Elavil

[KC17]

Has anyone tired this or its generic versions? I was just prescribed 25mg a night and was wondering if anybody has ever had good results with it?

[Tiny Dancer]

Yes, I had good results from it. And it did help me to get to sleep which is very hard with PN. But it does kill your sex life. So I just take 25 mg. when I need it.

Kate

[A's Mommy]

How could anyone have sex with PN, lol? I hope some can!

I've heard that Pamelor (Nortriptyline) can sometimes work better than Elavil (Amitriptyline). I finally went to a pain doctor and he suggested I switch. Funny thing is, he didn't give me any reasons as to WHY I should switch. I asked him "does it constipate you less?" and he said he didn't know. So--- ummmm--- what's the point?!?

[patti]

Hi A's Mommy,
It's funny,my doctor just prescribed me Pamelor to add to the Lyrica I already take. I tried taking one at night as prescribed (25mg). It pretty much made me a zombie the next day. I realize this needs to get into your bloodstream and may take a few days, but I stopped taking it cause the next week is too busy to be feeling this way. I will try again when I have a few days where I don't have to worry about being a zombie!

I would be interested in knowing if anyone has had relief from pamelor? And if so, did it make you feel the same way and for how long?

Take Care,
Patti

[Faith]

I took Elavil for a while, but it made me so sleepy all the time. I could only tolerate 12.5mg. My doctor switched me to Desipramine (also a tricyclic antidepressant) and I can tolerate 50mg of it. It is less sedating and isn't supposed to cause as much constipation. I've read Nortriptyline is supposed to be the same way. Taking a tricyclic antidepressant at low doses definitely helps me sleep at night, most nights.

[HerMajesty]

Yes, I had good results from it. And it did help me to get to sleep which is very hard with PN. But it does kill your sex life. So I just take 25 mg. when I need it.

Kate

Rgarding sex, my experience exactly. I started on a low dose (5mg) and moved up to 10mg, to prevent drowsiness - 25 mg might be difficult to adjust to as a starter dose, may make you very sleepy. It worked great, and I lost 100% of my sex drive. If I were single, I would have stayed on that stuff forever. Being as I am married and would like to stay that way, I gave up on the elavil

[calluna]

I've taken both amitriptyline and nortriptyline - not at the same time, of course!

I found amitriptyline helpful to a degree, but the side effects were too unpleasant. The Pain Clinic suggested that I switch to nortriptyline as they've found it has much the same effectiveness (is that a word?) as amitriptyline, but is pretty much without side effects after the first few days. It is certainly much less constipating, and I am not bothered with drowsiness as I was with amitriptyline. I am taking 20mg at bedtime, and it is helpful.

[KC17]

I wanted to give an update about my results with Elavil.

I took 12.5mg for a week and I have now been taking 25mg for two days. I am taking it in combination with 75mg lyrica 1x daily. I have had fantastic results so far. I was in a major flare (7-8) when I started this medication, and I am now down to a 1-2 on most days.

I am experiencing dry mouth and constipation [but with IBS--I never know what to attribute that to ]. I also sleep like a log, it's wonderful. I don't feel like a zombie the next day either.

I'm hoping that I continue to see results, as I still have some urethral burning, sacral ache, and a weird pulling sensation intermittently.


Thinking of Everyone,

Krista

[angelafill]

Has anyone here gained weight on nortriptyline? I am eating less and less and gaining more and more...