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09-08-2004, 03:08 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 61
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Using elavil instead of anthistamine
My gp said that it was unnecessary to be put on another antihistamine like hydroxyzine if i was already taking elavil, anyone else heard about this? I thought the two were unrelated.
Mindy
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09-08-2004, 03:17 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY
Posts: 259
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Elavil is not an antiihistimine...it is an antidepressent that at a low does is used to treat IC. It blocks the pain signals to the brain froom the bladder (I hope I explained it correctly). I know it is the only thing that helps me sleep at night. I am also taking atarax because of the mast cells in my bladder lining. I take that at night as well....I hope I was helpful. There is information about both drugs on this website.
Jamie
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09-08-2004, 03:23 AM
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#3
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Support Volunteer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: California
Posts: 6,011
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Page 85 of the IC Survival Guide by Dr. Robert Moldwin...
Elavil has an "antihistamine effect. This is an effect that's similar to hydroxyzine. Amitriptyine, in this instance, can decrease inflammation."
I don't know if that effect would be significant enough to rule out taking another antihistamine... Worth conversation with your doctor....
__________________
Kadi
-------------------------------------------------------------
I am not a medical authority nor do I offer medical advice. In all cases, I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.
------------------------------------------------------
This week's favorite one-liner:
"I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by...
New second favorite:
"And which dwarf are you?."
Adding a third because I'm just so darn easily amused...
"Eagles may soar, but weasels aren't sucked into jet engines."
Current treatments:
-IC diet
-Elavil 20mg at night
-Ditropan 5mg at night
-Continuous use birth control pills (4-5 periods/year)
-Heparin/Marcaine/Sodium Bicarb home instills every night & sometimes in the morning also
-Pyridium if needed, usually once a week or so
-1 Darvocet at bedtime,
-Flexeril 10mg at bedtime
-Dye Free Benadryl for allergies occasionally
-Pelvic floor & myofascial release (external only) physical therapy for 8 weeks, then home exercise program...
-Managing stress
-Fur therapy: Hugging the cat! 
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09-08-2004, 03:39 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY
Posts: 259
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Well my Dr is Dr Moldwin and he has me on both...Everyone's situation is different and you should discuss it with your doctor some more. I would print out some information from this website or if you have Dr Moldwin's book bring it to your next appointment to discuss it further. I know I am on the Atarax because of the mast cells in my bladder but everyone's situation is different.
Jamie
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09-08-2004, 03:40 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY
Posts: 259
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PS:
It seems that a popualr "threesome" for treating IC is Atarax, Elavil & Elmiron. It just seems to be used by a lot of doctors as a form of treatment. I know that others may be on additional meds as well but a lot are on at least the three I mentioned.
Jamie
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09-08-2004, 04:01 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 61
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This is how he put it
He said if your getting a dry mouth from elavil than your histamine blockers are reaching their fullest potential or something like that.
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09-08-2004, 04:39 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY
Posts: 259
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He may be correct but since I am not a doctor (lol) I don't know the answer to that. I do know that I had dry mouth at the beginning when I first started taking the meds but it was only a temporary side effect. I guess the next question should be is the elavil helping you? Are you taking any other meds? Did your biopsy show that you had an abundant amount of mast cells? Maybe he feels that atarax would not help you. Is he the doctor that diagnosed you or was it a urologist?
Jamie
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09-08-2004, 07:19 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 61
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Answer
He's not the doctor that diagnosed me, my endo specialist was. I don't even know if he did a biopsy. I really need to look into that because I need to get the records from him and bring them with me to the appt I have with a new urologist that my primary referred me to. I dont know yet if the elavil is working or not, I really have never taken it long enough for it to start being effective because I have low blood pressure and it causes me to pass out a lot which isn't fun, but I would much rather pass out than have pain so I'm going to give it another go. My dr. said that it would probably stop doing that to me after some time. The reason why I ask all this is because I was wondering if I should ask my new urologist about going on an antihistamine as well because I do get allergies. Thanks for all the responses.
Mindy
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09-08-2004, 10:15 AM
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#9
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ICN Member
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Eastern USA
Posts: 5,461
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You could always ask the new urologist just to get his or her opinion on it. I am on Elavil and Vistaril.
__________________
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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09-08-2004, 06:18 PM
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#10
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ICN Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 834
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Hello! I am on Elavil and Atarax at the same time. My uro believes that they work best when taken together. He also started me on Elmiron at the same time - which the 3 drugs combined he referred to as "The IC Cocktail". Unfortunately Elmiron is not a viable option for me as it increased my symptoms.
I would agree with the other members on the board. A nice talk with your doctor would be helpful.
Take Care~
Jennifer
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09-28-2004, 06:49 PM
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#11
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ICN Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 322
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My urologist started me on both < i can not take the antidepresants though so now i use a bigger dose of atarax, really helps me with the buring and tingling (the more antihistimines I take the better I feel). So if the elavil does not work then insist on the atarx or visteral
__________________
ANGELA
Lupus, Fibromyalgia, IC(of course), fatigue constantly
Moto:"we just fight till we can't"
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09-29-2004, 09:09 AM
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#12
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No longer active
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 912
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I have heard of combining elavil and atarax. I took atarax for awhile and it helped a little but not as much as the elavil. As for taking the two together I would have been a walking zombie all day. I guess some people tolerate the side effects better.
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