ELAVIL Reviews (AMITRIPTYLINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.1 (585 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ELAVIL with similar:
Type: Brand name discontinued; available as generic
|
Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 |
More on ELAVIL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ELAVIL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Chronic Headaches and Migraines | At first I encountered dry mouth. I am taking 10mg of this along with 80mg of Nadolol (blood pressure med) for treatment. I was sleepy and groggy until my new and better sleep patterns established themselves. Some weight gain and increased appetite. | I am concerned that the effectiveness of the Elavil has tapered off. In the past month or so, headache frequency is almost what it was before these 2 scripts. I cannot even distance walk for exercise without getting a headache, fibromyalgia type symptoms---soreness and tenderness, etc. Am considering taking myself off of both and trying a new physician. | F | 42 | 6 months | 6/24/2009 | 2 | IC frequency urgency and pain | hot flash after taking it, trails, hallucinations, frightening and disturbing nightmare after 24 hours of stopping it (afraid to go to sleep tonight), sensitive to sound, pastey dry mouth (that i could tolerate if the other things weren't there) | after reading these ratings I'm sure its the elavil but i'm also on atarax and elmiron and altho i was on the elmiron and the atarax prior to taking the elavil i can't figure out why after 48 hours of taking the last dose that i'm still experiencing the trails and the sound sensitivity, was it the combo of the elavil and the atarax, i'm afraid of the nightmares tonight which were REALLY disturbing and frightening last night. there is no way i could deal with these nightmares until my body got used to the drug. my roommate asked if i wanted to go to the hospital. i'm halving my atarax dose tonight and seeing if that will help until this gets out of my system. i don't know if i should be driving like this--yikes! help! i am not as violently angry as i was after taking the sixth dose 48 hours ago. wow, i was enraged, screaming, crying. it is scary to think about. | F | 36 | 6 days | 6/21/2009 | 2 | Interstitial cystitis and sleep | I just took my 10mg dose and I feel like I'm tripping on acid! No, seriously. Shadows are more prominent, I see things out of the corner of my eye, sounds and smells are more pronounced and seem to come from out of nowhere and it scares me. My heart is beating faster, I'm dizzy and nauseated. My hands don't even feel like they are mine and attached to my body. | I took this to help with the frequency and urgency and pain and to help me sleep b/c of the interstitial cystitis. I think I may need to d/c this med. I was on it once before for a couple of weeks or less and I ended up overdosing on it and lunesta. I've not been able to tolerate anti-depressants and I've tried almost ALL of them. I thought I'd try it again at the 10 mg dose instead of the 25mg I was on before but I don't think these side-effects are good for me. I hate to poo poo any IC med but I don't feel safe. I'm not drowsy either. Maybe even hyper. Anyone else like this email me. thx. | F | 36 | 6 days | 6/19/2009 | 3 | Migraines and Night Leg Pain | My Dr. started me out on 50 mg. at bedtime, and though it helped me to sleep, I also had very vivid dreams and very bad "pill hangover" for hours after waking up the next morning. I went down to 25 mg. and have stayed there now for about three years. I haven't noticed a decrease in the amount or intensity of my migraines, but it did eliminate the night leg pain I was experiencing. I would like to go off of it now to see if it would return since it isn't really helping me to sleep but when I do I have dreams that are sometimes upsetting. | F | 55 | 3 years | 6/15/2009 | 4 | Fibromyalgia | Extreme dry mouth, have to drink all day. Tremors of my thumbs. Can't concentrate and have significant memory issues. | Even with the side effects this drug has been like a miracle drug for me...my fibromyalgia pain has decreased dramatically, with some days totally pain free. I am up to 150 mg that I take every night before bed. I have found that I am sleep dependent on it now. I was feeling so