Pamelor is working!

[ISONormal]

After trying Elavil several times, I found that it worked quite quickly for the pain, but that I was very sensitive to one of its side effects, namely, urinary retention. I couldn't go even though I knew I really had to! It was awful. Finally, my primary doc said, let's try a different tricyclic antidepressant. (Wish my urologist had thought of that 4 1/2 years ago). Anyway, it's working! Combined with Flomax (to make sure that retention issues are less of a problem), the Pamelor has really taken almost all the pain away. I have had the worst summer with IC, and now to be doing so much better is, well, more than my mind can really grasp now. I'm taking 20 mg of Pamelor at night, and my doc wants me to try and increase it slowly to maybe up to 50 mg per day (since there is a 50 mg pill). If we can get rid of all the symptoms that way, that would be an incredible blessing, as I know you all know.

I thought I'd share the info about Pamelor in case someone else tried Elavil and it either didn't work or they had problems with it. Just because it's also a tricyclic does not mean it's exactly the same as Elavil. It might work for you.
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[That is my "woohoo" chorus line.]

[solost]

This is my very first time posting, even though I have been reading for years. I also had urinary retention even at 10mg of Elavil. When my 11 different doctors that I have had would try any other anti-depressent, my bladder would flare horribly.

Do you know if Palemor causes the dreaded weight gain that so many of us hear so much about from medications? Not that I care at the moment.
I've been battlling for 6 years....IC, Vulvodyna, Pelvic Floor disfunction, and the big kicker..cysts on my urethra tube that had to be removed and caused MAJOR nerve damage. Nothing has ever helped me and believe me I've had more surgeries and surgical procedures that you would get bored if I listed them all. Plus an endless list of medications.

I'm ready to give up. It seems I've tried it all, done it all, but I will never be out of this pain. But, if Palemor is not as wicked as Elavil, I will definitley ask my doctor on Monday. I'm just at the point I don't see why I should keep trying.

[JAMIEL]

I am a "former" elavil user who has switched to Palemor. My urlologist had me switch when I started complaining about the side effects of elavil. I have done much better with it. I take 75 mgs in the evening and has been the ONLY thing that has helped my night time frequency!!!

[ISONormal]

Solost, I haven't been on Pamelor long enough to know about the weight gain issue, but maybe others can reply on that issue. I'm like you; if it works against the pain, it's worth it, no matter what. IC already caused me to gain a lot of weight just because I had to quit eating the great foods I loved (fruit) and then craved sweets (probably because I knew I shouldn't have it, so it was psychological and not physical).

Jamiel, I can't wait to see what happens as I slowly increase the dosage. It's helped already with frequency and urgency and pain. If I could get rid of it altogether, that would be so cool.