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10-12-2009, 11:10 PM
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#1
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ICN Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
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I heart Amitriptyline (Elavil)
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
__________________
Celexa 20mg
Amitriptyline 25mg
Trimetherpim (long term therapy to stop any new infections)
IC Diet
For flares:
Tramadol
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10-13-2009, 02:32 AM
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#2
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ICN Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 121
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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  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
__________________
[i]Dx: 10/08
Meds
Elmiron 3x a day
Prosed 3x a day
birth control to try and stop period so no pain, (even though my tubes are tied)
Effexor XR 1x a day, 75mg
Elavil 50mg before bed
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10-13-2009, 07:16 PM
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#3
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ICN Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
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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
__________________
Celexa 20mg
Amitriptyline 25mg
Trimetherpim (long term therapy to stop any new infections)
IC Diet
For flares:
Tramadol
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10-16-2009, 04:59 AM
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#4
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ICN Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 173
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Congrats on with finding success with Elavil. I love Elavil, it's the medication that gave me my life back! : )
__________________
Dx Vulvodynia April 2009
Dx Vular Vestibulitis May 2009
Dx Pelvic Floor Dysfunction May 2009
Have had vaginal pain on and off since 2002...but never was taken seriously until it got bad in Feb. 2009
Current Treatment:
Elavil
Lidocaine 2%
OTC pain meds
Ice packs/heating pads
Vicodin (for pain emergencies--have not needed a narcotic since early June 2009, very happy about that!)
Miralax
Physical therapy-I graduated!!
Praying for everyone's pain to stop 
If you have severe vaginal pain and have never tried Elavil I recommend asking your doctor if it's right for you. It does not work for everyone, but it has changed my life for the better and am thankful for that everyday.
I do not have IC...just some how wound up with many of the related pelvic pain conditions.
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10-16-2009, 10:45 AM
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#5
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ICN Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 878
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Ditto!!
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10-16-2009, 11:28 AM
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#6
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ICN Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 131
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Yay!
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.
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10-16-2009, 04:20 PM
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#7
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ICN Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 53
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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
__________________
Suspected IC since May 2009
Soft Diagnosis August 2009
Current Treatment:
IC Diet
Elmiron 3 x 100 mg per day
Elavil 1 x 25 mg per day
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10-16-2009, 05:02 PM
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#8
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ICN Staff
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 10,489
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Same with me...IC Diet and Amitriptyline have enabled me to live a pretty normal life.
__________________
Sharon
Shopping??? Did someone mention shopping? I'll get my hat... ;-)
Where I can be found most days.
If not there, then here
Link to the ICN Patient Handbook:
http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/
Link to the IC Diet:
http://www.ic-network.com/diet/
IC Volunteers are not medical authorities nor do we offer medical advice. In all cases, we strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.
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10-17-2009, 10:51 PM
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#9
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ICN Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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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
__________________
Celexa 20mg
Amitriptyline 25mg
Trimetherpim (long term therapy to stop any new infections)
IC Diet
For flares:
Tramadol
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10-20-2009, 07:25 PM
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#10
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ICN Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Central IL (near Champaign and Bloomington)
Posts: 1,477
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My elavil has been my lifesaver also. 
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.
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10-21-2009, 01:29 PM
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#11
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ICN Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 131
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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.
__________________
Your Friend,
Michelle
Newly diagnosed with IC
Elmiron, 100mg 3x per day
Imipramine, 25 mg 3x per day
Lorazapam (as needed) .5 mg
Claritin
Zovia, birth control (ongoing - to prevent flare)
Fish Oil
Prelief
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10-21-2009, 10:12 PM
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#12
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ICN Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 31
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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
__________________
Celexa 20mg
Amitriptyline 25mg
Trimetherpim (long term therapy to stop any new infections)
IC Diet
For flares:
Tramadol
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11-13-2009, 11:41 AM
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#13
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ICN Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 206
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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?
__________________
Diagnosed Sept. 2009 based on symptoms
Current Medications:
Elmiron 100 mg 3x per day (started Sept. 09)
Glucosamine w/MSM 1000 mg per day (started Oct. 2009)
IC Diet
Ativan as needed .5 mg (this really seems to help with my symptoms)
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11-13-2009, 12:20 PM
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#14
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ICN Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Eastern USA
Posts: 5,461
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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.
__________________
Kim
Diagnosed August 2001
Current IC meds: Elmiron (since 2001), Levaquin (one pill after intercourse to prevent UTIs), Lexapro (since 2003 for depression & anxiety, but also helps my IC)
Past IC meds: Amitriptyline (Elavil), Hydroxyzine (Vistaril), Detrol LA (They all helped, but I was able to discontinue them.)
My IC story: http://www.ic-network.com/patientstories/kim.html It's very outdated now. I've been virtually symptom free and able to eat & drink whatever I'd like for several years now.
*****************************
“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” ~ Viktor Frankl
“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.” ~ Brian Tracy
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11-13-2009, 12:22 PM
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#15
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ICN Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 206
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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!
__________________
Diagnosed Sept. 2009 based on symptoms
Current Medications:
Elmiron 100 mg 3x per day (started Sept. 09)
Glucosamine w/MSM 1000 mg per day (started Oct. 2009)
IC Diet
Ativan as needed .5 mg (this really seems to help with my symptoms)
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