Re: Any positive experiences with Elavil?

November 13, 2007

I was up to 100mg of Elavil for about a month (I'm weening down to try

another drug), and while adjusting at each point I had to step up was

difficult, it was only for one day, and then I was back to normal

sleep-wise..I ended up just taking the next dose up on a saturday

night so i could sleep in as long as I needed to sunday (not a good

plan for church-goers, I know). Also, while I did gain some weight, I

don't attribute it to the Elavil, but more to my lack of exercise as a

product of my pelvic pain, and I've only gained about 5lbs, so it's

not too horrible. And I've never had a problem retaining urine

Only downside in my case is that it didn't help with my pain, but I've

heard of a lot of women here who it has helped! Well, okay, it did

actually help with me for a while, I just had extenuating

circumstances that rendered the Elavil unhelpful (i.e. working too

many crappy jobs that had me standing my entire shift). So I wouldn't

despair, hun! Just go into it believing it will make you better,

because in many cases it does, and try to stay positive I know it's

rough at this point, but if you lose hope, even if the drug is

helpful, it won't seem that way b/c you're anticipating ill affects.

But you probably already know that

Good luck!

Beth

>

> So, I'm finally going to a specialist (and starting pt soon), and my

doctor prescribed me elavil.

> And I'm scared witless at this point from reading all the negative

reviews and horrible side

> effects. Aside from the quality of life issue presented by the

vestibulitis, I like my life (and

> my mind) as it is right now, and I can't afford to have it that

horrendously interrupted by what

> I'm seeing described here as disastrous side effects.

>

> So, um, did anyone take Elavil and NOT feel permanently

unconscious/become 15 pounds

> heavier/retain urine/etc/etc/etc?

>

November 14, 2007

>

> So, I'm finally going to a specialist (and starting pt soon), and

my doctor prescribed me elavil.

> And I'm scared witless at this point from reading all the negative

reviews and horrible side

> effects. Aside from the quality of life issue presented by the

vestibulitis, I like my life (and

> my mind) as it is right now, and I can't afford to have it that

horrendously interrupted by what

> I'm seeing described here as disastrous side effects.

>

> So, um, did anyone take Elavil and NOT feel permanently

unconscious/become 15 pounds

> heavier/retain urine/etc/etc/etc?

>

I was prescribed elavil in 2004 I took it for about a year and a

half. I have to say it was the best thing I could have ever done. All

of my symptoms were gone within about a month, I may have gained a

little weight but compared to what I was going through at the time it

was well worth it. My doctor recommended that I try and go off of it

to see what would happen and if my symptoms reappeared I could just

go back on it, I went off of it and was scared to death but I have

not had one symptom since. That was in early 2006. There were 2 side

effects that I did notice one was that I slept really good, and my

sex drive was highly increased and I have no complaints about either

of those side effects. Good Luck and I hope your outcome is as good

as mine was.

November 14, 2007