weight gain/Elavil and Lyrica

[RobinD]

Help! I have only been on these two meds for a couple of months and have gained 10 pounds. I have not been overeating but still managed to gain this weight. I have been feeling so good, :smile tee but not sure I want to have such a weight gain, especially if I continue to gain!

Anyway, I have read the posts about taking Tofranil instead of Elavil to stop this weight gain, but what can you take in place of Lyrica? Is there anything out there can help but not cause weight gain? I am very concerned about this and can't decide if I want to keep gaining or have the pain back. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Robin

[Claredale]

The other 2 nerve meds that I know of which I also tried was Neurontin and Topomax. Neurontin also caused me to gain weight and have a horrible time with my memory. I wasn't on Topomax long enough due to the side effets, but I have read some good reports on both for other people.

T83

[mom_in_ma]

From one Robin to another...
When I was in remission, I was a bit chubby. Now that I"m out of remission I'm in pain and tiny as a toothpick. I'd rather be chubby and pain free. As long as the excess weight isn't affecting your health, I'd say stick with the things that make you feel good.

[leelee88]

I would have to agree with mom_in_ma. But if you continue to gain weight and it starts to cause other health problems I would look into something else.

I was one of the ones who was on Elavil and doing really good as far as my pain control. But I started gaining weight and ended up gaining 40 pounds in 3months. This made my blood pressure go up. So my URO took me off of Elavil and tried me on Topamax. I was having good results from Topamax, but was still having some pain. So She suggested Tofranil. Now with the combination of Topamax, Tofrinal, Atarax. I am having really good days. And I have not gained any more weight.

But Like I said if you have no other side effects and your weight gain is not bothersome to your health. I would continue the Elavil..

[RobinD]

This is just really frustrating. I feel so good and am very thankful for that, but I don't want to gain weight. Thanks for all your responses. I am thinking I will continue the meds for awhile longer and see if the weight gain stops. I just was hoping for an alternative to these meds.

Leelee-you said you when were taking them when you were a bit chubby-did you finally stop gaining or did you continue gaining?

[Berkshire Road]

My dr. switched me from elavil to nortriptyline, and put me on a combination of neurontin and topomax. The nortriptyline has fewer side effects in general, and topomax actually tends to make people lose weight. I couldn't tolerate the topomax at a therapeutic dose, but since I could take some, we combined them (hoping maybe they'd cancel each other out, or something). I was also put on wellbutrin.

I had put on quite a bit of weight before that, but since the changes I'm still dieting and exercising mildly, pretty much the same as before, but I am able to lose weight! It's coming off slowly, but my PCP is pleased with that (15 lbs in 3 months), and my blood pressure dropped way down from like 140/100 to 115/80 (which is around where it was before IC). In another three months she's going to re-check cholesterol and blood sugar. As you can see, my weight gain was beginning to affect my health. I am so grateful to my doctors for being willing to take this seriously, and work together on changing the meds.

[RobinD]

I wish my doctor would take my weight gain seriously. When I told him I did not want to gain weight on these meds he said"Then don't over eat" . At the time I thought OK, I won't. But now that I have been on them I realize the weight gain is due to a slow metabolism. I have been eating the same as before and I have gained 10 pounds!

I have started walking 30 min a day and am going to cut down on any high calorie/high fat food. Maybe I can keep from gaining anymore while stayinig on these meds that are helping

Healing prayers
Robin

[judy45]

how much elavil were/are you on? I am about to start elavil 10mg. at night. I am normal weight now (122) but only 5ft 1.5 inches tall, if I gain that kind of weight that would be a huge health risk for me. Does the pill make you hungrier or do you gain weight from the pill? Thanks for the input

[TashaSR]

Hi there. I have been on lyrica for over a year. I found during the first few months between that and ammitriptine I gained quite a bit of weight but after a while it seemed to balance itself out. I just actually had my lyrica uped because i tried the installations and had a really bad reaction so we've kinda hit a wall. It's only been about a week, so no weight gain yet. I will let you know how it goes. Dont know if this will help you but I hope it does. All the best.

