Elavil and weight gain???? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

IBNPAIN · 07-12-2004, 07:14 AM

Hi,
I saw my doctor today and he put me on a new prescription for the drug Elavil. Is this the drug that makes you gain so much weight when you start taking it? If it is, then I don't want to get the prescription filled because I just got off Zoloft and Remeron and gained almost 60 pounds with those. My heart and my self esteem can't take another pound. The doctor said it would help with my sleeping, but I sleep fine because I already take 2mgs of Xanax a night that my shrink prescribes for me. Is Elavil for something other than depression and sleep aid? I go to my shrink on Friday and will see what he thinks about it. If all Elavil does it help me sleep then I don't really see a need to spend the money on it and risk any more weight gain.

Any thoughts or experiences with this drug will be so grealy appreciated.

**kadi** · 07-12-2004, 07:20 AM

Elavil has been a lifesaver for me, it's reduced my pain & nocturia to only getting up 1-2 times a night most nights. (Before that I was having to pee every 15 minutes all day & all night)

I really recommend getting a copy of the Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Dr. Moldwin. It answers so many questions about the different treatments out there... It says this about Elavil...

Elavil's benefits are:
1. causes sleepiness (good at night)
2. blocks transmission of pain
3. relaxes the bladder
4. has a mild antihistamine effect

At the 10-20mg I take, I have not had any weight gain, though I did crave more sugar when I upped it to 20mg. I think the increase in clothing sizes (I'm 2 sizes above my usual) is because I haven't exercised this year because of IC. Because I haven't gained a pound on it (have been on it 10 months)

Hope that info helps you.

ICLori · 07-12-2004, 08:30 AM

I'm so glad they finally have you on Elavil, thank goodness! If you can tolerate Elavil, you could very well be one of the 60% of IC'ers who gets good pain relief from it. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Blessings, Lori

IBNPAIN · 07-12-2004, 08:47 AM

Thanks to those of you who answered my Elavil questions. I really have no problem sleeping at night, but it it help that much with the pain then I should probably give it a try. I am so tired of gaining weight that the thought of gaining more just scared me to death. I have gone from a size 9/10 to a size 16 in a little over a year.

Thanks,
Carol

Iris · 07-12-2004, 11:08 AM

Hi, I am on Elavil, and must admit I have gained weight, but the med has helped me so much to get the much needed rest through the night, that I needed. It does give me a sweet tooth, which at times I give in to, but I am so glad I am on a med like Elavil, that has helped me so much with my IC, and bladder pain. Hugs Iris.

:thumbsup:

Hedy · 07-28-2005, 07:50 AM

Anyone every go off.... I have been on it for 7 years and my doc is taking me off. Well I was weened and now that I have stopped I feel very strange. I was sick to my stomache, headaches, sweating, dizzy and fatigue. I couldn't sleep for a while, now I'm ok and the nausea is better. But my question for you guys is, has anyone every gone off and one, lost the weight they gained or had an easier time working it off and two, did you loose your appitite. I don't feel nearly and hungry and my sugar cravings are way low.

Just some words of experiance would help.

Ginny · 07-28-2005, 08:52 AM

Yes, Elavil will cause you to gain weight.

cybersis · 07-28-2005, 09:15 AM

I was on the drug about 10 years ago for migraines. I gained 50 pounds even thought I continued to exercise daily. My appetite was out of this world and no amount of exercise helped. I finally got off of the drug - same symptoms as you described like a bad flu. I continued to exercise and watch my portion sizes and fat content and am happy to say I lost the 50 pounds. Since being diagnosed with IC I have regained 15 back due to no exercise and limited food choices. I am trying to get back on track but its slow work. The older you get the harder it gets to lose weight, I least that's what I find.

Hedy · 07-28-2005, 09:41 AM

Well that gives me hope. I run 10-12 miles a week and my weight would not budge not even a lb, so it makes me feel a bit better that now I think I will loose the weight. I was able to loose 30lbs of the 65 I gained, and now I want to loose the rest. How long did the flu like symptoms last, I still feel a bit under the weather?

mags · 07-28-2005, 10:34 AM

THe drug itself doesn't make you gain weight, but it is supposed to increase your appetite, especially for sweets. I just got it prescribed to me too and will have to pay attention to how much i am eating.

