Re: elavil.........amitriptyline is the generic
From: Helen (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon Jan 11 16:12:04 1999
I just want to share that I have been taking amitriptyline since
1975...going on 24 years now. This was THE ONLY medication that gave me
any help with chronic pain caused by post-surgical adhesions. It was
the only medication that would help me get restful sleep at night!
"Anti" means "against"....literally it means "against" depression...in
other words it helps to prevent depression. The only side effect that I
have had over all of those years is "dry mouth." I was started out with
25mgs...with an interval of about 2 weeks *between each level of
amitriptyline*:..to 50mgs...then 75mgs...then 100mgs...then 125mgs and
finally it was increased to 150mgs. In other words there was a span of
about 10 weeks before I was put on 150 mgs of amitriptyline.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following information is taken from the information that came along
with my prescription for amitriptyline:
WHY AM I TAKING THIS DRUG? For depression, nerve pain, insomnia. May be
used for other purposes as well.
HOW SHOULD I TAKE IT? Limit alcohol intake. It may take a few weeks to
feel full effects of drug.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS? Dry mouth, tiredness, urinary retention,
blurred vision, sun sensitivity. Unlikely side effects are: dizziness,
coordination loss, rapid pulse, nightmares.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Mon, 11 Jan 1999, Toni wrote:
>
>At Mon, 11 Jan 1999, Holly wrote:
>>
>>Hi Toni,
>>
>>I just thought I would let you know that I'm also on amytipiline. It
>>really helps me sleep. It might also help with my IBS and Endo, but
>>doesn't take away all the pain. I just wanted to let you know that I
>>haven't put on more than a pound or two since being on it for the last 3
>>months. Those couple of pounds are probably from the holiday food I
>>gorged myself on! Good luck. Hope you feel better soon!
>>Holly
>>
>>On Mon, 11 Jan 1999, Toni Welsh wrote:
>>
>>> I cannot remember who wrote how they gained weight on elavil, but did it
>>> ibcrease your appetite or just put weight on you. I fI start to gain
>>> too much I will stop it. I am just feeling comfortable at the wieght I
>>> am at I lost 12 lbs. and now I don't want to gain it back!
>>>
>>> I am not over weight, I am 102 lbs. but I am only 5 ft. tall, if I
>>> gain alittle it feel like tons! I even went out an dbought new clothes
>>> to wear cause I was getting depressed. I do not like the wat it makes
>>> me feel, I am not even taking alot, but it seems to help with the pain,
>>> is inprimnine(sp) less to put weight on us, and maybe not so sedating!?
>>> I am thinking of asking pcp if I can try something else! But I am
>>> sleeping through the night better!
>>>
>>> As far as those gas pains, boy do they hurt, I am so tired of
>>> complaining,there I go again, I just told my gyn I was looking at it
>>> different from now on, and was going to deal with the pain.
>>>
>Hi Holly!
>
>Thanks for your info. So as long as you do not over indulge, your
>weight has been okay? I am going to watch it as much as I can, someone
>here said they gained 30 lbs on elavil, and at my height I would never
>handle that. If it is anti pressant, I would think you would be mor e
>depressed if you used it! Again thanks, I will try it alittle longer,
>the pcp said they do use it alot for IBS> I think it is haelping more
>than the pain meds. so I am confused, I still am having breakthrough
>pain, and when I do they are just as sharp as before. I hope my gyn
>does another lap in the spring, and hopefully he can get in to take down
>alot of adhesions! I do not like the feeling and dizziness with the
>elavil, but I am enjoying a better night's rest!
>
>Toni
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)