Elavil and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2014

For Depression "I'm 16 years old and I started taking Zoloft for depression about a year ago. I started off at 25mg, then 50mg, and things still didn't seem to be 'right.' I was constantly sick and throwing up, and I just felt like it wasn't working. So they bumped me up to 75mg of Zoloft, and then to 100mg. For my body and age, 100mg was a lot for me to take, but it finally made me feel better. I wasn't as down, but I had awful side effects. I couldn't sleep, eat, or do anything, but lay in bed, and I had awful migraines. I was so sick of changing meds, but I couldn't deal with being this sick, so on top of the Zoloft, I was prescribed Elavil. It was like night and day. Helped me sleep and took all my side effects away!"

• Fal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2016

For Pain "I was prescribed Elavil mainly for chronic headaches. I also suffer from depression, anxiety, and insomnia, so my neurologist had me start Elavil to try and kill many birds with one stone, so to speak. Elavil worked great to reduce the intensity of my headaches. Although they were still ongoing, it was much more tolerable. I had been on Elavil for only one month and a week before I stopped. The first week my insomnia and anxiety seemed to be simmering down (this stopped soon after week 2). As for my depression, Elavil put it under a magnifying glass. I was suicidal and crying on a daily basis, it was not the medication for me. It helped with the main objective but at a horrible cost."

• CP3...
• March 9, 2013

For Insomnia "I was put on Elavil to treat sleep deprivation and for pain relief. Took it for four days. It did not help with the pain, and it kept me up instead of putting me to sleep. For the first two days, I slept for maybe 3 hours total (slept for one hour, woke up for about an hour, fell asleep for an hour, up again, etc.), then the last two days, I went for two days straight with no sleep. Very frustrating."

• CP3...
• March 9, 2013

For Insomnia "I was put on Elavil to treat sleep deprivation and for pain relief. Took it for four days. It did not help with the pain, and it kept me up instead of putting me to sleep. For the first two days, I slept for maybe 3 hours total (slept for one hour, woke up for about an hour, fell asleep for an hour, up again, etc.), then the last two days, I went for two days straight with no sleep. Very frustrating."

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2018

For Insomnia "Elavil 10 mg was prescribed mainly for my 24/7 migraine-type symptoms and increasing nerve pain. But also for these symptoms now keeping me up at night. I was always a decent sleeper. But 2 years ago, as the “head bounce” increased, so did my upset over it, and it caused chronic insomnia. Elavil works well for nerve pain. I found even handling jigsaw pieces felt like knives cutting into my fingers. Pleasant, right? Elavil allowed me to NOT feel that pain! Insomnia - works! However, a month ago, after the third night, it increased my head pain. Like sharp stabs. Soooooo, I take 10 mg once every few weeks. I realize that isn’t protocol, but don’t care. I mix my bedtime routine with an occasional Benadryl and nothing at all. Then another Elavil. Took the Elavil after not taking it for a month last night. Was able to catch up after 2 bad nights. Ahhhhhhhh... slept very well. Bottle goes back into the drawer for another few weeks."

• Mig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2017

For Depression "I was prescribed Elavil for depression and migraine prevention. After taking only two 10 mg doses of Elavil, I had a severe manic episode. (Note: I am not bipolar.) I was shaking, pacing, unable to sleep, talking a mile a minute but making no sense, full of anxiety and rage, unable to eat or keep anything down and in a total panic. My husband took me to the ER when my heart rate went through the roof and I became short of breath. The hospital kept me overnight on a heart monitor and gave me sedatives to calm me down. My doctor wants me to try another medication, but I am terrified at the prospect. Honestly, I'd rather be depressed and have migraines than try another antidepressant. One bad experience was ENOUGH."

• red...
• May 25, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I first started out at 50 mg of Elavil almost 2 years ago. It was like instant heaven! I am a horrible insomniac, and with Elavil, I was getting good quality sleep and woke up feeling rested. I was also on Lyrica at the time. For a while, both of them together had me feeling a lot better. Unfortunately, I have a very high tolerance to any medicine. I am now at 150 mg Elavil. I can't imagine going any higher, yet my pain is increasing, so I don't know what will happen when I totally max out at this level. I no longer take Lyrica, as I became tolerant. Savella seems to help with fibromyalgia fog, but it doesn't touch my pain. Give it a try."

• 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."