Re: elavil

[Guest guest]

Carol,

Antidepressants like Elavil are also called adjuvant analgesics

which means that they can be used to treat pain conditions.

Mainly neuropathic pain. It works by causing the nerves to stop

firing so much. When they fire a lot this is what causes the

chronic pain. A booklet I have on the issue of treatment

options for chronic pain goes on to say, " Adjuvant analgesics

are particularly important for the treatment of neuropathic

pain. The kind of pain may be difficult to treat. " What this

means is that it can take time to find the right combination of

meds to treat the chronic pain. The booklet goes on to say that

" Combining different drugs may give the best results. For

example combining gabapentin (comment from me: gabapentin is the

generic equivalent of Neurontin the sister drug to Lyrica) and

Morphine gives better relief for neuropathic pain than using

either one alone. "

This booklet also talks about how some with chronic pain can

have problems with sleeping because of anxiety, and depression.

It went on to say that treating the anxiety and depression may

decrease the need for pain medications. But it also says " On the

other hand, relief of pain may significantly reduce anxiety and

depression. "

In relation to SSRIs (a class of antidepressants) it says, " are

often used for depression, they are also beneficial to persons

who are anxious. The dose of these drugs needs to be increased

slowly over time so they can take a while to begin to work. If

persons are extremely anxious, they can get quick benefit from

the use of a benzodiaepine (comment from me: like the

Lorazepam). The drug diazepam (Valium) is a member of that

class. "

Most of the information I'm giving you comes from a booklet put

out by the American Pain Foundation called: " Treatment Options:

A Guide for People Living With Pain " .

To request the booklet send an e-mail to:

info@... and let the lady (her name is Carol)

know that I mentioned the booklet to you.

To find out more about the American Pain Foundation please check

out: http://www.painfoundation.org

They have a library of articles you can check out that can give

you a ton more information as well. And yes, they are familiar

with " vulvodynia " (just wanted to mention that in case you were

wondering).

Kristy

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the

Yahoo! Auto Green Center.

http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/