Elivil??

My pain management Dr. was thinking about putting me on Elivil(amatriptyline) for the FM stuff instead of Lyrica because the Lyrica gave such horrible edema in my foot and ankle region. She didn't this visit because I just started a new sleep med that my PCP put me on and she wanted to make sure if I have symptoms from the new med that we would not confuse them with the other med, so right now everything is going to be the same for 2 months, also if I don't have any side effects, from the sleep med, and I am still having all the FM issues, then she'll start me on Elivil. My major question and why I even posted this was to ask if anyone had been on it and if they had what if any side effects did they have? Any information you have had personally or even know someone that is/was on this drug, I would really appriciate to know the experience. I can read all the technical stuff on the web, but I want to hear about real people who have been on it. My biggest issue is that it may cause weight gain. And although my PM doc says it's not the medicine that picks up the food and puts it into your mouth, I know that weight gain may still be a possibilty. She said that about the Lyrica too, and somehow I magically, abruptly stopped losing weight the day after I started it and when I stopped taking it, I magically started losing again! So anyway, TIA for any responces.

I took elavil for a brief period and stopped due to ravenous hunger and weight gain. I told my doctor that I did not have my insides rearranged to lose weight, just to start taking drugs with weight gain side effects!

-BJ

Personally I think everyone reacts differently to medications. I went on Welbutrin to quit smoking and have not been that hungry except for when I first wake up so I eat breakfast now and I don't feel like I need a nap at 11 in the morning anymore. My sister was on Welbutrin for depression and gained a ton of weight and wanted to sleep all the time. She is on Elivil now and says she has tons of energy (with 5 kids and a job as a rad tech she NEEDS a lot of energy lol) and has even started losing some of the weight. I think the only thing we can do is try something for a bit and see how we do with it and go from there.

when first diagnosed with FM I was put on Amatriptyline. Within 1 yr I gained 100#. Kept it on for 18yrs until I had my RNY. I got off the med and still didn't lose weight. Personally, I would not recommend it. Best wishes on your journey. Carol

I have had fm for about 7 years.  I was on elivil recently. Only for about 4 months. Anyway....I would wake up in the middle of the night and see things crawling on the walls, falling from the ceilings, and lets not mention the weird dreams. Everyone is different. It did not work for me.    Unpleasant side effects. I was glad to get off of that.

Be careful of the amitryptaline. I am on it for headaches. I started at 25mg tabs in November and am up to 150mgs because the headaches keep coming back. Since November, I have gained 75lbs. Sorry but your doc is a complete azz for saying that the pills don't put food in your mouth. What happens is that you get an increase in appitite and a craving for sweets. At least that's what it did for me. Meds work differently in different people, but I would be aware of that side effect. It has actually caused me with a difficult dilema............live my life thin with deplorable headaches, or live obese and have headaches that are at least somewhat manageable. I also suffer chronic pain, and the amitryptaline hasn't done a thing for the pain. Best of luck to you.

I have been on Elivil for years.  Just recently my doc increased my dose from 50 to 100 (due to pain increase).  He feels my body has gotten use to the drug and was over riding it.  It does not give me any kind of food cravings, night mares, side effects.  But, I can tell you that, at one time, I was put  on Zoloft and it did cause the cravings.  The side effects are different for everyone.  You have to try the durg and see what happens.  Best of luck!

Eileen