[RobinD]

judy, I take 10 mg of elavil twice a day and 50 mg of Lyrica 3 times a day. I am also 5'1 and weighed 115 when I started these meds. Now I weigh 122, so I guess I haven't gained as much as I thought. My scales at home weigh really light, so not sure what I would weigh at a doctors office (probably 10 more on their scales). anyway, because I am short, it doesn't take much to notice a difference.

In response to your other question: the pill does make me hungrier. It seems like after a couple of hours, I am hungry again. I am trying not to eat, but sometimes I just cave in and go ahead. I really need to get control of my eating before I gain any more. I think, and if someone knows more about this, please respond, these pills slow down your metabolism which cause weight gain.

I have been walking and hope that will boost my metabolism!!:smile tee

Robin

[stef000]

I am just on elavil and i don't find the weight gain or constipation with 50mgs.
just figured to put my two cents in.....i was really hungry and eating a lot but it was to do with my hormones......:rolleyes::loco::bonk:
so just thought to let ya know.....
take great care
hugs n better body days
:hi:

[lisabar36]

Hi, I been on Elavil since September and I did not gain any weight at all, I was also on neurontin which is similar to Lyrica and I did not gain anything with that either. Of course we are all different. I just started Lyrica and I am curious to see how that affects me.

[my3boysmcr]

Hi, I been on Elavil since September and I did not gain any weight at all, I was also on neurontin which is similar to Lyrica and I did not gain anything with that either. Of course we are all different. I just started Lyrica and I am curious to see how that affects me.

I started Lyrica 3 weeks ago and so far no weight gain. I have gained about 10 pounds over the past 3 months but I told my primary that it was time to check my thyroid and I did indeed need a dosage increase. When I was a mess last year and stressed out about all of the tests, I started dropping dosage quickly because the stress had caused over-correction. I lost too much wreight at that point so the initial 6 pounds I gained back were fine. Now I have to slowly climb back up to the original dose if I had to guess. So, sometime weight gain is not just related to meds......... As for the Lyrica, I have started seeing a lot of improvement already. I am up to only 50mg a day and am finding myself sleeping better, going to the bathroom less times a day and my back pain is improving. Neurontin only really helped with my back pain. For the first time in a year, I feel like I can get back to a new normal and not have to be so aware of my bladder. Good luck to you with Lyrica!

[lisabar36]

Me too, I been on lyrica 3 days, my frequency is already less, I sleep better at night, I take 50mg 2 times a day and am working my way up over 8 weeks but so far I love it. I have no side effects either. :)

[tigger_gal]

I have been on lyrica a couple of months and I have gained 8 lbs.. :help:

[amartaingirl]

on elavil 25mg
been about a 1 1/2 years

have gained 24 lbs
from 115 to 139

i dont really attribute it to the evavil though.
i believe it to be...lack of exercise from IC..
AND all the comfort foods...i eat when i have a flare
AND a new lifestyle i recently acquired......i mean..new boyfriend..with more unhealthy eating habits...than i was accustomed too..

anyway..maybe it is the pill too
i will check into the side effects of the elavil

i just recently starting watching that TV show on TLC
I can make you Thin.

Lost 2 lbs..in 5 days...today i weighed 137 (down from 139)
its not a diet...he like hypotises you threw the TV..
lol
teachings you to Tap yourself...when you have a craving for food.
sounds ridicoulious, i know...but its working so far.
check it out.

i tried the treadmill last week and flared...big time...worst pain flare ever for me....who normally has NO pain.

yesterday,,took the day off...and power shopped
hit every clearance rack within a 10 mile radius...lol
flare a little..but i think it was because i forgot to drink water.


so i have incorporated this tiny leg lifts under my desk in my cubicle

[barbclay]

about a month and a half ago I started on 50mg of lyrica. I don't feel it helped my bladder, but it was amazing for my fibro.I know that lyrica can make you gain weight. so, I really started to watch what i was eating because I am a curvy girl. then , about two weeks later they switched me from prozac to 60 mg of cymbalta. I heard it can help you lose weight. Since then I swear I am NEVER hungery .I try to have a smoothie for breakfast and lunch. They have like 80 calories.And I have been eating small portions for dinner. If I even eat dinner. I have gained 10 pounds:confused: