weight gain and Elavil

[Guest guest]

I had a quick question. What causes the weight gain with Elavil? I

was on it for 6 weeks last summer and the dr. took me off it because

I was tired all the time and I was only taking 20mg. I would like to

give it a try again and get up to the 75mg range that seems to work

for other people--but I'm really worried about the weight gain. I

have had an eating disorder in the past and I don't want to trigger

it again.

Is the weight gain a product of craving sweets or an increased

appetite or is it water-weight gain--or does it slow down your

metabolism?

Thanks,

Chris

[Guest guest]

Hi, I have been taking Elavil for about 6 years. It does make you crave

sweets but it also enlarged my breasts as well as putting pounds on my

stomach area. Don't think it was all from sweets although I do eat something

when I take it before I go to bed, otherwise my stomach hurts. Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/30/00 8:57:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mary@...

writes:

<< Hi. I have been taking 125 mg of Elavil for a year and a half. I have not

gained any weight. My experience is that it takes some of the edge off the

pain but it does not make it go away. >>

Hi everyone,

This is Aster. I joined this list a few days ago and have been lurking until

now. Thought I'd share my experience and ask about yours. I have been on

Elavil (sort of) for three months. My doc started me on 50 mg. I slept for

nearly 24 hours, then off and on for another 24. And when I woke up I was a

zombie. He then took me down to 25 mg. This time I slept for about 20 hours

and was a zombie for another half day after that. Now I'm taking 12.5 mg,

then a drugged sleep for about 12 hours, then a zombie for about half a day.

I can't take it if I have to function in the morning. I can take it if I have

to drive anytime before noon. How can I possibly work my way up to a dose

that might do something for the pain?

For those of you who can successfully tolerate the higher doses, do you find

it helpful?

[Guest guest]

Hi. I have been taking 125 mg of Elavil for a year and a half. I have not

gained any weight. My experience is that it takes some of the edge off the

pain but it does not make it go away.

>Message: 2

> Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 17:51:57 -0000

> From: yssit@...

>Subject: weight gain and Elavil

>

>I had a quick question. What causes the weight gain with Elavil? I

>was on it for 6 weeks last summer and the dr. took me off it because

>I was tired all the time and I was only taking 20mg. I would like to

>give it a try again and get up to the 75mg range that seems to work

>for other people--but I'm really worried about the weight gain. I

>have had an eating disorder in the past and I don't want to trigger

>it again.

>

>Is the weight gain a product of craving sweets or an increased

>appetite or is it water-weight gain--or does it slow down your

>metabolism?

>

>Thanks,

>Chris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/30/00 11:36:41 PM Central Daylight Time,

taurusrc@... writes:

<< But they did help me

on the days I could handle them. >>

That's odd because Elavil is the type of medicine that only works if you take

it daily over a long period of time. It's not like Advil or Tylenol which

you can take one day just to feel better.

[Guest guest]

There are several different types of vulvodynia. And different people respond

differently to meds and other remedies. See:

http://www.vulvarpain.icomm.ca/paavonen_1.html

Dysesthetic Vulvodynia

Dysesthetic vulvodynia is also known as essential vulvodynia.10, 25 This subtype

of vulvodynia is more common among older women who usually are perimenopausal

or postmenopausal.

Patients complain of constant vulvar or perineal discomfort which is not cyclic.

Compared to patients with VVS, patients with dysesthetic vulvodynia have less

dyspareunia, and less point tenderness by the swab test. The physical

examination shows no significant changes, except diffuse hyperaesthesia which

occurs on wider area compared to VVS. Sharp pain can be provoked by a light

touch to the vulvar area. The hyperaesthesia is thought to result from altered

cutaneous perception.

Thus, the nonspecific burning in vulvar dysesthesia probably has a neurological

basis. Such dysesthesia mimics postherpetic neuralgia or glossodynia. Urethral

or rectal discomfort is often associated with vulvar pain.

Patients with dysesthetic vulvodynia often respond to tricyclic

antidepressants.

Treatment should be started by prescribing amitriptyline 10 mg at bedtime, and

by increasing the dose by 10 mg every 1-2 weeks up to 50 mg daily, if

tolerated. Patients should then continue at the highest daily dose they can

tolerate for at least 2 months. When pain relief is obtained, the dose can be

gradually decreased to the minimum dose required to control the symptoms. Some

respond to doses as low as 20 mg, but others require up to 100 mg daily. Many

patients can discontinue therapy once symptoms disappear. Side effects are a

common problem with tricyclic antidepressants, and occur in up to half of the

patients. Side effects such as drowsiness, weight gain or dry mouth can be

intolerable.

===========

Ora

On Thu, 31 Aug 2000 07:53:15 -0400 (EDT), cmloebach@... wrote:

>That's odd because Elavil is the type of medicine that only works if you take

>it daily over a long period of time. It's not like Advil or Tylenol which

>you can take one day just to feel better.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Can't help but saying it again... Elavil for ME was

the complete opposite: I LOST weight. I couldn't

sleep! It also did nothing for my pain, Ora is right

on the money! BTW, my PT said she had another person

experience this on elavil, so its not just me.

Candace

--- taurusrc@... wrote:

> There are several different types of vulvodynia.

> And different people respond

> differently to meds and other remedies. See:

>

> http://www.vulvarpain.icomm.ca/paavonen_1.html

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