Elavil has given me my life back, but now rapid heart rate!

[Anemone]

Hi everyone!

After a year of severe pain, pressure, burning, and trying many different medications, I finally started with a 25mg dose of Elavil and had some relief. After 1 month I went up to 50mg and it has been an absolute life saver! Although I still don't feel normal and have pain with sitting, I feel much better and am able to go for walks and even short drives. For 2 months on the 50mg I had no significant side effects, but now for the last 4 weeks I have had a rapid heart rate. I am getting everything checked out by my doctor and although my blood pressure is still within normal limits, my heart races even when I am resting and I feel out of breath and I am worried. I know my Dr. is going to recommend to discontinue the Elavil, for now she wants me to alternate between 25 and 50mg to see if that helps any, but last night I took only 25mg and today I was in quite a bit more pain and more burning than I have felt in months, no difference with the heart rate. Does anyone have any advice? I tried Imipramine in the past which did not help at all. Are there any other alternatives? Has anyone else experience a fast heart rate with Elavil, and what did you do?

I appreciate any help or advice you can share! So scared to lose the only thing that is keeping me going!

Thanks!

[leelee88]

Rapid heart rate is a side effect from Elavil.. I had to get off of it because of rapid heart beat and it raised by Blood Pressure.. I was able to change to Tofronal and it helped some.. I then tried Lyrica and it has given me my life back..

[Anemone]

Thanks Ronda! Maybe I can ask my doctor about starting on Lyrica. Tofranil (imipramine) did not work for me at all.

Has anyone else had luck with lowering their elavil dose to be rid of side effects, while still benefitting from pain relief?

[KatieB]

I have only recently been diagnosed with IC but my symptoms go back at least 15 years. My pain mgmt doc started me on 10 mg of Elavil and the first night I took it I slept from 10:00 until 5:00!!! And during the day I felt my pain was actually better!! But...after taking it for 3 days I started getting very dizzy and then 1 morning I got so dizzy that I passed out. Luckily I didn't fall just sort of landed on the toilet. My BP had actually gone WAY down!! So after that I cut the dose in half because I wanted to continue feeling better. But the dizziness continued and the pain relief wasn't there at 5 mg. I just started atarax but I don't seem to be getting the same relief from that as I did from the elavil. But I'll stay with it and see. Sometimes it just feels as though my body has turned against me. Good luck to you. I hope we all find some relief.