Jaime--
Not sure if you've tried this, but, I've found taking the Elavil around bedtime or several hours before seems to really reduce the sleepiness and sedation side effects. I tend to sleep off the side effects if I take it at night and have no major sleepiness issues during the day. And yes, I have found it takes my body a little while to adjust to each dosage increase.

Good Luck !

I always take it at night just before going to bed, as I was told to. But I am still drowsy the next morning, and find it so hard to get up in the morning. Even taking 25mg made me drowsy until after midday the next day, and that isn't good when I have to get up early most days. The 10mg I am taking now, still makes me drowsy until about 10am. I think it just affects me that way more than it might do for other people.

~Jaime~

I have been on it for a month now.
I am pretty sure my doc switched it cos I was too groggy in the morning when I was taking Neurontin. But Elavil feels the same!! I will not take either of these meds if I need to be awake in the morning. Seriously, I just did a 2 week trip home and wouldn't even take it on the plane in fear that I would miss my connecting flight. Nothing can wake me up. I also didn't take it for those 2 weeks cos I felt it would be rude to be a zombie at others' houses!!
Anyway- that was a rant. Sorry!! I don't think this was useful info to anyone

It's OK, it just proves that I'm not the only one who feels that this med makes them too drowsy!

Hi - I'm new here - but wanted to make a quick reply on this post - I started taking 10 mg. of amytriptaline for neuropathic pain (transverse myelitis) in April. With in a week or so it seemed to really help my pain. I took it at bedtime and it knocked me out quickly. I was really drowsy in the mornings too - one day had to call in sick to work and go back to sleep until 10 am!
Also have been gaining weight.

Now - 4 mos. later, the sleepiness and the pain relief seem to be wearing off. I guess I might need to up the dosage, but I haven't talked to my doc. about it yet.

If you up the dosage then you will up your weight gain too . Like I said Elavil is a big time weight gainer.

Wow, that is so depressing. (How ironic, it's supposed to be an anti-depressant). I wonder how it causes weight gain? Just by slowing your metabolism? I mean if I control/ignore my ravenous appetite, and get plenty of excercise, how can I still keep gaining weight?!?!

As far as weight gain goes--- I've found it varies a lot from person to person. The first time I tried it I gained 7-8 lbs--- which my neuro predicted. I was ok with that because I NEEDED to gain weight. I think the "why" was because it increased my appetite big time. The second time I tried it (and have since stayed on it) I have gained nothing--and I am even on a higher dosage strength--go figure, lol.

L2L

It sure is! I've been on it for 4 weeks now, and the weight is slowly creeping up, even though I have increased my exercise!

I have myasthenia gravis and was given an rx for elavil in replace of topamax (for migraines) and trazodone (for sleep). I gained 25 lbs within 2 months! I couldn't stop eating..anything and everything. I even started craving sweets and I'm not usually into chocolate and the like. Secondly, elavil did not help me sleep nor was I groggy in the morning (like my pharmacist warned). I would toss and turn all night. And lastly, my blood pressure has gone up from an average of 100/70 to 150/100. Not good.

I stopped taking elavil about 10 days ago and am now back to trazodone, although a lower dose of 25mg, to help me sleep. My migraines have been okay with the exception of specific weather days and an IVIg treatment I get that brings them on, but then I take Amerge as my abortive. Tylenol 3s also help on some days.

I envy you people who had a positive experience with this drug. Unfortunately, I did not.