Elavil and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• M B...
• February 24, 2017

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."

• TN ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 7, 2013

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."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2014

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."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2020

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."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2019

For Interstitial Cystitis "Finally have relief of 3 years of relentless pain from interstitial cystitis. The grogginess and constipation are the only downsides. Made a remarkable difference to urgency and pain. Feel like a new woman. Thought I’d never have relief! Thank you."

• Eli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2013

For Pain "After 12 years of dealing with EVERY DAY a tugging and pulling feeling in my brain, causing me to be determined disabled. I have a new doctor who yesterday started me on 10 mg Elavil. I came to this website to read the comments to see if I dared believe that I could be feeling like I was finally given a miracle that might cure my diagnosed 'transformed migraine' condition! TODAY, for the FIRST time in 12 years, there is no debilitating tugging and pulling, although I feel sleepy and I do feel a slight steady 'pull'."

• Sun...
• August 27, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines my entire adult life. When I got the most recent pain, the doctors were quick to call it a migraine. I felt like my head would explode, and I had none of the other side effects attributed to migraines. My doctor instead now calls it 'severe head pain'. I had it every other day for about a month. I actually called '911' at one point because I thought I was dying the pain was so horrible. When I was first given Elavil I was skeptical since it was touted as an 'antidepressant'. I took it, and the first three days I actually had to take naps because it made me so sleepy. On the fourth day I realized that although I still felt a little sleepy, I was now officially four days headache-free. It has been a Godsend."

• KLO...
• October 28, 2011

For Depression "I've taken Elavil for 14 years for irritable bowel syndrome and depression. I suffered with IBS for 5 years and had every test possible and even had my gallbladder removed. It really makes me sleep, but after taking it the first night, I KNEW it was the magic medicine for my irritable bowel syndrome. As long as I take 25mg each night, I have zero irritable bowel symptoms. It saved my life."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2010

For Insomnia "I have a very high tolerance for a lot of pain medications due to pain issues. Your body always needs more and more to produce the same effect until almost nothing works. Fortunately, this type of medication doesn't affect me that way. Although I guess it is mainly used for depression. It has worked like a charm for me to get my body to sleep much longer. And I have never had to increase the dose. The only drawback for me with this medication is that when I do wake up I am pretty groggy for about 45 minutes."

• Chi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2017

For Interstitial Cystitis "39 years old. The first few days, no change. Urologist put me on 25 mg, twice a day. It made me so drowsy and thirsty. Only took 1 pill at night. On the 14th day is when I had no more pressure or frequency in my bladder. I was back to normal. So I made the mistake of drinking coffee. Huge mistake! Took medication the next day, this time morning and night. Symptoms disappeared. I suggest taking Prelief before drinking coffee or any acidic food. Be patient with this medicine. Takes a little while to work but it works!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2012

For Persistent Depressive Disorder "I was taking an SSRI antidepressant and other depression medicines but they didn't work. I started taking this and felt way better than I did before. I've been taking it for a while and got used to the sedating side effects, and it's helped me from the first time I took it."

• moo...
• December 12, 2009

For Pain "After a car accident a year ago and having horrible life-disrupting headaches every day, I finally got prescribed Elavil at 25mg once before bed. It has improved most of my headaches, and I sleep like a champ... all the time! The only downfalls are I sleep more now than ever, and I have gained 15 lbs. I almost think I'd rather have headaches than gain this weight."

• aut...
• March 13, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I take Elavil for migraines and have not had a single headache since starting it. Elavil also makes me sleep wonderfully. I (and everyone in my family) have always had trouble sleeping, and I didn't think there was a medicine out there that would make me sleep on a reliable schedule. This is amazing. Negatives: Miss a dose, and you'll have a bad migraine. It makes you extremely drowsy for the first week, but that will pass. I keep a bottle of water by my bed because of the dry mouth. Cravings are a side effect, so if you get them, you should monitor your diet to avoid weight gain. Also, I drank half a beer after taking it and felt like I'd drank 15. Approach alcohol use VERY carefully."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "This made me so tired that I had to stop taking it. I felt drugged 20 minutes after taking it (I took it at night), and then I was groggy the entire next day. Plus, the first night that I took it, I woke up with a migraine that wouldn't go away after my Imitrex Statdose injection. So now my doctor put me on a beta blocker. It makes me a little dizzy, but I can actually function!! Guess it works for some people, but I couldn't drive, and there's no way I could go to work on this..."

• Jal...
• August 22, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "I experienced my first migraine when I was roughly 10 years old. I'm 32 now. Last month (July 2010), I had a particularly vicious attack which lasted 1 1/2 weeks. Following a few days of relative calm, a second migraine (or continuation of the previous one... who knows?) occurred and essentially disabled me for an additional 1 1/2 weeks. After much research, I talked to my physician and decided on a treatment plan which includes taking 25 mg of amitriptyline (Elavil) at bedtime every night, as well as Maxalt MLT and a nausea drug when needed. I've been taking the amitriptyline for nearly two weeks now, and so far, so good. The side effects are noticeable, however, and include drowsiness, fatigue, and dry mouth. Will keep you posted."

• mag...
• January 31, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I have suffered from menstrual migraines for many years. Was taking too much Imitrex (10x per month), so asked the doctor about a preventive, every day. He prescribed 25 mg of Elavil at bedtime. Makes me very drowsy, but this month had only 3 migraines instead of the usual 10. So I'm crossing my fingers."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I was previously on Cymbalta, 60 mg daily, for migraine prevention. I liked it and had minimal side effects. I lost my job and am now only on Tricare, so the doctor put me on Elavil, 10 mg. He told me to increase the dose by 10 mg every four days. I was drowsy on 10 mg and a little less drowsy at 20 mg. As soon as I increased to 30 mg, I couldn't sleep and felt shaky during the day. I tried it for four nights and, after about 4 or fewer hours of sleep each night, I reduced the dose to 20 mg. I noticed my neck pain decreased at the 30 mg, but I can't function without any sleep. I have had two migraines while on the 10 and 20 mg doses of this medication. SSRIs usually make me hyper and give me insomnia, so I wasn't surprised."

• pat...
• May 24, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "I first started taking Elavil when I was 21 in 1983 and met my present-day neurologist after being hospitalized with a severe migraine that didn't go away. He started me on 10 mg, and over the years, he has increased the dosage to 200 mg a day. For it helps me with migraines and also with my depression for which I suffer, as a result of my migraines. The only side effect I suffer from is drowsiness, and that is why I take it at night, for it puts me to sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2016

For Pain "Very good for nerve pain, helps with sleep but I am slightly groggy in the morning."

• Tin...
• March 2, 2015

For Insomnia "Works wonderfully for insomnia. Just the side effects are terrible. Headaches, drowsiness, and WEIGHT GAIN!"

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2011

For Depression "Have tried many others: Zoloft, citalopram, nortriptyline. Other than side effects, this medicine works great. Just have to be careful with the sedative properties."

• Anonymous
• November 8, 2009

For Interstitial Cystitis "Works well against nerve pain and interstitial cystitis in particular. Good stuff. Does take some getting used to and will leave you groggy in the morning for the first few weeks."

• bw-...
• March 2, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "My migraines went from several a week to once a month. It is sedating, and it also serves as a mild sleep aid."