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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lia mason on February 22, 2004, at 9:47:01
Hi,
I've been on tricyclics to conrol my chronic pain condition for 3 years. In my experience, I get a good 6 months or so and then they poop out and I switch.
My question is about elavil. I'm just zonked on it--bad sedation. I've been on it for 2 months titrating up slowly. I've been at 70 for a week. Is this a side effect that will go away? It went away when I took imipramine, but it was never this bad.
I'd be grateful for opinions.
Lia
Posted by Sad Panda on February 22, 2004, at 10:36:17
In reply to tricyclics--help?, posted by lia mason on February 22, 2004, at 9:47:01
> Hi,
>
> I've been on tricyclics to conrol my chronic pain condition for 3 years. In my experience, I get a good 6 months or so and then they poop out and I switch.
>
> My question is about elavil. I'm just zonked on it--bad sedation. I've been on it for 2 months titrating up slowly. I've been at 70 for a week. Is this a side effect that will go away? It went away when I took imipramine, but it was never this bad.
>
> I'd be grateful for opinions.
>
> LiaAmitriptyline(Elavil) is one of the most sedating TCA's. It is much worse than Imipramine. You may or may not develop tolerance to it's sedating properties (YMMV). Did you develop tolerance from the sedation of Imipramine? If so then you should for Ami too. :) Which TCA's have you tried & got pain relief from?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by lia mason on February 22, 2004, at 20:01:46
In reply to Re: tricyclics--help? » lia mason, posted by Sad Panda on February 22, 2004, at 10:36:17
Hi...
Thanks for responding. Imipramine and amitriptyline were/are great for my tension headaches; desipramine less so. It's odd... the tricyclics don't poop-out for my headches but seem to for my major problem which is a vaginal pain condition called vulvodynia. I got a few good months relief out of imipramine and desipramine for that condition, but--in both cases--it didn't last. My gyn doc says he's never seen this with his pain patients, but I've taken antidepressants for many years, so I know the poop-out phenomenon is real. But like I said... all these tricyclics worked great for headaches and stayed great. I tried neurontin for pain and just couldn't tolerate it--I got headaches. Same problem with lamictal. I'm on effexor for depression. There's a doc touting it for pain relief but I haven't experieced that. My pdoc says that duloxetine looks promising for pain (the new Lily AD that resembles effexor) but it's been held up for a couple years now. If it ever gets released, I may try it. None of the narcotic pain meds help me. No idea why.
That's my sad tale!
Lia
Posted by Sad Panda on February 23, 2004, at 8:33:11
In reply to Re: tricyclics--help?, posted by lia mason on February 22, 2004, at 20:01:46
> Hi...
>
> Thanks for responding. Imipramine and amitriptyline were/are great for my tension headaches; desipramine less so. It's odd... the tricyclics don't poop-out for my headches but seem to for my major problem which is a vaginal pain condition called vulvodynia. I got a few good months relief out of imipramine and desipramine for that condition, but--in both cases--it didn't last. My gyn doc says he's never seen this with his pain patients, but I've taken antidepressants for many years, so I know the poop-out phenomenon is real. But like I said... all these tricyclics worked great for headaches and stayed great. I tried neurontin for pain and just couldn't tolerate it--I got headaches. Same problem with lamictal. I'm on effexor for depression. There's a doc touting it for pain relief but I haven't experieced that. My pdoc says that duloxetine looks promising for pain (the new Lily AD that resembles effexor) but it's been held up for a couple years now. If it ever gets released, I may try it. None of the narcotic pain meds help me. No idea why.
>
> That's my sad tale!
>
> Lia
>
>Nortriptyline is another one to consider, I have heard of it being used for neuralgia & migraine, Clomipramine may be good too, but I doubt you could combine it with Effexor, but it could replace it. How high do you go with the Imipramine dose before you abandon it?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by lia mason on February 23, 2004, at 11:48:07
In reply to Re: tricyclics--help? » lia mason, posted by Sad Panda on February 23, 2004, at 8:33:11
Hi,
I tried Nortriptyline for 3 months and it helped but the spaced-out feeling was terrible. I went all the way to 300 before abandoning imipramine. I'm going back to it now, though. Hopefully I've been away from it long enough that it will help again.
Lia
Posted by Edgefield on February 23, 2004, at 18:15:55
In reply to Re: tricyclics--help?, posted by lia mason on February 23, 2004, at 11:48:07
Lia I hope that Nortriptyline will give you some relief. I don't have any suggestions, but I found it interesting that you were spaced out for three months on this med., because I've experienced the same thing while on Wellbutrin for almost a year. Did you have the same reaction with Desipramine?
Thanks!
> Hi,
>
> I tried Nortriptyline for 3 months and it helped but the spaced-out feeling was terrible. I went all the way to 300 before abandoning imipramine. I'm going back to it now, though. Hopefully I've been away from it long enough that it will help again.
>
> Lia
Posted by lia mason on February 23, 2004, at 23:36:51
In reply to Re: tricyclics--help? » lia mason, posted by Edgefield on February 23, 2004, at 18:15:55
Hi...
No, desipramine and imipramine were both fine for me. Elavil andf Pamelor were awful... major sedation and spacey feelings. I think perhaps I just can't tolerate them. I know they are sister drugs. Back to imipramine for me.
Best,
Lia
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