dinner CYSTOPROTEK
          PM Elavil 25mg

          Comment

          • #6
            I put off trying elavil for a long/long time. I have been taking effexor for 2 or 3 years for depression and ocd and just didn't want to start something else---BOY was I stupid for waiting so long. I quit elmiron coz it just was doing nothing and during an especially painful flare I decided to try elavil and within one week I knew it was working. I presently am taking 40mg per day and finally have some relief. I worked up from 10mg per day to the 40 so it's a trial and error process, but I have read some IC'ers are taking 75mg. I would encourage you to take the elavil! Good luck.
            braykittie

            Comment

            • #7
              Berkshire- That's exactly what I was thinking... that the higher does could still provide the pain relief that the lower dose does. However, I don't think the amount is correlated to the degree of pain relief... so even though the higher dose for depression would provide relief... it wouldn't provide MORE relief than the lower dose. (Anyone know if I'm correct with that assumption?)
              Braykittie- does the elavil help with your depression on that particular dose? Did you continue on Effexor in conjuction with Elavil?
              "It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired, you quit when the gorilla is tired." :woohoo:
              -Robert Strauss
              Info:
              20 year old toilet slave
              Professional Bed Wetter
              Zillions of "UTIs" since I was 3 yrs old
              FINALLY diagnosed with I.C. 4/04
              Diagnosed with Grade IV Kidney Reflux 1/07

              Current Sitch:
              My InterStim trial has started... and so far IT'S WORKING!!

              Meds:
              For physical:
              Lidocaine instillations 3x per day
              Lidocaine urethral suppositories prior to cathing
              Elmiron
              Vicodin
              OxyContin
              Aleve
              Urelle
              Prelief
              Macrobid
              Atarax
              Estrace
              Uroxatral

              For Emotional:
              Lamictal

              Comment

              • #8
                Hi
                I take Effexor 150-mg every morning and 40-mg elavil around 5:00 every day.
                They are both seratonin re-uptake inhibitors and I was concerned the two together could cause a problem, my doc said No.
                As for me feeling better I certainly do. Which could be that I am sleeping so much better (not up 10 times a noc voiding) The almost constant, grinding, debilitating pain is 95% gone, which makes me a much outgoing/happy person. So all in all I definitely feel better.
                Hope this helps, and I will increase my doseage of elavil if IC syptoms (pain) returns.
                Take care.
                Braykittie

                Comment

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