Elavil or Nortriptyline?
 

I'm on Lyrica, 200 mg. per day. Every few weeks it quits working, so I have to increase. So now, my Dr. suggested adding an TCA like Elavil or Notriptyline to the mix. Anyone here used a TCA with Lyrica and if so, which one did or do you use?

I've heard that Cymbalta is great, but I don't tolerate that class of drugs well. So, first I'm gonna try a tricyclic.

Elavil has shown effects in inducing growth factors in the peripheral nervous system. The other TCAs have not shown this ability. So it would be preferred. But nortriptyline has fewer sedative side effects.

There is an article here on this forum about the new Elavil research. I don't have time to search for it now, since I am leaving in 10 degree weather to go the hospital for my lab work.

thanks Mrs. D. I'm going to have to make a decison now. I had planned on the nortriptyline due to less side effects. I've used Elavil in the past but the side effects were hard to deal with.....much to think about now.

I am actually on Cymbalta.......
 

I know you said you don't tolerate that class of drugs well, to be truthful, just FYI, I don't believe it has done anything for my nerve pain, as it has been lately advertised for. As far as for my depression......I think you can guess by my last few posts how it working for that!

Here's the article
 

Wow..........
 

Very impressive.........I think I am going to ask to change over to it.

Not only for symptomatic relief, but it sounds like it may do some repair work (if I am interpreting this correctly)

Thanks for the info.

I was on Elavil for 7 years for bladder pain. It worked very well. I took 50 mg. but it took me 5 months to work up to that dose. That is why I was considering trying the nortriptyline this time, less side effects. When I went off the Elavil 5 years ago to get pregnant, my bladder pain was significantly improved, might have been some repaired nerves? Who knows.

The doses typically used for PN are smaller than antidepressant ones. I would not expect much in the way of depression alleviation therefore.

Thanks for finding that article. I had to go out in this frigid weather, for medical tests at 7am (fasting). It was 6 degrees out!

They had told me that I wouldn't get an depression relief from the 50 mg. of Elavil I was on, but honestly, I can say, that the 7 years I was on Elavil were my happiest every. So for me, it did help. But I respond to mouse doses of all meds! Except Lyrica.

If treating depression & neuro pain.......
 

wouldn't it be reasonable to take a higher dose if one wanted to treat depression and neuro pain. I would assume it would work even better for neuro pain at a higher dose and also help depression. Is my thinking wrong?