elavil is working for my neck and shoulder pain

[MissBehavin]

After suffering all week with withdrawal-related tense painful muscles I decided to take 30 mg elavil this evening.  I have some on hand that was prescribed off label for a pain condition I have and I take it only as needed and it works very quickly for me without side effects.  So it has been two hours now since I took it and my pain and tension is gone all gone for the first time since Monday.  Amazing.  I have been able to take my other meds here and there as needed since my withdrawal so I don't foresee having any ill effects from this.  I am not recommending this for others esp since elavil is an antidepressant that sometimes requires tapering and is reported to give some people nasty side effects. But I'm glad I took it and glad the pain is gone.

[JESurfing]

   Most interesting, MissB!

I am really glad that taking Elavil helped you today.
In fact, I hope it continues to help you, if you plan
on continued use of Elavil.

Years ago, I was prescribed Elavil!  It had just the
opposite effect on me.  It made become extremely
tense.  My muscles felt taut all day long.  I had to
get off of it.

I wish it were something that I could use, as the
tension and muscle pain that I presently have is
most excruciating.  I wish that I knew of a safe
med to take.  I've tried pain pills, epidural injections,
massage therapy, etc.  Nothing takes away these
problems.

I am just chattering on!

The main point is that I am very glad that you
are experiencing R-E-L-I-E-F!

Warmly,

Judy   

[cdogw]

Never heard of elavil. is it a muscle relaxer or an opiate? I'd be ok with a muscle relaxer but opiates pose very huge problems themselves addiction wise.

[mike59]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitriptyline

Amitriptyline (Elavil) is a psychoactive drug and pharmaceutical of the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) chemical class which is used primarily as an antidepressant and anxiolytic agent. It is the most widely prescribed TCA and perhaps also the most efficient against depressive symptoms.


Amitriptyline acts primarily as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, with strong actions on the norepinephrine transporter, and moderate effects on the serotonin transporter.[6][7] It has negligible influence on the dopamine transporter and therefore does not affect dopamine reuptake, being nearly 1,000 times weaker on it than on serotonin.[7

[hookedonclonics]

A friend of mine did a couple of months in jail and he said that they come around with a tray of elavil at night and let the inmates have as many as they want. meanwhile, he had to battle for a month to get 1 advil. interesting...
anyway, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think elavil has a discontinuation syndrome associated with it... another friend has taken it for years and has quit c/t no problems a few times.
If it works for the pain great miss b. it's probably better than taking opiates.

[mike59]

my ma had a discontinuation syndrome associated with elavil but that's just one

[MissBehavin]

Yes it is a tricyclic antidepressant but it is frequently prescribed at low doses (5-50 mg usually) for nerve pain which is why I was prescribed it and it can be very effective.  For antidepressant effects much higher doses are needed tho the higher the dose the more extreme the side effects, including sleepiness and grogginess.  I have never taken it before for muscle pain but thought I would give it a try and I have to say it really did work. Knowing what I know about its possible side effects I would have been hesitant to take it if I did not already have experience with taking it as needed for the past 5 yrs.
Even just 5 or 10 mg can cause sleepiness...I slept like a baby last night with 30 mg.  The sleepy effect tends to go away with continued use. So HOC that is probably why they were passing it out in jail...to make the inmates sleep!  It can be very good for that but does tend to leave you groggy in the morning if not taken daily.  If I take it a few hours before I go to bed I don't usually have morning groggies.
I know a lot of people who take elavil for sleep and nerve pain without problems but also know many who have had to discontinue it b/c  the side effects were intolerable.  I have always been able to discontinue it without issue but have heard that some people do better with a taper off...but even if that were necessary, I don't think it requires a lengthy painful taper like benzos.  
I got a good solid 9hrs of sleep last night and woke up this mornng to the muscle pain and tension gone. I don't plan on using it regularly but am glad I took it b/c otherwise I was going to spend $100 on a massage this weekend I don't really have the money for that.
Mike can you elaborate a bit about your ma's dicontinuation syndrome? Thx

[JESurfing]

   MOST interesting, MissB!

I simply am glad that using Elavil continues to be helping you.

The information you provided was of import, as well.

I so glad that you got NINE hours of sleep!  That is great!

It also is great that the use of Elavil saved you some
money!  $100 for a massage?  Wow!  That is a heckuva
lot of money.  In my area, a massage goes from around
$65 to $75 per session.  I thought that was a lot!

I, too, would like to know more about "discontinuation
syndrome".  I have never heard of this.

Wishing you continued success, MissB.  I am sincerely
glad that Elavil is helping you! 

Warmly,

Judy   

[hookedonclonics]

Even just 5 or 10 mg can cause sleepiness...I slept like a baby last night with 30 mg.  The sleepy effect tends to go away with continued use. So HOC that is probably why they were passing it out in jail...to make the inmates sleep!  

That's exactly why! That combined with its low potential for abuse...
I'm still surprised that they can just hand out a prescription med like that.

