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Elavil

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:19 pm
by 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?

Re: Elavil

Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:54 pm
by 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

Re: Elavil

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:40 am
by 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?!? :roll:

Re: Elavil

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 12:25 pm
by 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

Re: Elavil

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 4:16 pm
by 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.

Re: Elavil

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:16 pm
by HerMajesty
Tiny Dancer wrote: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 :(

Re: Elavil

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:38 pm
by 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.

Re: Elavil

Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:54 pm
by 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 :lol: ]. 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

Re: Elavil

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 12:53 pm
by angelafill
Has anyone here gained weight on nortriptyline? I am eating less and less and gaining more and more... :(