Specs · 07-28-2005, 06:19 PM

Just a reminder that not everyone gains weight. I've been on it for a year now, and I have not only NOT gained weight, I have lost 10 pounds now. (And I have always had a weight problem.. so it's not because I have a fast metabolism or anything!)

It's easy to not gain weight on elavil, despite what a LOT of people on this board will say. The first step is to acknowledge that it will raise your appetite and make you crave sweets. As long as you watch what you're eating and aren't shoveling food into your mouth every chance you get, it is unlikely you will gain weight.

Hedy · 07-29-2005, 05:41 AM

I wouldn't accuse people of shoveling food in their mouths, thats a bit incensitive. I gained weight and lost it, but I see people of this board, who are stuggling with the gains and can't loose. So try and be a bit more considerate with the way you phrase things. Just a thought

**kadi** · 07-29-2005, 06:21 AM

Specs, the statistics don't agree with what you're saying about "it's easy to not gain weight on Elavil". More people gain weight on it than not. It is a well documented side effect and all my doctors warned me it could be a problem.

I have never had a weight problem before, do not "shovel food into my mouth", and have had to work far harder to maintain than I have ever had to before to just lose 5 pounds. For some of us the appetite increase is quite difficult. There are nights I am awake because I am so hungry, but know I have eaten enough for the day (I keep a food log with calories, etc), so I resist or eat something low calorie hoping to sleep. It is a very difficult side effect and something I have never had to deal with before.

I think you are very lucky to not have had this problem with the medication and you could be thankful and not self-righteous about it. You probably wanted to give encouragement that weight gain doesn't HAVE to happen and you're right, it may not for everyone. But it's not easy for everyone. You don't know what dose people are taking or what other meds they are on. All this can make a difference.

You usually have very helpful things to say on these boards, so don't go away, just try to be a bit more careful, okay?

Dusty · 07-29-2005, 06:25 AM

I have taken elavil for over 15 years now I think it is. I take it for my IBS as the doc said it relaxes the colon and it does. I also later my uro said it would be good for IC and I think it does, that one is hard for me to know since I had already been on it, but I agree I feel it relaxes my bladder. I also take it for my fibro. So it has several benefits and it does help me sleep as I live with severe/chronic pain for all kinds of reasons. I have tried to go off of it twice now and all my aches and pains get worse so I will stay on it. It seems to help in so many areas. I have gained a little weight, but I am also not as active as I was physically. I did not know that is where my sweet tooth comes from. I have thought that strange because I remember never being a person that craved sweets..lol. I think weight gain is hard for many of us as our lifestyles have changed and our diets have changed. Hang in there those of you that are trying to make a change in that one also...I think that is a toughy to take weight off and that one is hard for me as my metabolism is not like it was. I know how you all feel that have gained as it is hard and you want it back off, but it is not that easy.
Everybody have a wonderful day,
Dusty

Specs · 07-29-2005, 02:18 PM

I apologize for my choice of words - they were not meant in a harmful way. I am a former overeater, so I used to 'shovel food in to my mouth'. When I initially started on elavil, I noticed these tendencies started to creep back into my eating habits because my cravings for sweets increased. It was not an accusation aimed at anyone who gains weight because of elavil.. it was merely a choice of words I made.

At no time did I say I never experienced the appetite increase and sugar cravings. Quite the opposite, in fact: I believe EVERY post I have made about it says to *acknowledge* the cravings, because they happened to me, they happen to you, they happen to almost everyone. The point I make is that just because the appetite is increased, doesn't mean you have to give in to it.

I understand that the statistics on Elavil show that weight gain is a major side effect, and every time a topic comes up, people make a point of saying that they gained weight. I believe it is important to also speak up when weight gain doesn't happen, perhaps pointing to the fact that some people have had positive experiences on this drug in regards to weight gain.

Oh, and in regards to being 'self righteous': I don't think that slinging insults is necessary, Kadi. At no time have I ever implied I am better than anyone else.. we all have this condition, we all suffer with it. I believe that I have positive and constructive things to contribute about IC.. so like it or lump it, I'm here to stay.