[kathy1]

I was on 80mg amitryptiline and taken off it in 8 weeks, following being taken off diazepam and olanzapine.  Discontinuation syndrome is basically withdrawal too, much like benzos but they suggest to a slightly lesser extent.  I was started on 10mg which nearly knocked me out and then the psych decided I should go up to 100mg.  I got to 80mg and refused any more.  It made me feel spaced out and unable to cope with anything.  I am off it now and have been having bad wd too as some of you will be aware.

Beware anything that has the "knock" out effect.

love

kathyxxxxx

[JESurfing]

  Thanks, Kathy, for defining "discontinuation syndrome".

I figured that it must be akin to withdrawal.

So true about being aware of any med that has the
"knock out" effect!

I am so tired of thinking about medications.  You, too?

Hoping that you have a very good day, Kathy!

I'm doing my usual:  Just hanging in there!

Warmly,

Judy   

[MissBehavin]

Even just 5 or 10 mg can cause sleepiness...I slept like a baby last night with 30 mg.  The sleepy effect tends to go away with continued use. So HOC that is probably why they were passing it out in jail...to make the inmates sleep!  

That's exactly why! That combined with its low potential for abuse...[/quote]

Yes, hock, it does work very well for sleep, tho I don't think that it would have worked for my severe insomnia while I was in acute withdrawal (first two weeks off).  Actually, I think I did try it during my two previous ct events but b/c of severe acute wd it was of no use. I am well past that this time around and it did help last night.
It is surprising like you said that it could just be handed out, esp given the sometimes nasty side effects that occur in some who take it.  Zombie-like, can't wake up, urinary retention, fast heartbeat, psychotic episode (whatever that entails), etc.,  I have heard reported from some of the people who I know from that other support board who have taken it.  Anyway, the ones who can't tolerate it hate it and the ones for whose symptoms it works for love it, just like any other med and just like any other wd or discontinutation syndrome, or lack of it, I suppose. But for the most part from what I have experienced myself and from those who have success w/ it it really can be an effective, low side effect treatment for nerve pain and sleep disrupted by pain, particularly when taken at lower doses. And from the vast majority I know who have taken it, side effects or not, there has not been a discontinuation syndrome.

codgw...I could see how muscle relaxers could be  helpful for those who aren't so sensitive to them that they would cause  worse or prolonged wd symptoms.  You hear here and here about muscle relaxer habituation and addiction but in my experience tolerance to the sleepy side effects of muscle relaxers happens SO FAST that habituation is negligible. I have taken them in the past for my pain condition and didn't particularly like how they made me feel but have not met a better med for knocking me out without addictive properties or side effects other than extreme sleepiness.  Just my take  on muslce relaxers I have tired (baclofen, flexeril, zanaflex...zanaflex knocking me out most profoundly!)

kathy I am not surprised AT ALL that a dose of 80 mg would make you feel like that! Like I posted above doses as low as 5-10mg can be very effective for nerve pain but even that low a dose can cause unwanted or intolerable side effects in some people.  I have never taken more than 30 mgs, and my usual maintenance dose was 10 mg with an increase to 20 or 30 when my pain spiked.  Why were you rxd elavil...for pain or for depression?  Did you feel like that when you were takng much lower doses? I can understand why you would not want to continue with this med given the way it made you feel. And you are right, I would warn anyone thinkng about trying this med during wd esp if they have no prior experience with it.  Like I said, I would be hesitant to take it myself given what I know about it and if I had no prior experience with it.  Thankfully my experiences have been good and thankfully it caused me no ill effects during benzo wd/recovery!

Judy, yeah I live at the end of the world so "they" are able to squeeze us for every penny for any service available, including massages.  It is well worth the money tho...they gal who does my massages I swear she  chas magic powers lol.  I swear she is part elf.  If I had enough money I would get a massage from her daily.  For now I will take elavil lol as needed for muscle pain and be thankful I don't suffer any side effects from other than pain relief and a good night's sleep.

I did have some pain today at work..it seems to be aggravated by position that I sit at my desk/computer at work...but that does not seem to be the cause of it. It is benzo wd causing the pain and muscle tension in my shoulders and neck. I am not taking elavil tonight but I am still getting a massage tomorrow regardless lol.  Just for the heck of it because it feels good. why not.

[marty]

I was on elavil about 25 years ago and had a hell of a time getting off it.

[Heather]

I had a really dreadful time getting off just 5 mgs of this stuff.

[kathy1]

Hi Judy, Heather and MissBehavin xxxx

I was prescribed the elavil for depression.  I started on 10mg and as he cut the diazepam and olanzapine he upped the elavil and then I decided I wanted off altogether and he took me off 80mg in 8 weeks.  I am 7 weeks off and having psychotic episodes but the trouble is I believe what the episodes are telling me.  I am so tired of this.  I will never in my lifetime ever go on any med again I don't think.  Coming off it has also made me very suicidal especially when I have the psychotic thoughts and then I think I can't live with them.  I am afraid, very afraid.

love

kathyxxx

• Downloads
• Benzo Equivalence Table
• Water Titration Instructions