Elavil & Headaches?

[ICPrincess]

I just took my first does of Elavil yesterday (10 MG) and I immediately got a headache. Ironically, I read that it is actually used to treat migraines so I was not expecting to feel a headache coming on. Did anyone else have this experience and does the headache go away once your body becomes accustomed to Elavil? I cannot take Elmiron (Too expensive and I am allergic to Sulfa medications). My Urologist has started me on Hydroxyzine 10MG (may not be able to continue on as it made me feel like a zombie and this is before I tried the Elavil) and Elavil 10MG. I suppose it could have been coincidental that I got the bad headache but it did seem to come on shortly after taking my first dose of Elavil. Any idea's anyone?

[emilyrose197377]

Could but I don't think it could happen that fast usually it takes awhile for elavil to get into your system like 2 wks to reach it's full affect. I am sorry you are not feeling well. Elavil never gave me a headache.

Take Care
Kim

[patricia1]

I never got headaches from them. I actually took them for prevention of migraines and not IC....

[trytosmile]

I get headaches with the Elavil (amitryptline) and have since I started in 1987. It was originally given to me as a muscle relaxant for my back because if injuries sustained in a car accident. I can only take at night and can only take a low dosage. I am very sensitive to medications and it is difficult to find a balance between the good and the bad.

[green_the_fish]

Hello ICPrincess.
I took Elavil for a few months, and also had unpleasant side-effects. I don't get headaches "naturally", only when under the influence of sedating substances. It was this kind of woozy, heavy, headache-like feeling that Elavil gave me. I don't know if it's what you would call a true headache, and it was definetely not a migrane, but it wasn't really pleasant. Maybe your experience is similar to mine, or maybe it's very different.
Hopefully, your body will get used to the chemical presence of Elavil in a week or two. This does happen with many people. For example, a friend of mine has vulvodynia, and she has been able to tolerate doses of Elavil up to 100(!) mg, although the side effects never completely go away for her. However, it does lessen her pain, as it does for many other sufferers of chronic pain. In my case, the side-effects were persisant, and the medication never helped me with my pain.
Good luck with your personal reactions to Elavil :grouphug:

[Debgail]

:welcome: icprincess! Isee that you are new here and I wanted to welcome you to the icn! I am glad you came here! Lots of great loving people here!

You know when I first started elavil 6 years ago, I started on 10 mgs and I too had a headachey feeling..I think it is because of what it is doing with brain chemistry and blocking pain signals. But I was in so much pain and willing to hang in there...so I took tylenol with it and within a week it was gone. I also started taking atarax on week two with it so maybe it counteracted it in some way.

I feel compelled to tell you icprincess, that I will take elavil til the day I die. If I ever think it isnt working anymore all i have to do is not take it for a night or cut it half and I know instantly that the25 mgs that I take does much more good than harm. The only drawback I have found with elavil is weight gain. I had major sugar cravings when i started it and gained 30 pounds in the first six months. I just tell you that so you know to say no to a second helping of icecream lol!

I encourage you to ask your Dr about the headaches if they continue...could be something totally unrelated who knows...and i would hate to see you miss out on such an effective drug if the side effects will subside soon. Elavil really cuts down the intensity of pain that I have.

Best of luck to you and please keep us all posted. if I can help you in any way feel free to pm me anytime. :bunny: Hugs, Debbie

[mayray518]

I always get tension headaches anyway and excedrin helps me. The elavil made me tired all day long but I stuck with it. At 50 mg it was too much for me but I stuck it out and thank God I did. It was my miracle drug. I weaned myself down to 25 and then 10 and am now on 5. I have been in remission for 5 years.

[ICNDonna]

I took elavil for less than a week. Some people do have some serious side effects. What it did to me is to increase my blood pressure to over 200 over 110 (dangerous!), made me totally sleepless and gave me a headache. My doctor said this occasionally happens. I stopped it immediately on the advice of my physician.

Donna

[ICPrincess]

Thank you so much for responding and letting me know your thoughts here. I am going to ask my doctor if I can switch to Atarax (Hydroxyzine Pamoate) instead of the Hyroxyzine HCI that I was given and I am going to give Elavil a try for a bit to see if it evens out.

Also, thank you so much for welcoming me! That was so nice :)

You guys are the only ones who understand what I am going through here with this. This is such a wonderful place to come and read because you learn so much and you don't feel alone with this anymore. I am about to try Cystoprotec and Aloe Vera so hopefully that will help as well (thanks Jill for telling me about the tea on the phone yesterday....I had no idea and was drinking a bottle or so a day of Liptons no lemon tea and loving it)...god I will miss that :(

[ICPrincess]

oops...meant to say I will switch to Vistaril or whatever it is. Atarax is the stuff I think they have me on now (Hydroxyzine HCI)....The Zombie stuff.....wow....you feel like you are doing everything under water...really hope the Vistaril is better.