Generic Name: Elavil (amitriptyline)
Elavil Reviews
For Anxiety and Stress "This drug has been so helpful. I suffered from panic attacks, social phobia, and anxiety for over 15 years. I started amitriptyline 7 weeks ago, and my life has since changed. I can express myself in public, no more panic attacks or anxiety. I really thank God and I appreciate this platform, which is so encouraging. I should also say that I got inspired by other people who were sharing their experiences on this platform. I'll definitely rate this drug 10/10. No side effects. I am so thankful."
For Anxiety and Stress "It got rid of mine! Tried many meds over the years with various side effects. This is the only one that got rid of my anxiety and depression and gave me no side effects. Not to mention I sleep better on it. I was out of it the first few days until I got used to it and now I can't even tell I am taking something except that I have no anxiety, panic attacks or depression anymore. It was a game changer for me. I feel like a new, normal person again. I highly recommend trying it."
For Pain "I have been on Elavil for 7 months now. I take 20mg every night for severe pain in my shoulders, arms, and neck and also for depression. It's the best thing I have taken and I have tried loads of medicine but none have worked. I also couldn't sleep, but now I don't have pain. I am a lot calmer, and I have never slept as well. I haven't put weight on either. It's the best tablet that I have been on."
For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on Elavil for three years and it has been a God-send. Ironically, I was seeing a gastrointestinal doctor until she recommended that I 'stop and smell the roses more.' Combined with therapy sessions for about a year, I worry less as I see more of what really is worth getting worked up over -- not a whole lot. One can be passionate about certain things such as family and country and life, but other things are less, way less significant. Elavil has taught me how to best sort out what some things are worth worrying over and not. I take 100mg/day at 8pm normally and I sleep well at night, and feel good generally about how things will be throughout the next day. I love the smell of roses."
For Pain "I have been experiencing tremendous constant pain in my right arm and shoulder caused by multiple sclerosis nerve pain. I've never experienced such pain before. Not being able to sleep for 5 days, a doctor recommended that I take Elavil. I've only taken it for 2 days, but I did sleep almost 6 hours last night with little pain. I'm confident that this is going to save my sanity and help with the nerve pain. So far, very happy."
For Anxiety and Stress "For many years, I was very resistant to taking medications for my anxiety because I watched my mother, who is bipolar, try many types of medications without success. My anxiety was constant: racing thoughts, hypochondria, worry about my kids, etc. The stress was actually causing me physical pain. I was even tense in my sleep and woke up every morning feeling like I had been in a fight. Elavil was life-changing. I started out at 10mg and was bumped up to 25mg after a couple of weeks. The only side effects that I experience are drowsiness (you take it at night, so no big deal) and sometimes weird dreams. I am so at ease these days. I no longer have any stress-related pain. My quality of life has been vastly improved."
For Pain "This medicine is AMAZING for pain. I have trigeminal neuralgia and I take it at night. It gives you a calm feeling and makes you not care about the pain. I just had my dose doubled, and it takes a few days to get used to the medicine and/or new levels, and the higher dose knocked me out for literally two days, just like when it was first prescribed. But I can't rave about it enough."
For Depression "I just got my prescription filled for the 3rd time and wanted to write a review to help others. I was so scared to take this after having a bad experience with Zoloft. I remember coming here and reading all the reviews and still didn't take the medicines prescribed until a month later. The first two weeks I was so tired and had extreme dry mouth. I thought I would have to quit because I was so tired and couldn't work. I had two weeks off between Christmas and the New Year and decided to stick with it. I'm so glad I did. I feel like myself again and with zero side effects now except for when I don't take it for a few days. If I ever do come off, I will wean slowly. I was also so scared to gain weight which, thankfully, didn't happen. Love it!"
For Pain "This was prescribed to me years ago in the late 1980s for pain, insomnia, and stress. It was a blessing for me - being able to sleep, no more pain, and stress diminished. I slowly stopped taking it after being on it for three years with no problems after that. I was going through a lot of stress in my life - deaths, empty nest, break ups, job changes, etc."
For Pain "I use Elavil for fibromyalgia, and it has worked wonders for my sleep issues. My overall quality of life has dramatically increased simply because I am able to get the sleep I so needed, and it's helping with depression/anxiety. It works better than Ambien. My dose now is only 50 mg, so glad I tried this medicine. I am very scared of antidepressants due to a horrible reaction from Cymbalta, but Elavil is an older medication, and its chemical makeup is different than most of the newer SSRIs. I went from sleeping on average of 4 to 5 hours a night, now I can sleep 10 without ever waking up—literally something I haven't been able to do in 5 years. This medicine is the best medicine for me, and I've tried everything out there as I have had Fibro for 8 years."
For Insomnia "Amitriptyline has helped my insomnia by a tenfold. I have issues staying asleep due to my fibromyalgia and anxiety. I sleep all night for once. Unfortunately, it has side effects: - No Appetite - Impotence - Daytime Drowsiness - Constipation"
For Insomnia "I was originally prescribed Elavil for a chronic cough, and it was amazing. Within about one hour after taking the first 10 mg tablet, my cough was gone. I have, just like my grandfather and my mother, always suffered from insomnia. My doctor mentioned that it was also a really good medicine for insomnia. I had been taking 75 mg of Benadryl for many years to help me sleep. I was able to completely stop taking Benadryl, and the Elavil has cured my insomnia too. I have not suffered any side effects at all."
