Med Question - amitriptyline and others

[Noonan]

I was diagnosed with IC last month by my gyno, who performed a cystoscopy with hydrodistension. By the looks of the bleeding, I have moderate IC. My doc quite frankly admits that I'm teaching him as we go along!!!
He has me doing weekly heparin installs, but as you can imagine, that ain't cuttin it. So I went to my internist this morning. He referred me to a doctor in Spokane, but felt comfortable starting me on hydroxyzine, Elmiron, and amitriptyline.

My question is, how dopey do you get on this stuff?? I already take anti-depressants (Effexor XR). My pharmacist says I should not even think of having an alcoholic beverage while on these meds. Another question I have is how long are we supposed to take this stuff? Forever? If we are in a flare?

I'm a little overwhelmed. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Carolyn:confused:

[stef000]

Well i only got sleepy when i first got on amitriptyline and now i am not sleepy because my body got used to it.....
With the question how long.......well if it all works then you will be on it for a long time and if it doesn't then probably not on it........
I find that sure i take meds every day but at least i am not on the toilet in agony......
Just try them see if they work and go from there.......elmiron takes a while and also the amitriptyline.......but the other should get you to sleep better......
hope this helped....
Here is the main links to the meds to check them out more......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmiron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxyzine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitriptyline


hope that helps you out......everyone is so different so what may work for one person may not work for another.....so keep an open mind on everything....
take it easy
:hi:

[stef000]

What dose are you at with the effexor??
here the info on that one(i actually take it too) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venlafaxine

And what are you starting at with the ami??
The ami bumps up the blood level of effexor and you have to watch out for something called serotonin syndrome .....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome


And i would say just don't have alcohol till you know how you react to the meds.......and see how it is after your just getting all the benefits and none of the startup side effects.....
hope this helps
:hi:

[leelee88]

I will probably be on these meds as long as I have IC unless I go into remission..

[kadi]

Amitryptiline has been a miracle for me. I'll continue it & the other meds & instillations as long as they keep working for me &/or until there's a cure!
Wishing you success & better days soon!

[OrlandoP]

Amitryptiline has been a miracle for me. I'll continue it & the other meds & instillations as long as they keep working for me &/or until there's a cure!
Wishing you success & better days soon!

Also check out people on here who are on Tofranil. It apparently causes fewer side effects!

[lan]

Elavil has worked wonders for me and, except for during the first few months, I do not have any undesireable side effects from the Elavil. I plan to continue taking it until I get better (notice how I am being optimistic here!). I am wishing you well. Linda

[SharonA]

Elavil has done wonders for me. Without it, I was miserable. With it, I can function and live a pretty normal life. I will gladly take this med everyday because it works for me. :)

[Noonan]

I'm currently on 150 mg Effexor XR for depression/anxiety. Now I'm on amitiriptyline - 25/mg/day. I don't know if that's supposed to be a therapeutic level or not. My doc really wants me to go see a specialist in Spokane, but I'm too broke at the moment.

This is gross, but do any of you have a severe reaction to yeast infections? It seems like I take antibiotics for a UTI, then I get a yeast infection, then it takes FOREVER to get rid of it....causing vulvodynia, massive IC flare up, etc. The strangest thing is, I don't have discharge, just pain. So then the doc doesn't think I have one, then has to do a culture, then I have to spend more $$$$, and it goes on and on and on.....

Thanks to everyone for being so honest.

[SharonA]

Some here take as little as 5mg of Elavil per day and experience pain relief. I take 25mg early in the evening and it does help with the pain.

[Noonan]

Is Elavil the same as amitriptyline? I have no idea if I'm spelling that right!!!

[SharonA]

Yes it is the same. Amitriptyline is the generic name, Elavil is a brand name. Don't worry about your spelling. I always have to look to see how to spell it. BTW...You did spell it right. :)

[Angeles]

Elavil = amtriptyline is the most commonly prescribed tryciclic antidepresant, for pain. (I don't knwo why since I've heard others has less side effects)

I can only handle 10 mg a of Elavil day, I have tried to upp it a couple of times and I couldn't stand the side effects. First I was taking 5mg and it did help with pain relief in a month (I'm very petitte though ...100 lbs +-). Then I upped to 10mg and was ok, but I can't go over that, only for a few days then I have to lower it again. I would love to take 20mg or more so I would probbably be pain free. Because I' so sentsitive to meds, I have to be very selective to waht to take. I have tried to take Zoloft in addition to Elavil but my body didn't like the combo, so I dropped Zoloft.
I can take valium, which helps a lot with the Pelvic floor muscles & anxiety.
If you have yeast infections problems, there's a lot of information in the "Managing yeast infections" section, here.
One advice, don't just put every cream and local treatment in the world to get rid of the yeast b/c that can lead to skin and nerve damage = vulvodynia = more pain. Be careful to how to manage yeast infections. Try to see a vulvar spacialist or an infectious diseases gyne. Sometimes to get rid of yeast or keep it at bay, you may want to lower the PH, some people get relief with organic plain yogurth, or boric acid (don't use it for a long time thogh, it may burn), but again do not over do it with local treatments since those tisssues are the most sensitive in our bodies.
Maybe 2 weeks of of diflucan, at 200mg each. Check with your doc and with yeast section of the ICN.