I heart Amitriptyline (Elavil)

[Jax72]

After 6 months of bladder pain and urgency - Amitriptyline (I think it's called Elavil in US) has been the only thing to come close to controlling my pain. Sure it dries your mouth out (which means you have to be uber careful with dental care) and constipation is a common side effect - but I will gladly put up with these in return for having my life back. (Oh and it may make you sleepy to start with, but that wears off).

Jax

[wfarrell]

I am glad it has helped you so much. What dose are you on? I take 50mg at night, it hasnt done anything for my pain though :confused: it does help me to sleep, my issue with that is one, I dream of peeing lol, two, i dont wake up in the middle of the night to go anymore so in am, i hurt really really bad because my bladder is so full, no matter how early I stop drinking. Any suggestions since you are doing so well on it?

thanks,
wendy

[Jax72]

Hi Wendy

I'm on 25mg. I'm sorry you're still having pain. Maybe you should talk to your doc if you're having retention issues with the amitriptyline. You might need to have your dose changed or to try something else.

Jackie

[VCNJ84]

Congrats on with finding success with Elavil. I love Elavil, it's the medication that gave me my life back! : )

[KarenAnne]

Ditto!!

[123456]

I'm starting that med tonight. I notice that you take Celexa also. I am taking 25mg of Zoloft and was really scared to take both but the doc said it was A-OK because they are such low doses.

[Poppystock]

I also absolutely love it! I'm on 25 mg, it has helped tremendously. We'd actually love to try for another baby, but I don't know how I'd fare going off it... Does it work long term? I sure hope so!

Emily

[SharonA]

Same with me...IC Diet and Amitriptyline have enabled me to live a pretty normal life.

[Jax72]

I'm starting that med tonight. I notice that you take Celexa also. I am taking 25mg of Zoloft and was really scared to take both but the doc said it was A-OK because they are such low doses.


Hi 123456 (love the name, LOL)

Yeah I checked with my doc, and my pharmacist, and they both OK'd me being on an SSRI (the Celexa) and the amitriptyline at the same time. It is because the amitrip is at a very low dose. (I think for depression it's at 150mg +).

Jax

[kuntrygurl78]

My elavil has been my lifesaver also. :woohoo:

I forgot it one night and man did I pay for it the next day. My mom has fibromyalgia and she's also on it.

[123456]

How long until the antidepressants work for the bladder? Right now I am sometimes able to wait 3 hours to pee! That's usually when I'm relaxed at home. I only started about 5 days ago. I have times where I can hold for hours and then times when I hurt and have to pee every hour. Is it supposed to even out? Please let me know your experience.

[Jax72]

Hi Michelle

As far as I know amitriptyline works pretty much straight away on the bladder. This is because it's the anti-cholergic effects (dry mouth, urinary retention) that help, as well as the effect it has on interupting the pain signals. These you get from the first dose, unlike the actual antidepressant effect which can take 3-4 weeks. (And which would be very small if you were taking 10-25mg).

Jax

[lttlewun]

Elavil causes retention?

I don't have urgency/frequency so would this be a drug I shouldn't consider taking since urgency/frequency are not my main problem?

[vm]

Elavil can cause retention for some, for others it does not. My uro explained that one of the side effects of Elavil can be a relaxation of the bladder (which can be useful if you have frequency or urgency), but too much "relaxation" can cause retention for some people.

Elavil can also help some folks with pain.

[lttlewun]

Thanks VM!

My bladder seems pretty relaxed to me, but I may be wrong. I have urethral burning/stinging and vaginal discomfort/pressure. Wondering if Elavil would help w/those symptoms? I don't want to cause myself to get retention!

[123456]

Hey All,

The imipramine is doing a heck of a job on the pain now. It did take a few weeks and an increase of dosage, so don't give up!

[lttlewun]

Yay!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!!:woohoo:

How is the frequency doing?

[123456]

Today has been great. I've been able to just go when I feel like it, not because of urgency. I think the first PT helped too. That lady really massaged my pelvic muscles. I am starting to believe this will all be okay and that the symptoms can be managed if I'm careful. Praise the Lord!

[jvr]

Hi Littlewun,

Elavil can definitely help with the pain too:)

Jill

[tammycarroll]

Can I ask how the Amitriptyline is working for you? Looks like you started in Oct.
I had my first does (10 mg) last night. Noticed some relief of symptoms for about 12 hours. I'm anxious to keep giving it a try. Thank you.

[kuntrygurl78]

I would not be able to lead a normal life without the elavil. I forgot it one day and paid severly for it.

[123456]

Same here for imipramine. I have been on it for a little over a month and do not have any pain and am much calmer :) I think I'm on the max dosage that uro's give, but I'm a tall girl. I will still have occasional frequency, but that entails going 10 - 12 times a day instead of 20. Sometimes I gos just 8 times a day. This med did not work right away for me. It took upping the dose and at least 2 weeks to notice a difference. Everyone is different. I'm glad you're feeling better already!!!

[Nugget]

Hi all,

I started having pain again back in October. The only thing that has helped, a little, has been a combo of heparin instills, xanax, and ice packs. I don't want to stay on xanax though and Ice packs only can be used at home. I have been taking a .25mg dose everyday for the past 2 weeks. I tried taking hydroxyzine at 10mg 2x a day also but it hasn't seemed to make a difference. I am going to try Elavil tomorrow night. I always start new meds on the weekends. I was doing a bit better until today because my menstrual cycle will be here any moment and it makes me feel so much worse.

I am really nervous that it won't work or will have negative side effects that will make me have to discontinue use. I am starting at a 10mg dose at night and the nurse says I can take up to two 10mg a day if the single dosage doesn't seem effective. I really want pain relief and I seriously hope this is an answer for me. Wish me luck! :pray:

I will let you all know how it goes.

Nugget~

[Mothergoose]

Re ick pks I live where it is cold so I keep a bottle of water in my car it freezes solid over night then when I am driving if I need it I just place this bottle between my legs and relief.

[roknrobbins]

Since I've heard so many positive things about the amitriptylline, I am considering asking my doctor to switch me to that. The only BIG drawbag, is I've heard it makes you gain weight. NOt necessarily from overeating, but from a change in metabolism.. What is your experience, for those who are currently taking it?

[Poppystock]

Hey rocknrobbins,

As far as weight gain on Elavil goes... The first few weeks I took it, I was definitely a bit hungrier during the day (and sleeping so much better) -- and my formerly non-existent sweet tooth seemed to flare up a bit! But after months on the drug, I find I'm back to eating as normally as I ever did. In fact, I've lost a lot of weight on the IC diet...so if you're following that, you should be just fine.

But I gotta be honest.. I love Elavil so much, I would stay on it, even if I'd immediately gained 200 pounds! It's such a relief not to be in constant pain.

Good luck!
Emily