Elavil=Miracle Pill

[chrisjiujitsu]

I just wanted to let eveyone know how much success I am having with Elavil. I do think of it as a miracle pill for me. Work had always caused me pain and by the end of the day I was always reminded that there is something bad wrong with me and no one knows what. After two days on these pills I no longer have that problem. I finish my days at work most times in no pain at all. I am having some side affects so I am playing with Norpramin also at the moment to try to figure out how to get around the side affects (heartburn). I am still playing with my diet and have a ways to go. But I have never found success like this in a pill. I have read that it takes about 4 weeks to feel the affects of these antidepressants. I think they are referring to them affecting depression. The relaxing of the bladder is a side affect. I experienced other side affects within one day also (severe dry mouth). 25mg a day in the morning works for me at the moment. I am trying to see if I can get down to 10mg.

Here is a good link I found
http://www.ichelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=221

[strobers]

I find Elavil very helpful too. I prefer that I not have to take anything chemical. But if the choice is between poisoning my body and getting the relief, I'll take the relief.

[webslave]

Elavil (amitriptyline) is an old, well known and safe drug (when used correctly). But keep it away from children and troubled teens. It is one of the most frequently used drugs in suicide and accidental poisonings.

[Canbob]

I have definitely been help by Elavil as well; however, it leaves me drowsy and lethargic for most of the day. Guess I'm a weenie! I took it on and off for about 6 months. There is no way I could take the stuff in the morning. If so, I would just drift through the day. Recently, I was taking 1/4th of a 25 mg tab at bedtime but I've been chemical free (except for Quercetin) for the last 4 weeks. Elavil is much easier to give up than diazepam. What a joy! Now I can think and stay awake. My advice is to take as little as you can get away with. My advice, go a month or so and then lay off them. I’m doing pretty well now. My plan for the next flare day it to take the "miracle pill" for a couple of days and then stop again. We'll see.

[carld]

I have been helped by 10mg of Elavil for over a year and in the last 4 weeks I cut it to 5 mg at night before bedtime.

Elavil has helped me in two ways .

1. It has calmed the nerves in my pelvis to help create a healing environment from muscles that have been constantly clenched for many years. So it helped with my discomfort. I do not consider Elavil to be a masking the pain type of med because it clearly has aided my nerves.

Now most importantly here...

2. Elavil in a very low dose has helped with my anxiety. So along with my cognitive work...Relaxation, neurofeedback, deep breathing and living in the moment as best I can and of course moment to moment relaxation. By doing all of these things, it really allows the Elavil to be part of my recovery. If I have my anxiety under control, then muscles and nerves can relax and heal over time.

[chrisjiujitsu]

I am aware of the suicidal tendency of those coming off the drug. I don't know what dosage are required to feel that affect. I am thinking the dosages we take would not leave us feeling like that. I have felt lethargic at times when I started out on the higher dosage (50mg), I would call it depression I guess. It was really weird because I was in no pain at all but felt sort of depressed. 50mg was to much for me, I get the same benefits with 25mg in the morning. The sedative affects help to calm my overall anxiety. It is a balancing act I suppose. I am still getting heartburn like a SOB, so I have to figure something else out. Nexium helps but will not fix the heartburn problem for me. My pain levels were so low, I was inclined to abandon/slack off on all my other treatments that are inconvenient (hot bath, biofeedback). I switched back to Norpramin today, I am thinking it doesn't work as well for me but I will see.

[carld]

I am aware of the suicidal tendency of those coming off the drug. I don't know what dosage are required to feel that affect. I am thinking the dosages we take would not leave us feeling like that.

25mg down to 5mg is a very low dose of this drug.

[webslave]

.. suicidal tendency of those coming off the drug ... depression ... heartburn ...

Chris, not many people have these side effects. I've never heard anyone mention them before. The chief side effects seem to be lethargy, constipation and weight gain, especially at higher doses.

I did get terrible heartburn from alpha blockers (because they relaxed my lower esophageal sphincter), but at the low dosages I recommend for Elavil, any side effects are difficult to notice.

[chrisjiujitsu]

I am calling lethargy depression. They are very similar in my book. It lasted only a couple days, so I am sure it is the lethargy you are referring to. I just thought this is what depression feels like. I felt void of all desire and lack of emotion. I am prone to heartburn indigestion due to being on long dosage of anti inflammatories before I got a proper diagnosis. Norpramin is not giving me the heartburn. I felt just as good on it today as I did with Elavil, I hope its not a fluke but will reply on that later.

[inflamed]

I have just been just started taking this and asked the doc for only 10mg is that what the experienced users recommend or should I have started on slightly higher i.e 25mg

cheers as always

[carld]

I have just been just started taking this and asked the doc for only 10mg is that what the experienced users recommend or should i have start on slightly higher i.e 25mg

cheers as always

I would go with 10mg. I have found it helpful. Now I take 5mg for now.

[strobers]

I have just been just started taking this and asked the doc for only 10mg is that what the experienced users recommend or should i have start on slightly higher i.e 25mg

cheers as always

Too save money I get the 25 mg pill and bite it in half. I take mine before I go to bed.

[chrisjiujitsu]

My opinion on that is to try a higher dose just in case the lower dosages don't do it for you. I was absolutely blown away that these pills hit my problem right on the nail so to speak. I did not think it was possible. You can figure out the proper dosages after the fact. It is used to treat depression at dosages starting at 75mg up to 200mg per day. I started at 50mg a day. That is probably on the high end of the spectrum but I would recommend that just to see if it works or if you should try another trycyclic.

[inflamed]

Cheers for the pointers people, I've got 10 now so will see how it goes, fingers toes any eyes crossed.

[chrisjiujitsu]

I have now tried Pamelor (Nortriptyline). I was on it for about 3 weeks at 50mg per day. I didn't feel the positive benefits like I did from the Elavil as much but I did feel something. I noticed some negative endocrine side effects. Likely lower testosterone and higher estrogen. I felt some but not serious erection issues and some nipple pain. The nipple pain was totally alarming because I have had some estrogen issues in the past and breast development is only corrected with surgery. Don't worry, nipple pain gives a pretty good warning before any noticeable development takes place but I stop immediately. At least that is my experience. My first experience with the estrogen issues was from a supplement when I was young and stupid. I have a couple grams of fat under my nipple now and no one notices except me.

The Elavil may have given me more erections but probably just related to relieving the symptoms of this condition. I feel it is very safe and am going to try to work it out. I am going to try 5mg and see if I can handle it.