Topamax vrs elavil

[lonen86]

Hi!
I was diagnosed two months ago with IC and started elmiron at the same time. I learned from this website about elavil and how it helped so many of you with pain ,frequency and urgency. I spoke to my Dr (general physician ) about starting it and she agreed ( she did not know much about IC). I feel 70% better than before starting Elavil but I CAN NOT STOP EATING SWEETS I crave them all the time and I'm also gaining some weight .I also heard about topamax which is also used as a mood stabilizer in people with bipolar disorders. I'm also a type II diabetic and have high blood pressure , will I be a good candidate to take topamax?. I asked my Dr and she didn't know what topamax was.:bonk:
thank you for all your support and information. LOREN:help:

[OrlandoP]

Hi!
I was diagnosed two months ago with IC and started elmiron at the same time. I learned from this website about elavil and how it helped so many of you with pain ,frequency and urgency. I spoke to my Dr (general physician ) about starting it and she agreed ( she did not know much about IC). I feel 70% better than before starting Elavil but I CAN NOT STOP EATING SWEETS I crave them all the time and I'm also gaining some weight .I also heard about topamax which is also used as a mood stabilizer in people with bipolar disorders. I'm also a type II diabetic and have high blood pressure , will I be a good candidate to take topamax?. I asked my Dr and she didn't know what topamax was.:bonk:
thank you for all your support and information. LOREN:help:

Hi there,

It's kind of mind-blowing your doc wouldn't know Topamax, or at least pull out the huge dictionary of meds to look into it! That said, I know a bunch of people who use it for pain and/or migranes. As my gp said, it's not what she would call a "benign" drug, and it does have some serious risks of side effects. You should first look it up online--you can find a bunch of info about it there--and print it out for your doc (but this doc should really do some reasearch as well, since HBP and diabetes is nothing to mess around with!)

Topamax is in a totally different class of drugs, but you probably are aware of that. I'd like to get my uro to proscribe, as the Elavil constipation was untenable for me, even at 10 mgs.

[leelee88]

I am one that is using Topamax to control the shooting nerve pain I was having with IC. I am also taking Tofranil which is another tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil. But I found that the Tofranil does not give me that side effects that Elavil was giving me like the sweet cravings and the weight gain..
So if Elavil is working but you just do not like the side effects you could ask about Tofranil first. But if you are having other pains that the Elavil is not helping then Topamax might be the answer.. But please read as much as you can about this drug. If you have any questions, Please just ask..

[lonen86]

Hi Lee lee
The problem with the elavil is the sweet cravings other than that it works for me. Thank you for letting me know about tofranil I will look it up and if you said that it works for pain I hope I can talk to my GP about prescribing it for me. Thank you again. LOREN

[leelee88]

No problem.. I hope he will listen to you.. It's worth a try and like I said it's working great for me. With NO sweet cravings like the Elavil was making me have and no weight gain.. Good luck!

[sandramac]

I'm on the Topomax & am also type 2 diabetic, i take 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg at bedtimeI Did try Elavil in the beginning but found it caused me to not be able to sleep and had me bouncing off the walls and overeating! The topomax has been a great relief to me and with diet I have managed to lose 35 pounds in the last year!
You must do your reaserch and talk it over with your DR.
best of luck.
Pm me if you have any more questions.
Hugs Sandra :cat::cat::cat:

[NicoleB]

Topamax is one of many anticonvulsants for nerve pain. If you are worried about cravings and weight gain (which many anticonvulsants can cause) you could also ask about

Topamax (already mentioned, can cause weight loss in some people)
Zonegran (similar to topamax, but i think less side effects)
Lamicital (mostly weight neutral)
Keppra (mostly weight neutral, but some experience gain)

if your only problem is cravings, i noticed Nortroptyline had less cravings than elavil. my problem with TCAs or any antidpressent is that they seem to lower my metabolism and make me gain even if i'm not eating more. :cussing: