Menstrual cramps

[kadi]

Hello,
I'm having what feels like menstrual cramps from h***. I'm on Necon 1/35 continuously to avoid periods, but several times a year my body spontaneously decides to have one. Maybe that's coming soon. The cramps are really bad. What's weird is that I took Necon for 10 years and never had painful periods on it. (It's why I went on it to begin with) Is this happening because of the continuous use? Is this just something that happens getting older? Is it a side effect of my other meds? (Elavil & Ditropan)
Any suggestions? Besides the obvious BodiHeat patch & hiding under the electric blankie?

[Katrina]

Maybe you have bladder pain. When mine began I thought it was mentrual cramps. And the worse pain I could immagaine of mentrual cramps would be a good description of them. I would guess if it is a medicine it would be Elavil. Catnip is supposed to be a good herb for pain and mentrual cramps. Feel better soon.

Elavil Side Effects
Side effects are most likely during Elavil treatment, particularly sleepiness, in the first few days of taking this medication. If any side effect doesn't clear up within a week, or if you have a very strong reaction, consult your doctor immediately. Many of the rare and serious side effects are more common in the elderly or with higher doses.

Elavil may cause drowsiness and affect your motor functions. Be familiar with how you react to this medication before driving or performing any hazardous task.

Common Elavil Side Effects: blurry vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, dry mouth, fatigue (problems with fatigue may be reduced by taking Elavil in the evening or at bedtime), sensitivity to sunlight (Wear sunglasses, protective clothing, and sunblock. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.), temperature sensitivity (avoid saunas, jacuzzis, and exposure to extreme cold), weight gain.

Occasional Elavil Side Effects: blood sugar changes, dental cavities, dizziness, fainting, headache, hives, increased appetite, indigestion, nausea, rash, shaking, swollen face or tongue, unsteadiness, weakness. If you become dizzy or faint when rising from sitting or lying down, getting up slowly may help. If this condition worsens you should contact your doctor. Indigestion and nausea may be relieved by taking Elavil with food; unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise, Elavil is best taken with food in most cases.

Rare Elavil Side Effects: breast enlargement, brown or red spots on skin, change in sense of taste or hearing, irritated tongue or mouth, nightmare, sexual side effects (impotence, difficulty with orgasm), sweating, restless feeling, vomiting.

Contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare side effects occur: confusion, hallucination, heart palpitation, hepatitis (allergic reaction), intestinal blockage, irregular heartbeat, liver toxicity (yellow skin and eyes, feeling of illness throughout the body), mania (sometimes seen in cases of manic-depression), numbness or tingling in extremities, paranoia (possible in schizophrenia), seizure, serious eye movement problems, very low blood pressure, water retention, or weakness in arms or legs. Watch for fatigue and weakness accompanied by abnormal bleeding or bruises, fever, or sore throat as this may indicate bone marrow depression. There is a small chance of developing serotonin syndrome, which may cause confusion, restlessness, lowered coordination, shivering or trembling, diarrhea, fever, sweating, twitching, or behaving with an excitement you can't control.

Side effects of dosage reduction

[kadi]

HI Katrina,
Thank you for the post--it was good to have someone answer --. No, it is cramps. I'm going to have to just suck it up & go off the pill for 3 days to have the period & get it over with. Since I've been on Elavil 18 months now & only had these cramps when a period is on it's way, I don't think that's it. But thank you for trying! Am wondering if the stress that set off a nasty rash last week could've caused my body to override the pill? Or maybe the cortisone cream for the rash? Who knows? I'm just frustrated because sometimes I feel I have very little control over my body & therefore my own plans...

[Katrina]

Oh I know that feeling very well. It gets frustrating. Everytime I have to cancell something or not go to something I really wanted to go to. Not having hormones did improve that....but ofcourse it didn't fix things perfectly. Hope you find relief.

[holles]

sometimes after being on a particular pill for a while, you might need to change. also, as we age, our cycles do tend to get a bit more painful. but they shouldn't stop you from doing everyday activities. talk to your doctor about it. hope things get better soon. (((hugs)))