Elavil and weight gain

[Charlot]

:mad: I have been taking 10 mg. of Elavil for about 2 years now and it has helped me so much but I can't stand the weight that I have put on. I have gained 25 to 30 lbs in this time. I am not over weight for my height 5'10" and 165 but I am so miserable that I can't stand it:help: . I don't eat anymore than I did when I started taking the Elavil but I just keep gaining weight. My husband told me he thinks I am fine:smile tee , that he just wants me well and if a few pounds goes with it, not to worry. But to tell the truth it is bothering me. Please let me know if you have found something that will help take the weight off because I have quite taking the Elavil for about 2 weeks now and I am noticing a few problems.:mad: I also have been on Atarax for 3+ years. I have taken Elmiron when I was first Dx'd for about 1 1/2 years and then came off it. I also worry about taking Atarax long term because everything says to only take it for 4 months???? :confused:

[meme]

I noticed the weight gain too. I gained 20lbs in 4mos!!!! Like you, I'm not severly overweight, pretty much average, but it bothers me so bad. I've cut back on calories and been working out more, but so far in the past 6wks I haven't lost a single pound!!! It's really frustrating, but I don't know what else to do, the Elavil has really made me feel so much better. I'll be going off of it though in the next month or two cause my husband and I are going to try to have a baby. Hoping I'll lose a few pounds before I get pregnant.

[Charlot]

Thanks Meme for the reply I have cut way back and walking daily, I am going to try and stay off it and see if I do alright. I noticed from your pictures you were on a cruise. Where did you go and what cruise line? I know you had fun, we went on one in Oct '06 to Cozumel on Royal Carriabean and we had a blast. Hoping you have a pain free day.:)


Charlotte

[patricia1]

Before my IC diagnose I was taking Elavil for migraines and I gained around 40pounds on this medicine. And I was totally miserable. For me I weighed the option weight gain or migraines and the vain self in me one. I stopped it. Thankfully I dont have the mirgraines like I was, but for me it took a while to get it off. I have lost around 30 pounds of it. But for me it seemed harder to lose this weight than even baby weight. One thing I know that helped me out was water...

[Charlot]

Hi Patricia, I am glad to know someone has actually lost some weight :woohoo: after elavil, good for you. I have been off for about two weeks now. I thought yesterday that I might have to go back on it because I had some burning but I drank some baking soda and water and it helped. I have felt normal for a while now and the burning is trying my patience.....but I will get through this I hope. I really think the elavil was making me tired and all also, so I hope that gets better. I hope you are having a pain free day.

[RAS6]

HI Charlot,
I gained about 10 pounds after around 4 months on Elavil (20mgs) Not as much as others, I know but it did bother me. And I am lucky like you to have a hubby that loves me even though I am 20 pounds heavier than when we met (he says I was "too Skinny" back then) My pain is so bad that any exercise beyond relaxation exercises and very simple basic yoga is too much. I recently switched from Elavil to Nortriptyline b/c the Elavil was making me so tired reguardless of what I tried. I no longer have the overwhelming hunger pains and sugar cravings at night and have lost 5 pounds now in just over a month off of the Elavil. It helps with the pain just as well, I only get up a few times at night instead of over 6 without and I am no longer ready for a nap at 11:00 a.m. Sometimes by 4:00 p.m., but that is so much better! :)
Hope you continue to find ways to feel better about yourself! You deserve it!

[Roxie2007]

HI! I've gained weight on Elavil too and it really sucks! My dr. told me early on that Elavil, taken in low doses, causes weight gain. What a crappy exchange....less IC pain for weight gain! I had gastric bypass 3 years ago and lost almost 100 pounds......and now I'm gaining. Life is not fair! Roxie

[Charlot]

Thanks girls for the post. I don't mean to sound vain about the weight I am more worried about my health and the weight, like cholestreol and stuff. I had a rough night last night I got up several times to go to the bathroom and with the elavil I could sleep through the night. Roxy what is the aleo stuff you are taking and where do you get it? I am looking for any natural relief that I can get. Hope you all have a pain free and good day. Any advice from anyone on what to do instead of the elavil would be appreciated.:smile tee

[Roxie2007]

HI! We just ordered our Freeze dried Aloe Vera this morning. We got it from the Desert Harvest website.....it's cheaper on their main website than here on the IC site store.....sad to say.
I haven't found anything that works better than Elavil. It really calmed down my bladder when it was spasming big time and causing frequency.
Good luck to you! Roxie

[sami4]

Sometimes they will substitute Klonopin for Elavil. Klonopin I dont think causes the weight gain, and the dose is usually low 0.5 but it supposed to help a lot with nerve pain like elavil. They also RX higher doses for restless legs and some types of migraines and seizures. One of main side effects is sleepy, which if taken at night isnt that big a deal.
Sammi

[pingpong]

I've been taking Elavil for a couple of months now, and it's helping my IC pain and my vulvodynia, but I'm also gaining weight, and I've wondered if it is the drug itself or if all of you have found yourself eating more? I'm trying to watch what I eat, and I wonder if I'm just wasting my time and I'd gain weight anyway

[patricia1]

Charlot its been hard loosing it, but dont feel vain about the weight. I thought about this myself along time whether or not I was vain for not wanting to gain anymore weight or migrianes. But I was miserable when I was on it and like you it made me tired to. Some say after a time that you get use to it and this goes away. I am fixing to try Cymbalta to see if it will help with my pain.

