I THOUGHT Elavil was working...

[k.ozer]

I've been taking Elavil for two weeks + 3 days now, and I THOUGHT I was getting better, when all of sudden - BAM! My IC took a turn for the worse again :cussing: This is making me VERY angry and frustrated!!!!!!!!!!! I am ready to gut myself and rip my bladder and urethra out with my own bare hands! :rant: This flare has been going on for FOUR months. I cannot get it under control for the life of me. (On top of the Elavil, I am taking Elmiron, Cystoprotek, Ditropan XL, and Free Dried Aloe Vera........) I really had high hopes for the Elavil....I was all smiles a week ago when I thought it was really working....I almost had my life back. Then, on Thursday, it all came rushing back again..The intense frequency, urgency - Today being the worst....Do you think there is still hope that the Elavil will work for me?? :toilet:

[kadi]

Are you on the IC diet? http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/diet.html
Is there a possibility that something you ate or did (exercise, sex, long car trip) or the time of the month (many women have menstrual related flares) could have set off a flare?

How much Elavil are you taking?

[futurehope]

I, too, have just started with 10 mg of Elavil.

I wanted to let you know that despite what the people at the company said, freeze-dried aloe vera really burned in my bladder. I had to stop it.

I hope you feel better soon and get to the source of your latest flare.

[kadi]

When did you start the Cystoprotek? It gave me a horrid flare & migraine.
Also, did you start the Elmiron at the same time? It actually made my IC worse--the longer I took it I had increasingly more frequency, urgency. When I stopped it, I got better over several weeks til I was back to the same level I was at before taking it.

Did you start all the meds at once? Can you track your flare back to starting a supplement or medicine?

I'm a big fan of writing on a calendar new foods & medicines so that if I start having problems I can tell if it's related to something I've eaten or taken.

Hope you feel better soon-

[leelee88]

Elavil can sometimes take longer to work it really does help, dont give up on it yet..:angel:

[Braedley]

you may need to talk to your doctor about increasing your dosage of the elavil - i originally began on 10mg, then in a week went up to 20mg, then in another week went up to 30mg and stayed there - but a few weeks later i was in unbelievable pain, had this ITCH when i urinated (it is actually my body's response to pain) and couldn't sleep...I went back on Ditropan XL for a few weeks to help the pain and then restarted on Elavil again but at 30mg for 7 days, then 40mg for 7 days then 50mg and have stayed there and so far so good...
also taking tylenol arthritis for the pain - it's extended release tablets that work up to 8 hours and they are a higher dose (650mg/tablet- take 2 tablets 3x/day)...these work very well for me...

good luck, i know it's hard but the elavil does take some time to build up in your system and once you get the correct dose for yourself, you will feel a huge difference...