How much elavil?

[babydkj]

I just started Elavil last night and I'm wondering how much other people take and why that amount was chosen. My urologist, while very nice and understanding, doesn't have much experience with IC. He prescribed me a year's worth of Elavil since I'm in the process of switching insurance carriers and will have to find a new doctor. He prescribed 50mg/day, but I don't think he chose that amount for any particular reason.

I'm going to do what I'm not supposed to do, which is to choose how much I take. I took my first dose of 50mg last night and felt like I was falling-down drunk -- slurring speech, strange mumblings, the whole bit. I'm wondering if maybe I should start at 25mg. What kinds of doses to people find to be effective for IC? I don't have the pain, just the bad urgency and frequency.

I hope to be able to see a new, better qualified doctor (I'm switching jobs and this new job has great insurance and I'll be able to pretty much select any doctor) soon. Since I'm starting a new job, though, I can't be running out to daytime appointments my first month or so at work. And since most doctors have to be seen during the day, I anticipate that it will be at least 2 months until I'll get to see a new urologist. At that point I can be under supervision, but until then, I'm sort of on my own.

[Imustpee]

My uro started me at 50 and I was a zombie...2 days later I was doing 25mgs at night and that's perfect

[kadi]

I started at 10mg, then increased to 20mg. I've been taking that for over a year & it really helps with pain & sleep. It doesn't take care of all my symptoms, but I couldn't tolerate going up to 30mg (made me ravenously hungry). Do be careful with how much you eat while on it, it does increase appetite & can cause significant weight gain, unless monitored & managed.

Good luck - hope it's helpful for you!

[vm]

I am on 25mg.

[ICNDonna]

25 mg knocked me for a loop --- I had a "reverse" reaction --- dangerously high blood pressure, hyperactivity, etc. Even half of a 25 mg. tablet did a job on me. It can be prescribed in doses as low as 5 mg tablets. My husband takes 10 mg. for arthritis pain.

Donna

[babydkj]

thanks for all of the responses. i think i'm going to cut my 50mg pills in half, at least at first. obviously i should be doing this under the care of a doctor, but i won't be able to see a doctor (new insurance) until september at the earliest, so maybe i'll just take 25mg a night until then and see how i do.

[Ginny]

I am probably one of the Elavil experts on the list since I have been on it so long. I don't even remember when I started (maybe 15 years ago).
I take 50mg at night but did have to start slower. 10 mg is good to start.
If you are taking 25mg and can stand the morning dizziness (or whatever you want to call it) that feeling goes away but it could take about a month.
It is a great medication if you are getting up too much at night.

Ginny