Pingpong, I did not find myself eating more, per say but I did find I craved sweets more and ate more of them, which I am not a big sweet person.

[sami4]

I stumbled apon a website yesterday dealing with the chemistry of Elavil and how it changes the manner in which leptin works. That is probably the reason the weight piles on, and the sweet cravings develop. I wish I had bookmarked the site, but alas, I didnt.
There are other drugs out there that work on the nerves to calm them that dont cause weight gain. Even the new drug for RLS is said to help with other types of muscle spasms such as bladder, and PFD. At the present time there are no studies to back this off label use, just reports occasionally from people to their doctors. It does not hurt to try something else and see how it goes.
One poster said 0.5 mg of Klonopin really helped her.
Sammi

[Roxie2007]

HI! That's very interesting about the Leptin/Elavil connection. I do have sweet cravings.......which is difficult for me since I had gastic bypass 3 yrs ago. I think I'll ask my IC specialists if he knows any other drug I can try instead of Elavil. Thanks for the info! Roxie

[bunnykinb]

I began Elavil 10 mg on 11/30/06. Although, I haven't gained any weight, I feel that I am soooooooo and I mean sooooooooooo hungry all the time even after eating. I am on the slim side and would like to stay that way. I was in constant pain for 4 months straight with burning until I started taking Elavil. For the first 3 weeks, I felt totally nauseated and wondered how people could gain weight. Then, the hunger pangs came in late December. I feel hungry even after eating. I mainly crave sweets. In fact, I put out a post on this topic.

Recently in the past week, I cut my Elavil in half and then every other day, I don't feel as hungry, but my burning has come back slightly.

[Charlot]

Hi Bunnykinb, I know what you mean about be hungry all the time. I would get up from eating and be looking for something else. The strange thing for me was that I have always been a sweet freak but while taking the Elavil I did not want sweets, just anything else. I had cut back to almost nothing and was still gaining weight, I am like you I have always been slim and I guess that is why the weight bothers me so much. I know that Elavil was great for the pain and it has been hard coming off it. For the burning (if you do not have high Blood Pressure) you might try 1/2 tsp. baking soda in water and drink that, it seems to help me quite a bit. I even had to do this on bad days while still on Elavil.

[bunnykinb]

Someone suggested using Nortriptyline or Klonopin instead of Elavil, but all these still have the side affect of weight gain and sweet cravings. I would rather eat sweets than food since I was young. But, with Elavil, I want sweets all the time. I ate 6 thin mint cookies, 2 samoan cookies, and 2 trefoils; all from Girl Scouts. Yummy yummy. I feel guilty eating all these sweets but yet I can't stop myself. Of course, chocolate is a no no with IC but I have found I can eat it without symtoms.

I had to take a full dose of Elavil last night because of the burning. The burning didn't start until I had another DMSO on Wed. 3/7. The nurse put in the catheter like I was a toilet getting cleaned. I don't like it when I get that nurse.

[kjd]

Hi all

Just wanted to say that I did some research into Elavil and discussed with my neurologist and the reason why Elavil can cause weight gain is because it changes the blood sugar level in your body.
Blood sugar levels are responsible in telling is when we are hungry etc so Elavil can make you feel very hungry (sometimes shakey and needing sugar) even when the body doesnt need food.

So its not actually the medication itself which causes weight gain, its the fact we feel we need more food. I have gained 20lbs and not happy but I know that I am eating more as I feel hungy all the time!

Its hard I know x

[bunnykinb]

KJD,

Does nortriptyline or klonopin do the same thing as you described like Elavil?

I liked feeling better but hate feeling the need for food. It is very difficult for me to work without feeling like I need to eat constantly.

[kjd]

Hi bunnykinb

Yes it does the same I am afraid which is why you feel hungry so much! It can however cause weight loss too as it can make you lose your appitite!

I just crave sweet foods all the time :-)

[bunnykinb]

I was ok with not eating too much this morning and early afternoon. Then, around 5 pm I became sooooooooooo hungry. Here it is 9:39p and I want more food. Do I give in and get fat and feel better while being on Elavil?

[jsruby]

Somebody posted that Elavil changes the blood sugar in the body. I assume that it increases the blood sugar level. This means that refined carbohydrates in particular will more easily and more quickly turn into fat.

Refined means the food has gone through a process which adds sugar, or takes out the bran or fibre of the food. Unrefined means the food has had as little processing as possible.

