Elavil -- Grogginess and Brain fog

[carlag]

:toilet: I have only been on Elavil for two days and I'm ready to quit taking it. I am on 25 mg. taking it at night around 8:00 p.m. and even though I sleep better, I feel so drugged up during the day and can't think clearly. Is this normal on this drug? Does it go away? Should I cut my dose in half for awhile and then go up gradually? My doctor knows nothing about IC and the only reason she prescribed it is because a friend of mine had said that she was on it and it worked for her. I'm afraid that I will not be able to do my job well taking this job as it is hard to focus and I don't have much energy. Please help! :confused:

[KarenAnne]

I started out on 10 mg. as prescribed by my urologist & am now taking 20 mg. I persevered & after about 2-3 weeks the groggy feeling was better for me. That's great that your doctor is willing to work with you. Hang in there.

[carlag]

I started out on 10 mg. as prescribed by my urologist & am now taking 20 mg. I persevered & after about 2-3 weeks the groggy feeling was better for me. That's great that your doctor is willing to work with you. Hang in there.

Thanks for your response, KarenAnne. I really appreciate it.

carla

[Briza]

Carla, my experience similar to KarenAnne's...
I responded in more detail in your other thread:)

[carlag]

Carla, my experience similar to KarenAnne's...
I responded in more detail in your other thread:)

Thank you so much, Briza!

[vm]

I remember feeling that way for the first several days and then it stopped. :)

[carlag]

Thanks so much for your reply. And congratulations on your remission!:smile tee

Carla

[carlag]

Kim, I just read your quotes and I love them! I read "Man's Search for Meaning" and it is such an inpspirational story. Thanks for putting this positive message out there.

Carla

[Mrs. Peel]

Psycho-pharmaceuticals almost all come with side effects. These always lessen eventually and many disappear altogether. Always consult your doctor before discontinuing them, since stopping suddenly can cause a severe neurochemical imbalance.

[c2miracle]

I was a little off for the first three days, but after that it was fine. I like Elavil because when I do get up during the night, I fall right back to sleep. I know you said your doctor knows nothing about IC, but maybe you can teach him. That is what I did with my primary doc. He was very open about learning more. Bring in literature about IC and tell him about this website. I would still consult a doctor before switching or stopping your meds. Take care and think positive :smile tee

[carlag]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm learning a lot.

[vm]

Glad you like them, Carla. They are great reminder for me when I am going through a tough time. :)

[jeffro]

If it helps, I was really off for the first day and very discouraged thinking that I wasn't going to be able to live my life this way and that I'd rather have to pee all the time. The worst lasted for a day. Still felt 'off' for a few weeks and now that I'm about a month into the Elavil, I feel pretty much back to normal...same energy as before.

The fog for the first day really did stink though. I remember sitting at work hoping that people didn't come talk to me for fear that I wouldn't be able to put a coherent response together.

[carlag]

Thanks so much for the messages. I appreciate hearing from you. It is encouraging.

[SharonA]

I hope you don't let the side effects you are experiencing right now keep you from taking this med. It is what gave my life back to me. But...If you are still concerned, talk with your doctor about it. It could be that you need to be taken down to a lower dose to begin with. :)

[bunglewaltz]

I know this is an older post but I wanted to chime in if I may. I took elavil one time and had severe amnesia. I'll keep taking it if it will help the pain but some assurance that maybe someone else experienced the same thing would be nice. It was very scary to go through taking even just one dose. So the side effects wore off for ya'll completely?

[Glenda2]

This Drug has the Potential to be Very Dangerous.

In 1983 I took one 25 mg. capsule and it fried my brain for Ten days.
Didn't know my Name , My husband and toddler.
Didn't know any family.
I stared at the wall in to a Abyssal Fog.

All this from one 25 mg. capsule of Elavil.

I will never take these kinda med's again , as Long as I live.

They could be deadly !

[vm]

AGAIN, for anyone new reading who is considering this medication - Glenda's experience is a very unusual one. Most people do *just fine* on Elavil. Some do have side effects that lead them to stop the medication, but most of us who have taken it have been perfectly fine. People get scared enough about taking medication and, of course, they need to know all that can happen, but they also need to know that the vast majority of people taking this medication do so and are fine.

bunglewaltz - I don't know - if I had that experience and knew it was related to the Elavil I would be extremely hesitant about taking it again. Has your doctor given any guidance on it?

The only side effect I had in the few years I was on Elavil was some fatigue the first few days and that went away as my body adjusted to the medication. That and weight gain seem to be the most common side effects.

[Snowden1]

I did not react very well to Elavil after a couple of days - but I found Lexapro worked great for my frequency. I know they are in a different class of meds, but Lexapro I think is a great drug to try if your main symptom is frequency. I can go hours now. All I have to do now is get this pain thing under control -so I guess I can say half the problem is solved right now:).

