How long does Elavil take to work?

[MISHKKA17]

I have been to my second uro now who I met for the first time a couple of days ago. She examined me and listened closely to my symptoms (no pain or burning just constant urge to pee) and she prescribed 25mg of Elavil to take for one month. She thinks I may have started out with a UTI but that my bladder got hypersensitive like a switch that was turned on and got stuck. So she thinks the Elavil will calm my bladder and the symptoms should go away and my bladder should get back to normal. I only have frequency and urgency...no noticeable difference in diet changes and no pain with intimacy. She's not ruling out IC yet but wants to try this first....any advice on whether or not this treatment is correct? Has anyone ever had this kind of symptoms and took Elavil? If so how long did it take to calm down?

Any advice is greatly appreciated:smile tee

[SharonA]

I was started at 10mg and gradually went up to 50mg and then back down to 25mg. All of this over a couple of months. You might want to talk with the doctor about this. You may feel very foggy the next morning at 25mg.

Now, back to your question. I felt a difference in my pain level the next morning after the first 10mg.

[MISHKKA17]

and I dont feel tired but I dont really feel any difference which is why I'm a little depressed because I was hoping I guess like I did with all the other meds that this was it...and I would be cured the next day...I know it doesnt always work like that but god it's a let down when you dont notice any changes and then you go back to thinking your gonna be like this forever....she did say one month though so I'm gonna try and keep my spirits up....:pray:

[SharonA]

Don't let this get you down. There are plenty of people who have said it took longer to feel the effects of Elavil. Give it the 30 days. Please notice that my doctor and I were playing around with the dosage for a couple of months until I settled down to 25mg.

I hope it works for you. :)

[stef000]

Yeah you should give it time.....
With a lot of meds it doesn't work right away...only painkillers are supposed to do that.....
You could just take painkillers when you really need it and just let the elavil kick in.....
but don't give up....its better to be on meds like elavil or others like it for a long term solution for the pain than be on painkillers too much....
Not saying people still don't need painkillers i am just saying that it would be a better long term solution.....
I am still hoping i can cut down my painkillers but i still need them still but at least i don't take them as much at the max. dosage.....
well hope you are doing well
take great care
hugs n better body days
:hi:

[MISHKKA17]

I will wait the 30 days like my doc said...the bummer is that we are taking our first cruise April 5 and I'm so scared I wont be able to do anything....btw....I also have been reading alot that Elavil causes weight gain which scares the heck out of me since I just lost 15 pounds....has anyone taken Elavil and not gained weight????? Just wondering...:hmm:

Oh and thank you so much for all your advice and encouragement...I have been coming here for advice and info since Jan. and still going thru the process of elimination before the dreaded words "cysto with hydro." I like that this uro is trying all options before this procedure as I am scared to death....I mean really scared to death of being put under.......:(

[stef000]

I don't think you should really worry about the weight gain if it indeed does start helping you.....
Just walk more....and if you feel munchy then munch on healthy things rather than cakes and such.....
Just see if it works first......
I gained a bit but i have been having fattening things and my stomach doesn't work so well....but i had initially lost weight.....so i wouldn't worry about it....
just my two cents....
well hope it starts workin......and talk to your doc in a couple weeks if you feel you need to up the dose.....sometimes that happens too....since right now i am at 50 mgs.....i started on 10 and went up ten mgs every couple weeks....
but of course i am on effexor too so it wasn't a big deal....
anyway hope that helps....
and don't worry about being put 'under' i have had that done quite a bit and haven't had any problems.......
i hope you start getting relief
take care
hugs n better body days
:hi:

[SharonA]

I have gained some "extra bulk" over the years of taking it, but I am slowly getting rid of it. It would be a good idea to begin watching the fat and calories now. If you are careful and don't give in to some cravings, you will probably be alright and not gain. It's the "knowing" that really helps you not gain.

[mayray]

I took 50 mg of elavil and it was 3 months before I noticed a difference. the side effects were not pleasant, morning tiredness, no energy but i kept at it. It put me in remission. I am now down to 5 mg with no side effects.

[MISHKKA17]

wow I feel so much more relieved now....you just get anxious hoping for an instant cure....and to think you are in remission.....that's so encouraging......

[smelillo]

MISHKKA17, my uro/gyn said the same thing to me --- he prescribed Elavil in a 10mg dose along with Urelle to "calm down the bladder." I have the same symptoms as yours except now I have urethral pain after I pee. But I felt this way two years ago without the urethral pain (just the frequency/urge). I'm in the same frustrated boat though - I haven't started the Elavil but I guess I'm going to.

[MISHKKA17]

So you have had these symptoms (constant urge to urinate) for 2 years now? Did your docs ever give you anything during the two years or run any tests? Gosh I cant imagine going two years like this and I am scared it's gonna start burning.:pray: After everything I have heard from the responses here I know I need to wait the full month before I can say it doesnt work. But the Uro I have has already told me if this doesnt work we are going forward with other tests, she hasnt ruled out IC yet but wants to see my cystoscopy and CT results from the previous Uro (who thought I ate something two months ago and it ****** off my bladder.) She also wants an MRI done during the month wait. BTW, I've been reading that a pinched nerve or compressed spine in the cervix area of the neck could also cause urinary frequency/urgency.....has anyone ever experienced this?