good a few summers ago I thought I could stop taking it cold turkey. This was a bad idea..I was manic..had anxiety attacks and couldn't stop thinking about my own mortality. As soon as I started taking them again all that went away. All in all it has been a good drug for me, however the memory and concentration issues seem to be getting alot worse. | M | 40 | 8 years | 6/14/2009 | 2 | Back Pain | Cotton mouth really bad, very rapid weight gain 27lbs in 2 1/2 months, extream sodium cravings and an insatiable hunger all day the only good thing was its Tranquilizer like ability. | M | 27 | 3 months | 6/8/2009 | 3 | Migraines | Shortness of breath, Exhausted throught the day, very vivid dreams, dizzy, lightheaded | Although i've only been on this for a couple of days, i've noticed changes in my sleeping patterns, dreaming, and headaches. The headaches are worse. the only way i can describe it is like the headaches are fighting with the medication. I sleep in too late. I can't seem to find the motivation or energy to get outta bed. My dreams are more frequent and vivid. And upon waking up and for a few hours afterward I am light headed and dizzy. I get small blackout moments. i feel like i cant get enough oxygen to my lungs. | F | 23 | | 6/2/2009 | 3 | Migraines | COnstipation, Fast heart Rate, WEIGHT GAIN | Helped some with migraines, definetley with sleep. Still had to take over the counter headache medicine. I gained 27lbs in five months- Could not stand the weight gain any longer- went off to try something else. | F | 33 | 5 months | 5/26/2009 | 1 | migranes | strange psychological confusion, depression, dry mouth, irratibility | about two hours ago i went through in intense and scary feeling of a wave of depression washing over me. i literally still feel like i have gone completely insane. i am not on any other meds and i hate this drug and will never take it again. my headaches went away after about 2.5 weeks, on 10mg taken at night once daily, but if the mental issues keep occuring, it isnt worth it. | F | 17 | 3 weeks | 5/25/2009 | 5 | Depression | F | 61 | 32 years | 5/4/2009 | 4 | migraines and sleeplessnss | dry mouth noticed once or twice a day, but not terribly bothersome. I chew more gum and drink more water now. Increased appetite but not have gained any weight due to watching what I eat. Definitely sleep more soundly and go back to sleep more easily when waking during night. | My headaches seem to be hormonal (menopause) and are intermittent. Since I began Elavil (15 mgs per day taken near bedtime) I have had no headaches or stiff neck and I am sleeping well. However first three weeks I had a lot of difficulty waking up in the morning. Am trying to take the Elavil a little earlier than bedtime and don't seem quite so tired in the morning. So far it has been beneficial. I cut a 10 mg pill in half to medicate at 15 mg. 20 mgs at bedtime makes me too sleepy. | F | 52 | 4 weeks | 4/24/2009 | 1 | Migranes | Tintinitus(Ringing in the ears),Fatigue | I am a Clinical Pharmacist.. I was given this by a Neurologist for my Atypical Migraines.. Got Tintinitus with in a few days.. took 25mg for 2 nights.. then 12.5mg for 6nights.. Could not tolerate the higher dose.. When I told the Neurologist of my side effects.. She had never heard of it.. 36hrs after I stopping I am getting some relief from the ringing in the ears.. | M | 41 | 8 days | 4/21/2009 | 3 | Migraines & sleep | Bigtime weight gain; also on Lithium, Methadone & tapering off (like 1 mo.left @ 37.5 mg) Effexor. Also ttried numerous anti-depressants before Lithum. Gained 100 lbs in 1 1/2 years +/- so be careful!! No sex drive. | I sleep great. I am on 50 mg/day; thinking of going off due to weight gain & lack of sex drive. While this works for sleep hasn't really helped with Migraines much. | F | 41 | 12 months | 4/14/2009 | 5 | clinical depression | Severe dry mouth on high dosages. Gum chewing increased saliva saving my teeth. Slightly constipating-for me that was good. Took a long time to adjust so that I wasn't a zombie. | For me the difference between taking elavil and not taking it is like miraculous healing. I sleep well, return to sleep readily, wake refreshed. Stops back pain. Many generic brands are not nearly as effective as others for me. The worst ones for me are carried by the