Pain is crazy difficult to deal with - maybe Atarax - does this help with pain? Anyone?
Teresa

[Glenda2]

YES , MY Case was Rare and Unfortunate , But I do see that other's have simular symptoms from it. ( Not lasting 10 days though)

So it Can Happen.

Just be very carefull taking it. :tsk:

By the grace of god , you won't suffer like I did. That was Horrible.

[Snowden1]

Glenda2,
Everyone is different in the medications they can take. One percent of the population is allergic to aloe vera. Some people (like myself) can not handle shellfish and stop breathing. I am also allergic to Darvocet and Percocet. But, this does not mean we should discourage others who may find their "miracle" in this drug. I don't mean to be rude, but it is not good to keep relaying your negative experience to everyone. As a new IC person I want to try some of these things and don't want to feel terrified before I try them. I don't know what your age is, but sometimes older people are more sensitive and scared to try new drugs.
Teresa

[Glenda2]

I am in my later mid 50's.

NO where in any post did I say > Don't take Elavil !!!!

What I did say was > What One 25 mg. capsule did to me.

And to be Very Carefull taking this stuff.

It Can Cause Problems. I am proof it can and did !

And I see it messed with others too , almost as bad as it did me.

For those of you that need to take it , I hope it helps , Just be Carefull.

If you went thru what I did , you would be Leary too. Guarenteed.

[bunglewaltz]

AGAIN, for anyone new reading who is considering this medication - Glenda's experience is a very unusual one. Most people do *just fine* on Elavil. Some do have side effects that lead them to stop the medication, but most of us who have taken it have been perfectly fine. People get scared enough about taking medication and, of course, they need to know all that can happen, but they also need to know that the vast majority of people taking this medication do so and are fine.

bunglewaltz - I don't know - if I had that experience and knew it was related to the Elavil I would be extremely hesitant about taking it again. Has your doctor given any guidance on it?

The only side effect I had in the few years I was on Elavil was some fatigue the first few days and that went away as my body adjusted to the medication. That and weight gain seem to be the most common side effects.

No my doctor will not return my phone call. He really isn't a good doctor at all and I will be seeking another opinion. Even though it had a terrible side effect for me, I would be willing to cut the dosage and try it again gradually. Especially since it seems to have helped so many other people. I'm trying to weigh it all out at the moment because the experience was pretty bad but some relief would be worth the temporary torture. I'd just need a babysitter the first few days :)

[vm]

It would be a really, really tough decision. I'd be scared about it, too. I hate that your doctor won't return your phone calls. I hope there is another doctor you can turn to for that second opinion. What dosage did your doctor start you on, just out of curiosity?

[bunglewaltz]

25mg. I told him that I am the queen of side effects. I have just always had them not to mention I'm a small person and don't require full dosages of most things. I asked him if I should start out breaking them in half and he said no I'd be fine. Which I'm sure most people are.
What dosage do most people start on? How much are you on?

[vm]

I don't take it anymore - but used to take 25 mg at bedtime. I think I took it for about 5 or 6 years? I was definitely tired the first few days on it.

I think the dosage comes as low as 5mg. I think? Hopefully someone else will chime in on that.

[SharonA]

I began taking Elavil at 10mg. Then my doctor slowly increased the dosage until I was at 50mg. Then I went down to 25mg and have been there for several years.

[KarenAnne]

Amitriptyline (generic for Elavil) has given me my life back. I am very sensitive to medications, but this med just caused some sleepiness for me, that got better with time. My dr. recently increased my dose from 20mg. to 30 mg. & it has helped my urg/freq even more.

This drug was used as an antidepressant at much higher doses than we take. It has helped alot of patients with IC. I also agree that we should not frighten others who may be helped by it, just because it did not work for us. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet to treat IC & since we all respond differently, it is all trial & error. I tried many meds before getting relief with the ami.

[StacyFL]

I am so thankful to see this thread. I took Elavil for the first time last night with my first dose of Elmiron. I slept great but woke up groggy and foggy headed this morning. I am still in a fog now but will keep taking it and see if it gets better in a few days.

Thanks,
Stacy

[justice4j]

I had to stop taking Elavil--only 10 mg.--b/c for the 28 days I persisited, I awakened w/ a migraine type h/a everyday. I had migraines years ago and hardly ever get them now, but Elavil sure did throw me back into them. :(

I'm actually doing well considering as far as IC goes, but PFD....better but still the nemesis a bit right now. Starting a program of biofeedback, etc. after Thanksgiving.

[StacyFL]

I took my second Elavil last night and woke up without the brain fog this morning. I even managed to go out and run 3 miles. I am having really weird dreams on the Elavil and am not sleeping through the night. I am waking several times but I always go back to sleep. I hope that effect works itself out!