Usually your body gives you a chance to burn off carbohydrates, but if your body already has an excess of sugar (high blood sugar level) then even if you are exercising the same amount, you will still gain weight.

So, it seems that the easiest way to keep the weight off is to keep exercising, or exercise a little more, and don't eat refined carbohydrates.

These are sugar containing foods and drinks, white flour, white bread, pasta and white rice. Potatoes are also often put in this group. Check your labels, you will be surprised how much high fructose corn syrup is in ingredients, which is also a refined carb. In fact, anything ending in "ose" should be avoided.

More Refined Carbs

Baked goods: muffins, donuts, pastries, cookies, cakes
White flour and white flour products such as white bread and bagels
Snack foods: candies, chips, pretzels
Sweetened dairy products: ice cream, chocolate milk
Drinks: pop/soda, juice
Processed grain products: Pasta made from white flour, white rice, rice cakes, many breakfast cereals

Refined carbohydrates also reduce B vitamin and mineral levels in the body due to their processing and digesting requirements.

Complex Carbs are a lot healthier

Spinach, Whole Barley, Grapefruit, Turnip Greens,
Buckwheat, Apples, Lettuce, Buckwheat bread,
Prunes, Water Cress, Oat bran bread, Apricots Dried,
Zucchini, Oatmeal, Pears,
Asparagus, Oat bran cereal, Plums,
Artichokes, Museli, Strawberries,
Okra, Wild rice, Oranges,
Cabbage, Brown rice, Yams,
Celery, Multi-grain bread, Carrots,
Cucumbers, Whole meal spelt bread,
Dill Pickles, Pinto beans, Soybeans,
Radishes, Yogurt low fat, Lentils,
Broccoli, Skim milk, Garbanzo beans,
Brussels Sprouts, Kidney beans, Eggplant, Lentils,
Onions, Split peas, Cauliflower, Navy beans

So, when you take Elavil just pretend you are eating a couple of pieces of vanilla cake, then you can adjust your diet accordingly. :)

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http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=19
http://www.howtothinkthin.com/instincts2.htm

[med_head_09]

i just started elavil about 2 weeks ago, and i have actually lost 11 pounds since i started it, but 2 days after starting it i started working out twice a day and am doing a 1200 calorie diet (previously 1800-2000). i have not had sweet cravings, but i am also taking metformin for other problems to help with glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. hopefully i can continue to lose and not gain!! i am not sure if the medicine is helping or not...hmmm. we shall see.

[Berkshire Road]

I have just switched from Elavil to Klonapin, so I'll try to remember to let you all know how it goes. So far I'm sleeping well, which was the main benefit I got from the Elavil, so that's ok. Klonapin can cause either weight gain OR loss, or neither. I have been on it before, years ago, and it had no effect on my weight. But, along with some of you guys, I'm kind of stuck with the Elavil weight as I am not yet able to exercise. I am fairly sure that the sweet cravings are lessening, but this is only the second day so I will report back in a week or so! And if I don't, someone please PM me to remind me. Since a lot of you asked about this, and I am right here actually trying it, I don't want to forget to keep you informed.

I hope I can help someone, by sharing my experience.

[chelseacat]

I have to agree with jsruby above. I've taken Elavil 10mg for several years and had put on around 25 pounds. I had no energy but it made a huge difference in IC symptoms (almost gone away!). However, I craved sweets all day!!

I made the decision to eliminate the simple carbs and the weight dropped off in a matter of months. Not to say its been fun. I do allow an occasional treat such as pizza or birthday cake or a daily little 100 calorie pack of sweets.

It hasn't always been easy but if I could (almost) give up the simple carbs anyone can!

[bunnykinb]

I had stopped Elavil March 21-24 and then took it again March 25 since my burning has come back again and has continued even today as I write. Every time I get this urethral pain, I feel I need to stop working my part time job. I already went on short term disability in 2004. I am trying to hold out since my kids are almost out of school before requesting disability. But, on the other hand, I don't know if my position will be held open since I am not covered under the family leave act.

[snslife]

i havent had any weight gain. do you take it throughout the day? I take 50 mg at night before I go to bed so I dont notice an increase in appetite.

[**Angie**]

Elavil = weight gain for me = 16 lbs in a very short period of time. I wasn't even taking enough to help me. I feel like I should try it again at a higher dose "but" I don't want to gain anymore weight.

[born2swim]

Well, I haven't been put on that (not yet at least), but my view is, if it helps you feel better, that is worth the 25-30 pounds in 2 years. If you are feeling better you may be able to exercise more (and prevent further gain and may lose a few of those pounds). Same thing people say about Elmiron... if it helps, some hair loss they'll deal with. Now, being in my 20's, hair loss would devestate me. But to gain back 20 pounds I lost (I lost over 100 pounds last year), I would tolerate the gain to feel better... then when I feel better, I'd hit the gym! I'm a gym rat!