big stores. If I could afford it I would take elavil and not the generic. | F | 61 | 26 years | 4/5/2009 | 3 | Migrains-update | I wrote back on Dec. 29th after being on Elavil 10mg for 4 weeks. I have now been on it for a little over 3 months-I have increased my dose to 15-20 mg. I am having 4-5 migrains a month-down from 8-10, but still more than I would like. Still not too bad with the side effects-my memory seems to be worse-not sure if it's the meds or old age! Great sleep still. I only have to take 50 mg of Imitrex to abort a migrain-down from 100mg. I have gained about 3 pounds-I definately crave sweets-I try to stay aware so I don't overdo it-everything is a choice! | Not as happy as I was at first-seem to need to keep increasing the mgs to keep it effective. I plan to stay on it for now. | F | 44 | 3 months | 4/5/2009 | 3 | IC | Weight gain, breast enlargment, tired all day, quick to get angry | F | 28 | 4 months | 4/5/2009 | 3 | Severe migraines and insomnia | I have experienced the severe dry mouth, now almost non-existent and the weight gain has been horrible, I too have also had a couple of really bad anger outbursts, I actually got into a physical altercation with my husband who is 6'2 and 225! I have had only one bad migraine since starting the Elavil, 100 mg, but the anger outbursts and weight gain have me seriously considering not taking it anymore, I have a followup appt with my MD in 2 weeks, so I will see. | F | 35 | 2.5 months | 4/3/2009 | 5 | Nerve pain, Depression,Migraines | Weight gain initially (30-40 lbs) but not sure what drug(s)caused it. Pain Mgmt Dr was 7th Dr/Surgeon/Specialist I saw & he figured out my problem & a solution!!! He took me off 150-180mg of oxycontin was on for 2-3 mos w/pain still at 6-8 on pain scale. Told me to stop taking it that day and switched me to methadone, lyrica and ELAVIL. | In a few days elavil w/methadone & lyrica took away the severe/kidney stone type pain I was experiencing BUT unable to function-- became a zombie for about a year & didn't work or drive. Pain Mgmt Dr. diagnosed me w/nerve damage from having 6 inch kidney cyst drained (2 pop cans worth of fluid), filled with alcohol for 1 hr to scar it. It deadened the nerves on outside of kidney. They re-generated 18 mos later & sent severe pain signals to my brain. He told me on 1st visit I would need a neurostimulator implant (normally used for back pain/failed surgeries-- Jerry Lewis has one) but had to fail 3 therapies 1st. I failed them, but took 4 months & 3 denials before ins. OKd the implant trial. Finally had neurostimulator implant, outpatient, quick surgery 14 mos after sudden pain. IT WORKED!!! (ins pd $47,000 for the unit--explains the long approval process). Will need it the rest of my life & every 8-10 years unit changed. I literally "charge my (internal, implan | F | 51 | 2 years | 3/10/2009 | 4 | Migraines | Started with 10mg, the second week went up to 20 mg. Prior to taking elavil I was experiencing migraines every 2 weeks, have only had a very mild one lasting only a day in the 2 months that i've been taking Elavil, but, I have gained over 10 lbs in the 2 months, so I wont' be taking it any longer. No other side affects were noted for me, if it didn't make me gain weight I would stay on it. | F | 45 | 2 months | 3/2/2009 | 4 | urethral syndrome, general anxiety | very dry mouth and excessive thirst, weight loss. | desipit the very dry mouth (feel like i could drink a bath tub full of water!) this is the only treatment that has stopped my painful bladder spasms - i used to suffer for months with bladder pain and the feeling of constantly needing the loo, but have been pain free for 2 years now which is a first! despite the dry mouth, which is a pain, i wouldn't want to stop taking it. I'm now on 75mg at night - helps a lot with sleeping too. Dont know whether it's helping with anxiety cos I've only been on this dose for 2 weeks (before it was 25mg and no dry mouth!) There are some helpful saliva substitutes on the market, like glandosane and biotin, but nothing is as good as your own! will continue on this treatment - it has also decreased my appetite (or maybe it's all that water I'm drinking filling me up!) - hence I have lost some weight, which being over-weight is a good thing for me! | F | 2 years | 3/2/2009 |