Did elavil help you? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Nicole in ATL · 02-20-2004, 06:03 AM

Hi everyone,

I have been taking elavil for 6 weeks now (up to 30 mg/day now).

For those of you that had success with elavil, how long did it take before you had improvements and at what dose? (not sure anymore if you can post dosages or not).

For those of you that elavil didn't work for, how long did you give it a try before you stopped it?

I wish it was working better. My frequency, urgency, pressure and pain are still bad enough where I need pain meds more often than not.

Nicole

Shelleynz · 02-20-2004, 06:17 AM

Hi Nicole, Pre-Neurontin, I needed 75mg. Elavil for pain & freq. This dose caused side affects and luckily was able to reduce to 25mgs when I started Neurontin.
Shelley

tigger_gal · 02-20-2004, 07:05 AM

I took it about 3 months and it just made me mean.. it did not help me sleep or any pain.. hope iit works for you

Brat

mayray518 · 02-20-2004, 07:12 AM

Elavil is the only thing that worked for me and I tried it all. I took 50 mgs for 3 months and it was like a miracle. That was 4 years ago--I am now down to 10 mg. It made me real tired in the beginning and I almost stopped taking it but glad I didnt. It made me mean too Brat but then I always am (ha).

**jaime15** · 02-20-2004, 07:14 AM

Hi Nicole,
The elavil @ 25mg didn't help me at all. I kept up with it for 2 1/2 months. After alot of sleep and 20 extra pounds with the stuff, I stopped taking it. I just couldn't tell a difference.
Maybe if I had asked the uro to up the dosage it might've worked. Who knows. Now I'm trying to lose the extra weight so I'm afraid of the side effects again.
I hope it kicks in for you and you get to feeling better!!! grouphug

Iris · 02-20-2004, 07:56 AM

Hi Nicole, I have been on Elavil for about a year and a half now, and it has helped me a lot, I take 25 mgm a day, just before I go to bed, and so far so good. I have gained weight, but I also eat more than I should, I know that, and I am slacking on the exercise side. I honestly cannot remember how long it took to work for me, as I was tried on so many different things that did not work. Elmiron does not work for me, tried Lexapro and that did not work, I cannot take Percoset or Vioxx, or Vicoden, makes me terrible sick, so we ended up with Efferxor XR, Elavil and Ambien, like I said so far so good, its been just under two years.Hope you find the right meds tohelp you out, take care and hugs Iris. hi grouphug

**kadi** · 02-22-2004, 08:14 AM

Hi there,
Elavil 10mg & Ditropan 5mg together- I take them an hour before bedtime & can sleep for 7-8 hours with only one to two awakenings to use the restroom. Before these meds - I was lucky if I could sleep an entire hour.

It's partial success. I still feel like I have to pee all the time during the day (usually try to ignore it, because peeing doesn't make more than a 5 minute difference), still can't wear pants, have a very restricted diet, put a folded scarf under my seatbelt in the car and am very upset about all of it.

But, I am grateful for the sleep these two meds gave me -I was so sick before them, I couldn't work. I'm currently uncomfortable all the time, but functional.

Nicole in ATL · 02-23-2004, 12:26 AM

Thanks for your feedback everybody!

I thought it was interesting that some of you thought the elavil made you "mean". I have felt more irritable lately, but thought it was more related to feeling crappy. But maybe elavil is contributing factor.

It seems my frustratin tolerance is really low right now. I'm hoping that will improve as I start to feel better.

I am also planning my wedding, so I am super stressed.

Thanks again and I welcome more posts!!

Nicole

poetgirl · 02-23-2004, 01:46 AM

Hi Nicole,

You and I have talked about this some backchannel, but yes, Elavil helped me so much! I'm taking 25mg at bedtime and I rarely ever get up at night now. The bladder/vulvar pain I was experiencing is gone unless if I'm in a bad flare, which doesn't happen unless if I've eaten/drank something I shouldn't have or overdid it in the romance department (too much of a good thing, I suppose...) lmao

Elavil didn't make me mean -- just groggy in the morning (sometimes still does if I take it too late and then don't get enough sleep.)

Joanne · 02-23-2004, 02:47 PM

Hi Nicole,
Elavil has helped me alot. I've been taking it now for about 3 years. I did notice a little weight gain, but not much. I get up alot less at nite now.
Joanne

jeanniebug · 03-20-2004, 04:57 PM

Hi!

Well color me a newbie at Elavil, I've only been taking it for 3 days! I am very sensitive to meds..and was told to take 10 mg at night. I was a complete zombie during the day, even at this low dose! So I cut back to 5 mg for now, until I build up a better tolerance for it. I bought a nifty little pill cutter at Walgreen's, it works great! Of course, you should always advise your doctor if you are changing your dosage, which I did. I did not want to stop taking it though..because it's helped me alot already!

I am so shocked! I just had a colonoscopy on Thursday, and started it that same night. Normally, I would be in a major flare right now, from drinking all the Co-Lyte (prep for procedure) plus stress from last week. I feel some twinges and pressure but the pain is much better..and my vaginal pain is almost gone! I hope things stay this way..I can deal with some sleepiness during the day, and I have not had any appetite increase so far. In fact, my appetite has been much lower these past 3 days. I guess only time will tell. Oh, and I hope it does not make me mean...part of the reason I went on it, is because I was becoming a big fat troll from my pain! I was depressed and angry from hurting so much. Just wanted to share my experience so far....take care!