For Insomnia "This is a terrible drug. Took Elavil 25mg as was prescribed for arthritis pain, which would also help with insomnia. Put me in a hazy, not a full sleep with vivid scary nightmares, which were very disturbing and terrifying. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, sweating, unable to feel anything, felt totally spaced out until six the following evening. Shaky, nervous, and very anxious. Could not safely drive as I felt drunk. Take my advice, keep away from this drug, it’s scary and frightening."
For Anxiety and Stress "I have been taking Elavil for over 5 years now, and I must say, it has changed my whole outlook completely. I was diagnosed as bipolar, depressed, and an insomniac. This medication has improved all three of my conditions."
For Anxiety and Stress "This medication has been very effective for my anxiety. I've taken 75mg for the past 9 years. No more heart palpitations or tightness in my chest. I have tried others prior to Elavil, but found I woke up with a hangover and an out-of-body feeling. If I forget to order a refill before I run out, it takes 3 days to feel the effects."
For Anxiety and Stress "Started 25mg for crippling panic attacks! Had them for 6-7 months without even any relief from Xanax... first and only med that has worked for me without side effects! Couldn't even take an SSRI, felt so sick from them... 25mg saved my life!"
For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on about everything you can imagine for my stress and anxiety. Nothing worked and for years I have been miserable. I was put on Elavil and didn't feel much of an effect but once the doctor bumped me up to 100 mg a day, I am a new person. It has changed my life. I wake up and feel like dancing!"
For Insomnia "I was prescribed Elavil to help me sleep. I used to toss and turn and think about the day, the next day, and the day after. I take this medication, and I am asleep within 20 minutes. I sleep all night without waking up. I also take it to get a complete night's sleep to refresh my body to fight the next day with fibromyalgia."
For Depression "I am a mother of 3 kids, 33, and have anxiety/depression. I was on Effexor 150 mg. This should be illegal! It didn't work and if a dose was missed, it felt like a few hours of a drug 'rush' like speed or cocaine... intense night sweats, highly addictive. AVOID! Celexa had bad sexual side effects. Zoloft is a 'robot drug'. I am getting back to Elavil 10 mg. Elavil is great, I feel happy on it. It makes me enjoy life and the little things again. I don't need to take much for it to work and I have no side effects at all on a 10 mg daily dose. I felt sleepy for two weeks when I started but it resorbs and you can then feel its full beneficial effects quickly, general mood elevation, and good feeling. Anxiety is under control on it and I sleep better."
For Fibromyalgia "I have only been taking Elavil for two weeks but I've been in pain for twenty years. I also have big problems sleeping and staying asleep. Since I started Elavil, I have less pain plus I sleep well. I actually had a no pain day, which I have not had in a long time."
For Pain "I started taking this medicine 4 months ago for my nerve pain in low dose of 10 mg twice a day and maybe a bit for depression. It does not help at all for the pain but it does help to fall asleep faster and for my mood."
For Insomnia "I've had insomnia in almost every way you can have it, so I've tried the whole raft of sedatives and hypnotics. Only three have worked: diphenhydramine (Benadryl), doxepin/Silenor, and this. Just the fact that it keeps me asleep is such a godsend that I can't give it a bad review, but ... Of the three drugs that work, this is the worst. It has more neurological side effects, it puts me in a lousy mood that lasts most of the next day (not terrible, but maybe 25% grumpier than usual), and it leads to weight gain even at the lowest dose (10mg). If my hormones are out of whack (high cortisol), amitriptyline doesn't make me groggy, but if they're in line it really does, leaving me wool-headed until the middle of the afternoon. It also has negative interactions with a bunch of other drugs, so be careful to check it against your other prescriptions/recreational drugs."
For Anxiety and Stress "I'm bipolar. I've been on various medicines for almost 10 years. Well, my Dad died a few months ago. The depression and anxiety were so bad I could not function. My doctor prescribed this, along with my 40mg of Celexa. It took about a month to 6 weeks before I felt any better. But I also have chronic pain from spinal arthritis. This medication has helped me get my life back! But in the process, I've gained 20 lbs in 8 weeks, and I was already overweight. It's helped with my chronic pain and with the depression. I love how I feel on this but not the weight gain."
For Pain "I took Elavil 100 mg for migraines and sleep back in the 90s. Wow, it solved my problems. I quit taking it, and now I'm on 200 mg for sleep and neuropathy from diabetes, sleep, and stress. I take other medicines. I'm not healed, just no more pain. Sometimes I fall asleep, and other times I just breeze through the day. Elavil helps with many medical problems. I don't like the new medicines. The old medicines work best for me."
For Insomnia "I'm 65 years old so when the benzo stops being effective, I used Amitriptyline (Elavil) to sleep. I have to take 3 X 10mg with half of a banana to make it smoother on an empty stomach to make it work. It has some nasty side effects, but they tend to go away after a while. Constipation will not be a problem anymore after a month, drink a lot of water early in the evening to prevent constipation. Dry mouth will always be there, but will become less severe after a while, so chew some gum to fix this problem. Sex will also take a low profile :-) This drug can also be used to make the withdrawal of the benzos much easier to do. You will still sleep and will only need a small dosage of benzo, which you can lower slowly but surely. I get a better sleep pattern than with the benzos. Waking up ready to drive my car if I need to, unlike with Ambien. Cheap to buy also. My old mother still uses it after almost 50 years of usage. She is 85."
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