Starting Elavil...Keeping Fingers Crossed!

[Nicole in ATL]

Hi everyone,

I haven't been on the boards as much lately b/c I have been in bad shape past 6-8 weeks. I have been reading them some, but not posting as much. My frequency/urgency, pain, bladder spasms has been really bad. I used to only have to take pain meds 1 time a week or so, but then started having to take them everyday.

So, went back to uro and started elavil over the weekend (10 mg). I hope it helps me! I am ready for something to actually work!

I am still taking atarax (20 mg) and using oxytrol patch. Also, ditropan and percocet as needed.

I am worried about weight gain. I am also worried about the sedation. But I have to give it a try. I am tired of feeling so bad.

My uro talks to me about interstim every visit, but I am not ready to try it yet. I want to exhaust all oral meds first.

Any thoughts appreciated!

Take care,
Nicole hi

[franya]

Hi

i know how you feel! Been there tried all that! I have never tried oxytrol my doc just mentioned it the other day is it any good or a waste of time? I have been in a flare since last year (months) chronic pain I am thinking of trying the lazer tx what do you think?

Franya

[havingsuccess]

Good Luck with the elavil. I didn't like it but my schedule is totally backwards. I worked at night and never could things straightened out. I gained some weight with it but if you have a little willpower i think you'll be ok. good luck

success

[Olga]

Hi, hi
I tried several drugs to help my symptoms and everything caused pain and retention. Doctor said that he can't help me anymore with medications. He wrote prescription for Elavil 25 mg. I also keep fingers crossed that it would work and wouldn't cause pain and retention. I wish you a good Luck with this drug. I hope that it will work for you and make your symptons go away.
Best wishes to you,
Olga :

[kadi]

Hi,
Don't know if this is true or not, but my doctor told me weight gain doesn't usually happen at a 10mg dose. ?!! Said 150mgs are used for depression & that's where most of the weight gain stats come from...

Hope he's right, I just gained 2 pounds. (Thought it was Xmas cookies! They were good! They were plentiful! I ate many!)

Seriously, I've been on Elavil 4 months & this week is the first gain I've seen... But, I've worried about the weight issue too & am monitoring it pretty closely...

[Ginny]

I have been on Elavil for about 15 years. I did gain weight from it. Hopefully if it helps you
you will be able to exercise so you don't gain to much.

When I started it and each time it was increased I would be very tired all morning. It does go away after awhile. If you are having a real problem with this try taking it around 6 or 7 instead of bedtime.

All these years it has helped me sleep at night.

Ginny

[Nicole in ATL]

Thanks for all your feedback!

I am taking the elavil about 12 hours before I want to wake up. My uro suggested this. I definitely feel more tired. It is definitely a struggle to get out of bed, but has been that way since I started taking atarax (which I am still taking, but we lowered the dose by 10 mg since I am taking the elavil now). It is not worse since adding in the elavil.

I'm happy to hear some have not gained weight on elavil or only gained a little. I do feel slightly hungrier, but am trying hard to watch it. 10 mg is a low dose. What Kadi wrote makes sense. Weight gain can be a dose dependent side effect with many meds.

Uro wants me to increase the elavil slowly by 10 mg up to 50 mg, based on my results. I am sticking with 10 mg for at least a week or 2.

Franya: The oxytrol patch works better for me than oral meds for frequency/urgency and bladder spasms. I have alot of side effects with the oral meds, but have had very little with the oxytrol patch. It's worth a try, I think. I am not familar with the laser treatment you mentioned. Is that were they laser hunner's ulcers?

Olga: I hope the elavil works for you too! Keep us posted!

Thanks again for all of the replies. I really appreciate it.

Nicole blink

[mayray518]

When I started elavil the doctor put me on a 50 mg dose and it took 3 months to work. I have gradually worked myself down over the years and am now on 10 mg. It seems nowadays uros are starting patients on lower doses and working them up to higher ones.

[erinaj1997]

Hi Nicole hi

I hope the Elavil helps you. It sounds like it helps alot of people.
I was just put on Nortriptyline. Took the first one last night. I guess we'll both see soon enough!

I hope your feeling better soon kissing

Erin