Elavil User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2013

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."

• meg...
• December 28, 2007

For Pain "This stuff works so good. I have IBS and I take 10 mg a night, and it works wonders. I don't have pain in my stomach all day long anymore, and I have harder bowel movements compared to before I started taking the amitriptyline. I also have bipolar disorder, and it helps with my stress levels and keeps me calm. I love this medicine, without it, I would be lost!"

• Rob...
• November 19, 2011

For Pain "No side effects other than some dry mouth. I have had pain in my upper mid-right back for several years. The pain radiated to underneath my right rib cage. After 2 years and many CT scans, my surgeon removed my gallbladder. It was diseased and had small stones, but my condition did not improve. My surgeon said that he thought my pain could be skeletal and started me on a muscle relaxer with a low dose of Elavil at night. My pain has almost subsided, and my neuropathy is much better. I am so glad to be taking it."

• 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."

• Tam...
• August 26, 2009

For Pain "I was given this for pain and insomnia. Didn't take it at first because I have a fear of drugs, but after being on this for a week, I wish I had taken it sooner. I am sleeping better and my pain is less. I have fibromyalgia along with Panic/Anxiety. This is a drug that helps it all with very few side effects for me (just dry mouth)."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2019

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."

• Bea...
• December 22, 2009

For Pain "I developed near-total numbness in my thigh over a period of 2 months, after which the surface pain was unbearable. I couldn't even touch the hairs on my thigh without gritting my teeth in pain. I saw a neurologist who couldn't identify the cause even after MRI, EMG, and blood work. After trying Lyrica for the pain, which didn't help at all, he gave me Elavil. Using only a 25mg dose, the pain disappeared completely after one week. I did have some dry mouth as a side effect for a while, but that has subsided somewhat. Great stuff!"

• She...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 26, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "While it doesn't take away all the pain, it has helped with the tiredness and the feeling that I was wearing a lead suit. I still have bad days, but so far, I am pleased with this medication. It has helped me more than any other medication that I have tried."

• 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'."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 1, 2012

For Pain "I'm on 200 mg at night. I know it's more than most people. I have chronic pain from degenerative bone disease plus I'm bipolar. This med is old school but it has helped me more than any of the newer meds. It is worth trying if other meds haven't helped."

• TEX...
• March 24, 2017

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I am 52 years old. I've struggled my entire life with anxiety, phobias, depression, intrusive racing thoughts, etc. I was diagnosed with PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder. I have tried every kind of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, sometimes with absolutely horrible side effects. I am disabled with disc and bone disease, my pain doctor added amitriptyline to my meds. I never would have imagined my pain doctor giving me a drug that could change my whole life, especially at my age. I gave up on finding a medication that really helped. I have been homebound for the past 3 years, I have become a recluse. Now, I look forward to getting out of the house! I actually feel happy! THANK GOD!!!! AND IT'S ONLY $4 CASH!"

• zek...
• December 7, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I have tried almost every medicine for GAD (Xanax, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Seroquel, Buspar) but it seems that Amitriptyline is the only drug that works for me. I also take 300 mg of Lyrica for chronic pain and 150 mg of Effexor XR in the morning and 50 mg of Amitriptyline before sleep. It changed my life."

• Fee...
• May 18, 2016

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia for months. Dr. started me on Elavil 10mg for sleep. Within a half hour, I'm asleep. I have not slept this well in a long time. I am not a zombie either in the mornings. I feel very good when I wake. Best thing."

• 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!"

• 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
• March 13, 2008

For Pain "I have chronic pain due to neck and head pain. I have been taking Elavil for 5 years, 75mg a night. It doesn't help with the pain, but I am able to sleep past the pain. If you have issues sleeping for whatever reason, give it a try. I can sleep most of the night, and I do not have a hangover the next morning."

• ez_...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 3, 2018

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I've had Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for 30 years, then a random workplace mass shooting gave me PTSD about 16 years ago. I was on many different drugs from a psychiatrist (probably getting kickbacks). After I lost my job, ability to work, house, wife, etc., I was fortunate to be poor and prescribed a drug I could afford by a nurse practitioner with advice from a neurologist. To add to my Klonopin, they prescribed Elavil. I slept like a baby for the first time in years. It helped with anxiety and depression, improved my libido, and I will be happy to take it the rest of my life. I have been on it for over ten years now. I still struggle, but I would never have managed without it. It gives me a fighting chance at a real life. SSRIs and antipsychotic drugs are demonic."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 8, 2013

For Depression "I have been on Elavil for depression for 20 years. I did have some problems with not remembering that I had told someone something already. This has gotten better as I made a conscious effort to remember things. I still have some problems with memory in forgetting where I put things. The best thing that happened is I have not had a headache in 20 years. I used to have bad headaches 2-3 times a week so this has been well worth putting up with side effects."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2008

For Burning Mouth Syndrome "I was very skeptical that an antidepressant would help with my persistent burning mouth syndrome. My symptoms were severe: burning tongue, roof of the mouth, and throat. After many tests and no results, my doctor suggested amitriptyline. It worked almost immediately, and after two weeks, almost all the pain is gone. The side effects are minimal: dry mouth and disturbed dreams, which seem to have diminished after a month or so. It's worth it for me."

• 13c...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 29, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Today I am on 100mg of Elavil and it is working quite well. Best of all, Elavil has the added bonus of curbing my neuropathy which had forced me to be on fentanyl for over 4 years. Been about eight years now and it is still doing a great job. I have been on just about every drug they have for panic and other than Prozac, this is one of the only drugs that has worked or worked without nasty side effects. Paxil worked but TOTALLY wiped out my sex drive and ability to perform. Zoloft did nothing at all good or bad. Alcohol was good at knocking down the panic attacks but the bad there was the attacks became more frequent. Imipramine only masked the symptoms causing some nasty muscle tension that led to migraines."

• Bra...
• July 17, 2013

For Depression "I suffer an array of chronic pain/low back and leg issues. My doctor, after many failed attempts of finding the right medication for me, used this in conjunction with the muscle relaxant Robaxin. In the first three days, there was notable significant relief of virtually all pain. I continue to take 75mg twice a day, and I feel like I have my life back again. This medicine has been a blessing."

• sma...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 6, 2019

For Insomnia "Amitriptyline has been a godsend for my insomnia. I get a really good sleep eight nights out of ten with this medication. I started with 10 mg and moved up to 50 mg. It gives me a hangover during much of the next day, and I always have to take a nap in the late afternoon, but without it, I can't sleep at all."

• KAT...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 28, 2013

For Insomnia "I have really, really bad insomnia. I'm up for 3-4 days straight, and after my doctor prescribed me a combination of zopiclone and amitriptyline, I'm able to sleep 4-5 hours. However, your body can become tolerant after a while, meaning you may have to increase your dosage. I've had to do this, but what I've started to do is try to keep really busy throughout the day. If needed at night, I'll take a smaller dose than prescribed to me or try to go a few days without it, then take my regular dose."

• Nli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Pain "I was prescribed a low dose for my IBS-related pain. It did help my stomach, but I suffered badly with the side effects. I would take it at night before bed, but during the daytime, I experienced shakes, anxiety, severe trouble focusing, and could barely string sentences together, so I stopped taking it two days ago. I am still suffering from bad shakes and difficulty concentrating. Be very careful with it."