amitriptyline and Valium question?

[Dessica]

Hi, I was just at the Dr. and they are pretty positive I have IC. I was given Amitriptyline 50mg. at night and Valium 1-2mg. three times a day. I have already been on Hydroxine 25mg. for the last two weeks. I also will be getting bladder instills three times per week, had my first one on friday (hurt so much putting catheter in but it was over pretty quick). I have been reading on the anti depressant threads and I am confused is Amitriptyline and Elavil the same thing? My IC symptoms are much improved, but since I started all these things (except the hydroxine) at the same time I'm not sure what is helping. I also had my bladder stretched two and 1/2 weeks ago as well. But what I have noticed is I am soooooo tired, I could literally sleep 24 hours a day. When I am awake I feel drugged as if I am doing everthing slower. I am thinking it is the amitriptyline. I was thinking maybe I should have started out on a lower dose? Or maybe my body just needs time to adjust, how long should it take before I feel not so tired. My muscle ( the one that keeps you from peeing) has relaxed now so I'm thinking I won't take the Valium and see if that helps the tiredness? I don't know what to do I don't want that pain and urgency to come back but I also don't want to be a zombie either? Thanks Dessica

[Janie Miranda]

Dessica,
Valium, amyitriptyline (same thing as Elavil), and hydroxyzine will all make you sleepy so it is no wonder that you feel like you could sleep 24 hours a day. I think some of this might wear off after you have been on the drugs a while. Talk to your doctor before changing or discontinuing your medicine. Glad you are improving :)

[JaniceB]

Yes, Elavil is the brand name for amitriptilyne. 50mg sounds a bit high to start. I started at 10mg and went up to 75mg - but over a 6-week period (this was for study purposes). I am now at 25mg and doing pretty good with it.

It can make you very tired, as can the hydroxyzine as Janie mentioned. It took me several days to get over the tiredness feeling, but some people say it takes them weeks.

Amitriptilyne is not a drug you want to stop cold turkey. If you think you might want to stop it be sure to ask your dr about tapering you down. But I would give it a chance first. It has been a wonder drug for me.

Janice

[ICPrincess]

Oh MY God....50MG to start! And Valium a couple times a day with Hydroxyzine?! No wonder. I am surprised you were given this as a starting dose. Wow. I take 1/2 Xanax at night (Nearly the same thing as Valium only its faster acting then Valium and stays in your system a shorter time) for sleep and 10Mg of Elavil a day and THAT wipes me out. I cannot even imagine how you must be feeling. I am surprised that they would not start you out at the lowest possible dose then build if you need from there. I got lucky and 10MG is working fine for me and has for months. Don't be afraid to speak up to your doctor and change some dosages levels if you are feeling bogged down.

Hope you feel better soon Dessica. :)

[sami4]

Princess what strength Xanax are you taking half of at night? I am curious as my doctor suggested it to see if it helped with nighttime peeing? I tried Benedryl but it didnt do much, I got up anyway.
Sammie

[ICPrincess]

Xanax has been a life saver for me. I take a half of a 0.5MG every night (although sometimes the Elavil knocks me out first before I take it). It really helps calm you down and make it easier to sleep. It helps to calm the bladder down too...I get up alot less often when I take the Xanax (It also helps me the day or two before my period when I start getting these awful palpitations with my heart racing. Its the drop in hormones before my period that makes my body turn on itself. I always get colds, feel sick and have this awful heart racing stuff. The Xanax helps on those days too. I LOVE my Xanax! Lol...