Elavil, anyone had luck with it for pain? - Pain Management Message Board

cardinal · 12-30-2003, 12:05 PM

Happy New Year everyone! I am starting elavil tonight, after numerous drugs to help my nerve and back pain. My doc sd it is good for pain? I am also depressed and taking zoloft. Should I get off the zoloft? I'm thinking so due to both are of the same class? I would love for it to help the nerve issues and a bonus would be the depression

carol632 · 12-31-2003, 03:29 PM

I take elavil at night to help me sleep better. I have not noticed that it helps with pain, but it does help me achieve a restful nights sleep. That, of course, is beneficial to the whole body and mind.
Carol

twisten · 12-31-2003, 03:57 PM

Hi Cardinal. I was on elavil for over a year and it did nothing for me for the pain. My GI had put me on it for chronic pain. I started out at 25 mg and when I stopped taking it I was up to 125 mg. It did help me sleep better once in awhile but not consistently. Possibly with me it didn't help because sometimes I don't absorb things properly because of my crohns so maybe you will have better luck than I did. I would speak with your doc about stopping the other one but yes they are similar so I wouldn't think you would need both. Good luck.

jenny1973 · 01-01-2004, 08:35 AM

My doctor just prescribed that for me and when I read up on it I said forget it. I never even got it filled. No..I am almost positive I read that you should not take any seratonin inhibitors while on this (for instannce you said you were on zoloft). Definitely research this. If most people say it doesn't work for pain then why bother. I take ultam instead and it works wonders for me. Good Luck! I actually read that this drug is used for major psychotic issues like bi-polar, skysophrenia (sp?). There are also lots of side effect to this stuff. It just freaked me out so I stick to ultram.
Jenny

01-08-2004, 02:27 PM

Make sure your doctor is aware of the medications you take daily and occasionally. I take the generic version of Elavil for the frequent headaches and sleep problems. I have been taking it for about 2 yrs, it helps and is affordable. For pain it helps but when something is happening, when I go into a flare, or hurt myself, I take something more like, 8hrty*lenol or an anti inflammatory if it is tissue swelling, nerve pain this type of thing or Celebrex if it is worse. As far as it helping depression it helps a bit. It evens out mood swings but does not eliminate them. Dosage is flexible with Elavil and that's a good thing. If you have tried Zoloft for a while and don't think it's helping tell the doctor and ask him/her what you should do. Stopping meds abruptly is not good for the body. If he wants you to come off it, ask him/her the step-down dosage you should follow and if you should wait until you are off the Zoloft to take the Elavil.