posted
So, I asked my LLMD for something to help with sleep and depression. I'm not very into the idea of taking an anti-depressant, and never have before, but I have a lot going on...and well, when I don't feel well I get depressed.
They prescribed Elavil 50mg. Has anyone taken it? Did/do you like it? Side effects?
I haven't picked up the prescription yet, because I want to think about it first. Anyone with any experiences with this? Thank you! Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
I liked this drug a lot. I took it to help me sleep and combat my daily headaches.
The only problem was weight gain.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Uh oh...weight gain is the last thing I need! I'm not heavy, but if I gain weigh, I think I will be more depressed than if I don't go on the medication!
Any others?
Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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Dawnee
Unregistered
posted
Honestly so many people react differently.
I took it years and years ago... in my teens... and it made me want to do nothing but sleep constantly. But I haven't really found ANY anti-depressant that I didn't have a bad reaction to. I also had horrid reactions to Effexor (evil..EVIL) and Topamax (for migrains) (almost just as evil...my muscle twitches didn't start until I took Topamax)
It really just depends on the person. I did take Zoloft and had no bad reactions.
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
Isn't Elavil the old tryciclic? I think it's amitryptylene but not sure anymore.
If so it's a pretty good non habituating sleep aid.
I'd avoid the newer SSRIs at all costs though but that's JMO.
Charlie
Posts: 2804 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I love my elavil and could not sleep without it. I really haven't had any side effects from it and the benifits are a night of sleep and less pain in my muscles.
I have been on it since 2005 and without it my muscles would feel tightly wound and as if they were knotted into a tight ball. Yoga didn't even help.
You may be a bit groggier in the morning but it is a lot better than being in pain.
Posts: 101 | From NJ | Registered: Apr 2008
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While it seemed to help with the depression, it also had one unexpected and odd side effect for me.
It caused a sort of disassociation. Felt like I was living inside someone else's head. It was as if my consciousness took a step 6 inches to the right of my body.
It also screwed up my visual perception. It was rather like trying to do things while seeing the world through a camera lens.
That's the best way I know how to describe it. Dunno if it makes sense to anyone else or not tho.
Bear in mind that I'm extremely sensitive to most meds and not everyone gets this kind of reaction.
-------------------- If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carroll Posts: 356 | From Body-PA, Mind-elsewhere | Registered: Dec 2007
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
My glands in my neck swelled on it, but I read that these old school drugs kill babsia...who knows...but it is thought that it lowers COq10, and guess what mepron does? Basially the same thing.
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posted
Elaine, I don't know if it's a high dose. It doesn't look really high...it's about an average dose. They did tell me to start slowly and work my way up to the 50mg. (That's also to answer someone else's question about grogginess.)
Curiouser, I will go off of it if I don't like the way it makes me feel. I don't want to feel like I'm living 'next' to my body, lol.
So I guess the bottom line is...everyone reacts differently. I will go on it and see how I do. If I really don't like it, I will talk to my LLMD about it. (I see him in a couple weeks anyway.)
Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I loved it, took it for two years, 20 mg, to sleep. No side effects. Great stuff!
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I tried Elavil for IBS intestinal pain after having c.diff. It made me nauseated and have really bad drymouth, so I had to quit.
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I'm not very into the idea of taking an anti-depressant, and never have before, but I have a lot going on...and well, when I don't feel well I get depressed. ![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
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