[smelillo]

No, thankfully my symptoms went away after a couple months and I didn't have them til now. I didn't use any treatments then - they just sorta subsided. Which was good then, but annoying now since I didn't figure out what the problem was. I'm with you on the not wanting to wait though. This sucks!

[kuntrygurl78]

I tried 10mg last year. I took it for a month and never got out of the fog. I went to the doc on Monday. He now has me on 5mg. I havent had the foggy feeling yet, and Im feeling better. Hope you feel better soon!:hi:

[MISHKKA17]

and I still have this constant spasm/urge in the background.....it's driving me crazy......

[stef000]

You should definitely try and get something else to help with it while the elavil starts to work.....
and/or get lower doses of elavil and start bumping up.....but no less than 4 days apart.....
But elavil isn't supposed to work right away.....i use overactive bladder meds to help out if i get any urgency.....
have you tried any of those???
or muscle relaxants or anything as a supplement while the elavil starts working would definitely help out your situation....
i hope you find a relief soon
take care
hugs n better body days
:hi:

[judy45]

Any weight gain or constipation at these low (5-10mg) doses?

[stef000]

nope...not at all....
so i would say go ahead and try it.......
i actually don't think elavil is doing any of that with me and i am at 50mg.
but of course everyone is different....
i hope you find some relief with it....i find it really helps me sleep...no gettin up 3 or 4 or more times to go to the bathroom....
take great care
hugs n better body days
:hi:

[Luanne]

I just found out today that my biopsy said that I do have IC. I am sooo. scared and crying while I write this. I have a 10 year old daughter to take care of and all she does is see me cry in pain. I know there isn't one medicine will work for everyone but what should I do. My Urologist prescribed celbrex and a little prednisone for inflamation. He is calling me in Tremodl for pain (what mg will be best?) and I am starting off with 25 mg of eleavil tonight but I am scared it will hurt my baldder if it's to high of a dose?? I have been on Elmiron since Friday after my scope. Please help me!!!! Does anyone know what pain medicine is going to work and is safe enough withought actaminaphen in it (I am sensative to it) that can get me back to work...??
Luanne

[Luanne]

I have been on Senctura but only for only two weeks I heard it takes longer (not helping) Does Xanax or Valium help with spasms?

[Luanne]

I have that often and especially at night does anyone have any advice?

[Luanne]

How long does it take for Elavil to start helping the baldder and what doages did all you take? was it once or twice a day? Did Elavil make anyone nervous and shaky and feel anxious?
Regards,
Luanne

[bjcov]

I think it took about a week for it to kick in(Elavil). I started at 15mg. I never really had the hangover that they talked about. I talked to my gyn and he said that sometimes you don't get the real benefit till you take 50 to 75 mg. I have also taken 90mg when I was having an especially bad day. (I only have urge and frequency too) I do know that I was up to 50mg before I felt better. I don't find that it makes me feel drowsy either.

[sleekgirla]

I tried it for a week and it gave me severe constipation. so then I tried tofranil for a month a week with no relief. wish one of these would help me!! good luck with it! help it provides you with much relief!

[breannavich]

I've been taking Eavil for just over one month. I started at 25mg for one week and then upped the dosage to 50mg the second week. I can say I was very groggy and had a hard time getting up in the mornings, but I slept like a log. I missed a couple doses after my 30 days because I wasn't able to see the doc for another perscription-I'm not sure if this was a factor but for the past week (since I started up again), my symptoms have increased and I've had some weird side affects.

[Luanne]

My doctor has me taking Elavil 25mg morning and 25mg at night. I don't sleep well so I was wondering if I should take the 50mg all at night maybe I would sleep better hmmm....

[breannavich]

Luanne,

My doctor advised me to take the Eavil at night because it does make you sleepy. The first week or so I was on it (only taking 25mg), I was out within twenty/thirty minutes of taking the dosage. Since then my body has adapted to the dosage and I no longer respond that way-but it if you are having trouble sleeping I would definetly advise taking the meds at night-I'd check with your doc first though because she might have a reason for having you split the doses. Good luck and pleasent dreams!

[navemj]

I have been on elavil for a few weeks for headaches and I have noticed it helps my IC pain. I used to have constant urination, but I found out what my food triggers are. The last time I was urinating constantly I figured out it was coming from the myrlax (MS??)for constipation I was drinking. I went off of it and I stopped the constant trips to the bathroom! Also, have you been checked for diabetes??? There is also another type of diabetes that can cause contstant trips to the bathroom. I think it is called diabetes melitits or something like that. Hope you get better soon. It took about two weeks for the elavil to kick in for me. It is wonderful, but all I do is eat! But I would rather gain weight than be in pain!
Maryann