I think Elavil is Helping...

[jess188]

I was just diagnosed formally by a doctor who conducted the pudendal nerve motor latecy test. I have also been taking Neurontin 1800mg and just added Elavil 2 weeks ago. I don't know if it is one drug or the other, but my pains have changed since taking Elavil, maybe it is the combo of the 2 drugs. These 2 are often prescribed together.I am taking 12.5mg at night, but may increase it this week to 20 mg.
the pain changed 4 days ago to a hypersensitvity kind of pain. like a deep pain in the vagina ( as my usual pain has been burning pain there ) .. I was like this for 4 days, and then after the doctor did the test ( electrodes on a fnger.. internal test) i felt like I had a flare on the day of and the day after. Now the hypersensitive pain is gone , and the burning is back but lesser...
I dont know if it is the Elavil, but that was all that was added to the mix. I am taking fewer meds for breakthrough, except during the period when it is the worst. I have only been on the Neurontin for a month, and the 1800mg for 2 weeks, so it is still early in regard to meds. I hope this continues.. and continues to get better. The period pain with the burning is craazy! i may go on BC but many feel worse with the burning pain. So, I use my journal to keep track of what the pain levels are, what works etc.
But Elavil may be helping. :pray:

[SharonA]

I am glad to hear that things may be getting better. I hope it continues. :)

[jess188]

Thanks Sharon. I increased the dosage last night to 20mg. I want to see how it goes with that. I am just really tired today. Don't know if it is the Elavil making me tired, or all of the running around hubby and I have been doing.

[Kara29]

Jess,

:woohoo::woohoo: I'm so happy that something is reducing the pain for you!!
Lot's of times with these conditions it's a matter of trial and error. Some meds work really well together. I take Lyrica, Hydrocodone 10/325, Flexeril and Zofran and if I am really suffering, I'll add Clonazapam to the mix. This combo along with ice seems to reduce my pain most of the time.

Sometimes when they combine anticonvulsants (two of them at once) there may be some greatly noticed relief.

I hope this med routine continues to make you feel better so you can move on with life!

Warm Hugs,

Kara

[leelee88]

I am glad this is helping you..

I just started taking Lyrica with the Tofranil. I had tried just to take the Lyrica but it did not take all the pain away so added the Tofranil back and with this mix it has made almost all the suspected PNE pain and V plus bladder pain go away..Sometimes it does take a mix of meds. Also being tired could be a sign of the Elavil because it will cause tiredness..

[jess188]

Thank you . We will see as time goes on. I have pelvic floor dysfunction along with the Pudendal neurapathy, and have just begun physical therapy, so we will see how that works. I need to loosen my pelvic muscles as they are tight.
The drugs do tire me out, and the doctor just raised my Neurontin to 2400mg. I think that will be it for me to try. I am giving it a month and monitoring my symptoms. i believe I have lesser pain, but right now i have a bladder infection too and am taking cipro, so we will see in a week.
I also want to watch weight gain, but think I will be ok, as the dose of Elavil is low, but the Neurontin is a little higher.
thank you all. It is hard trying to find out what works. I will give the Neurontin a month, and if it doesnt work the way I want, then I will probably try Lyrica. The other tough part is that sometimes you dont know how well a drug is working until you start to go off of it. How do you know ?

[Kara29]

If you go off of the Nuerontin and clear your sytem with doctors orders that is........that is when you will know if it worked for you or not. That is how I can tell if a drug was helping or not is to go off of it for a few days.

I know about the Tired feeling b/c I just had my Lyrica dose upped to the highest level they will go for me. 200mg 3 times a day. I am not sure if it's really working any better or not. I do know that if were to to off of Lyrica...........I would DEFINETELY see a difference in pain levels going up.

I need the combo of meds to help me............my next move is to ask my doc about adding another anticonvulsant to the mix such as Topomax.

I am happy that something is lessening the pain for you! I hope it gets better and better each day!

Love and Warm Hugs to you!

Kara