Can 10mg of Elavil cause weight gain?

[smcclafferty]

I'm only on 10 mg of Elavil, yet I seemed to have gained weight that I can't lose for the life of me...has anyone gained weight on such a low dose? Also, does the medication itself cause the weight gain, or does it make you eat more? I haven't been eating more, I just seemed to have gained weight...thank you!

[dg2901]

I'm on 50mgs of Elavil (taken at night) and havent experienced any weight gain (started in May 2006). I've read on here numerous times that Elavil has in fact caused weight gain for some.

Could it be that your acitivity level has decreased since the IC appeared?

Hopefully someone will come along who can offer you better advice/suggestions.

Take care...
Diana :)

[kadi]

At 10mg, I did not gain any weight. But, when I went up to 20mg, I gained 35 pounds in 7 months. My doctor wanted me to go up to 30mg, but I was literally so hungry the second night on that dose, that I cried for half the night (I knew something was seriously wrong with my reaction to that dosage because I'd eaten a pot roast dinner, two 12oz glasses of milk & two desserts, so I knew I really didn't need more food.) The pharmacist said it stimulated the appetite center in my brain & obviously that dose was not a good idea.

I did lose 12 of the 35 pounds I gained, even though I'm still on Elavil 20mg, by really watching how much I eat, not eating over emotions & trying to increase my activity. I can still do better & am hoping to lose the rest of the weight.

Be very aware of how much you eat & what your activity level is. I'm not sure how much is the Elavil & how much is that I moved to an area where I don't walk as much as I used to. But, my mom exercises very regularly & has still struggled to maintain her weight while on 10mg of Elavil. She has not gained any weight, but says it is difficult & she struggles & she never really has before.

It may be possible to not gain weight, some people here have done it. Other people have said they could not avoid weight gain & have had to stop the medication.

I think it's an individual thing, how much of that side effect we have. Just pay attention. I became over-confident when I had no weight gain at 10mg & did not pay attention to the weight gain that was happening at 20mg until I hit a weight I couldn't deny (and was really mad at myself!).

[Eccles]

Yes, I've put loads of weight on at 10mg., I've gone up three dress sizes. It's caused carb cravings for me, & I'm now on a strict low carb diet to try to shift the weight - have lost some so far & my appetite is reduced.

[Ginny]

I am sure it could if you have been on it for awhile. For me it also caused carb cravings so I ate a lot of carbs.

Ginny

[billie]

I've been on 10 mg. of Elavil since November 2006. I gained 20 lbs. I know I ate more and I wanted to exercise, but I couldn't because of the bladder pressure. Since March, I've increased my dose to 20 mg. I'm able to power walk up hill, do some light weights, even sit-ups, which I couldn't do before the increase! I've lost 30 lbs, but I've had to work very hard, limit calories and walk, walk, walk.
Most days I have very little symptoms and I'm able to enjoy life again.

P.S. I've dropped Elmiron. Since I've had a big improvement with Elavil and I'm not diet sensitive at all, my uro suggested we drop it for three months. It's been two weeks and I haven't noticed any difference. I asked if I would develop ulcers by my bladder not being coated and he said, "Not at all." My uro is Dr. Bade, an IC specialist from Holland who has moved to Curacao.!

I was finally diagnosed in August of 2004, (sympstoms starting in February of 2001) by bladder hydrodistension with biopsy. (My bladder "looked normal" but my biopsy showed non-bacterial inflammation in all five pieces.

I've tried: Cytotec, (one year, bad side affects) Uracyst, (six instills, made symptoms worse) Doxyciline (8 months), numerous antibiotics for extended periods of time, Elmiron, (three years) Cimetidine (prescription strength for 8 months). Now I'm just on Elavil and I wished I would have started it years agol

Sending healing thoughts,

[mom_in_ma]

Billie,

I'm glad you're feeling better.

What were your side affects on cytotec? I can't take elavil (it makes me retain) and I'm finding that cimetdine is actually doing some good for me (although, I think it gave me a yeast infection and it definitely makes me constipated). I'm thinking of asking my doc for cytotec.

[billie]

Robin,

I've sent you a pm.

Hope everyone is having a pain free day.

[.........*sigh*]

Does Elavil just make you really hungry?

[Krisi]

I have been on 10mg of Elavil for about a month and figured I would gain weight but I didn't in fact I lost 5.5 lbs pretty much without doing anything. I am going to knock on some wood if I can find it in order to not jinx the weight loss. I did go on a short canoe trip and hike last weekend but I also ate a bunch on smores with white chocolate and other things. 5 lbs really isn't very much though. I am not really allowed to exercise at the moment per PTs orders. I can walk but not aggressively because they said it was bad for my PFD, IC, and Vulvodynia because my muscles are tight even though I have all this fat on me from my overall of almost 25 lbs I gained from just having IC and switching to the diet which would make me emotionally eat very bad things.

I am going to start counting points for weight watchers (my sister gave me the book) for my husband. He was weighed at the doctor the other day and gained 20lbs in like 2-3 months so I am going to try and help him lose it plus I am going to try to and see if I can loose the rest of the weight I gained.

I don't know why some of these drugs make you gain weight. I was told atarax would increase my appetite too. I guess since I take them at night right before I go to bed then I can't eat. :) I am one of those emotional/bored eaters :\

Take care and best of luck,
Kristin

[Krisi]

This article helps to explain why antidepressants and some siezure meds help in the weight gain process.

http://www.netnutritionist.com/fa12.htm

In my other post I forgot to mention. That even though I have lost some times I feel really really hungry and sometimes less. When I first started I couldn't seem to eat enough I would eat a meal and still want more because my body thought it was hungry when it really wasn't.

Anyway, I hope it helps.

Take care,
Kristin

[Claredale]

I definitely saw weight gain when I was on it. It mainly caused me to want sweets and junk food. I normally don't have much of an appetite, so I was quite depressed not being able to fit into my clothes. I have been off of it (as well as Lyrica) for several months. I have lost almost at the 30 pounds mark. Like some of the postings said, I did alot of walking and still do, since IC has totally changed my energy level tremendously. Also being in your 40s, your metabolism just isn't the same!