Drug- Elavil. How does it work for pain?
 

Hello!
I am totally baffled. I'm gonna give you the long story so you can see my confusion and then, hopefully, help me understand!
I am a tendonitis sufferer. I was on Nabumetone (relafen)500mg for several months along with Ultram (tramadol)50mg. During most of that time I was on about 100mg of Neurontin a day. After about 4 months of this cocktail my gums began to bleed pretty bad. (Like any time I sucked on my teeth I could spit out 2 tablespoons of blood and saliva.) I thought maybe this was due to the anti inflammatory and shared this with my doctor. We switched it to Ibuprophen 600mg and got better results for a while. Two months later, my gums are back to bleeding badly.
During the time I've been on nuerontin, my main complaint is that I cannot pull myself out of bed unless I have had at least 10 hours wheras normally I can do fine on 5- 8 hours a night. Last time I was at the doctor's, he wanted me to try Lyrica in place of Neurontin to improve that situation. The WC insurance denied that drug so I am back to nuerontin (no huge biggie).
Today at the doctor's I asked to be taken off ibuprophen. If it is responsible for my gums, I would hate to see what its doing to my stomach and other organs!! Doctor asked about Lyrica- told him it was denied. Next is when I thought I was gonna get a script for a different anti-inflammatory but instead he told me to quit the neurontin and gave me a script for Elavil.
What? No anti-inflammatory? No nerve drug? A anti- depressant??!!? How does Elavil work?? What's it gonna do for my tendons? He didn't even MENTION that this was a AD. I had no idea what it was until I looked on rxlist.com . I am so confused! :confused:

Can somebody school me on this?? Please :mfr_wha: I just wanted to save my insides as I'm saving my arms from the pain of tendonitis.... god- I shouldn't have written so much. OW! But I had to get the story and question out :Bang-Head:
THANK YOU MUCHLY!!

Hi--
I have been taking Elavil for about the past year for nerve pain. Yes, its an older anti depressant, but like many other meds (ei pamelor, neurotin, depakote) it can be used for other purposes, including pain. The way my neuro explained it to me was that Elavil increases the chemical seratonin in your brain (which can have an impact on pain), along with effecting several other of the brain's neuro transmitters, therefor decreasing nerve/neurological type pain.

My only "concern" or other thought is why is your neuro giving it for tendonites, which, as I am sure you know is Orthopedic in nature. Elavil is NOT an anti inflamatory and tends to work only on nerve pain. I have never heard of it being used for tendonites or other non nerve type pain. So, that throws up a few caution signs. However, since you were also on Neurontin-- which is another drug used for nerve pain, I am wondering if your doctor thinks there might be a neurologic component to your pain. Personally, I would ask the doctor about why you are being prescribed a drug for nerve pain (vs an anti inflamatory) when, to your understanding, your pain is caused NOT by nerve pain; and if he thinks there might be, at least in part, a neurologic component to it.

As far as the drug itself goes, I've not had any major problems with it. It tends to excaberate the tremors I already have from my anti seizure meds, and tends to make me a bit sleepy (thats why its commonly taken at bed time). Another common side effect is weight gain--- I experienced about an
8 lb weight gain my first trial run on it (i tried pamelor and lyrica before ending back up on Elavil ), but have not experienced it this time.

In anycase, I think its time for your dr and you to have a serious chat about what he thinks is going vs you, and why.

Hang in there !
L2L

Thank you so much L2L!! These are exremely good questions. I am going to write them down so I can have them with me when I talk to the doctor :D
> Is it normal for doctors not to return their patients calls?

I am glad I was able to help you a little.....

As far doctors and call backs go, I would ask what the doctor or office's policy about phone calls is. My hospital's policy is to have dr(s) return phone calls within 48 hrs. My neuro usually returns my calls within 24 hours if he is in clinic, but my pcp has taken more 48 hrs to return my calls. Another thing to ask about is who will return the call--- some clinics prefer you go through the nurse (who in turn will ask the dr) and she will call u back, but others--such as with my neuro, will have the actual dr call you back.

Good Luck !

elavil
 

The answer is complicated, but elavil is a reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine. By increasing extracellular concentration of these neurotransmitters, certain changes begin to take place. It is thought that the pain relief mechanism with these drugs has to do with altering "gating" of pain in the spinal column.

Elavil
 

It works good for pain if you want to gain weight. :rolleyes:

Low doses
 

Just wondering...What is the lowest dose of Amitriptyline you can take that will help with nerve pain?
I've just started on a low dose, and I hope it helps my nerve pain.
But I hope it doesn't make me put on too much weight, I really need to lose some! lol
:eek:
~Jaime~

My lowest dose Elavil was 10/ 20 mg (alternating 10 mg and 20 mg every other day ), but the lowest dosage I found any real relief at was 20 mg/day . I've played around a lot (with doctors permission) with dosages ranging from 10/20 to my current dose of 30 mg just depending on what side effects I was experiencing and what not. My current dose-- 30 mg doesn't provide complete relief with the pain, but it takes the edge off w/no major side effects......

Good Luck !

:) L2L

Btw-- I only weigh 94 lbs, so I know that plays a big role into figuring out what dosage helps with the least side effects.....

I'm not sure how the Elavil works for pain, just know that it worked for me. I have had atypical trigeminal neuralgia since '97. At it's worst pain level, somewheres around 2002, I was on 3600mg of Neurontin/ day, plus 2000mg of Vicodin/ day!!! Still experiencing pain, making the run from this neuro to another, still another...trying to find one that was even the least bit familiar with treating TN. After having tried Tegretol, Trileptal, Topamax, Baclofen..just to name a few, none of which had helped with my pain, a new neuro. asked if I had tried Elavil AND neurontin. I explained that yes they had tried the Elavil long ago before starting the neurontin. He then said "No, no...I mean BOTH as a medicine cocktail!!" Needless to say, I was scared of what this guy was trying to do to the pain, but figured I had nothing to loose at that point.
To shorten the story, I was totally pain free within 48 hrs, was totally off of the Vicodin a month later. Three months after that I began weaning down from the Elavil and remained totally pain free with just the neurontin for 3 yrs there after!!! So for me....it's the miracle drug, even though people DO know it yes, as an anti depressant.

Marilyn

I've started taking 10mg per day, but it hasn't helped much yet in relieving the nerve pain. It feels like it has actually fired up the nerve endings more, and now I always have pain and tingling in my scalp, whereas it was only happening occasionally there before. I could go up to 20mg, but I know I will be so drowsy all the time, as I was when I took 25mg and more a previous time.
I guess I'll have to give it a bit longer, it has only been 5 days...

:rolleyes:
~Jaime~

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 :tongue:

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

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.

amertriptiline
 

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!:(

elavil - no sleeping, weight gain and increased bp
 

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.:(

Glad this thread got bumped up again ! I am back down to 20 mg of Elavil. 30mg was starting to cause a little too much day time sleepiness..... I also just titrated on Neurontin and woooahhh is that stuff kinda weird, lol....