Elavil User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Tho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2021

For Insomnia "I really wish I could give high praise for this medicine, but unfortunately I can't. I was prescribed 25 mg to help with sleep and depression. It worked OK the first night. The next two nights of taking it, I had NO sleep. It kept me awake. I wasn't worried about anything and no other side effects other than tossing and turning, hoping to get some sleep. Even the night after I stopped taking it, I had absolutely no sleep. Thankfully, today is my day off. I'm hoping it's out of my system by tonight so that I can have at least a little bit of sleep. I know my depression plays a role, but I'm not always depressed. But today I am for obvious reasons, and I'm sleepy, but I don't want to take a nap to ruin my sleep 'schedule.' I hope this doesn't stop someone else from at least trying it. It's different for everybody. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me as far as sleep goes."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I'm a 16-year-old girl. I have been on tons of medicines for migraine prevention, and nothing seemed to help. One day, I ended up in the E.R. and missed much school. When I started on Elavil at 10 mg, it seemed to not do much, but when my dose was increased to 30 mg, I tend to have less frequent (2-3) migraines a week. My migraines are less intense, and I'm able to do my studies. The dry mouth is much less when I chew gum, but I tend to be tired all the time. This medication has worked the best for me, although not perfect."

• Hig...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 20, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "The first time I was aware of the existence of this drug, a gastroenterologist gave it to me for sharp stomach pain. The cause was idiopathic and/or overdetermined by a variety of problems, especially some damage to the hypothalamus. That was in 2001, and it worked IMMEDIATELY. Stomach pain? Gone. Only had about a 2-week supply and stopped with no ill effects. In fact, it perked up my mood! I always remembered that this was the drug that solved a serious pain problem. In 2015, I had severe anxiety, and my appetite was completely gone. I knew what I needed. The psychiatrist gave me Elavil, even though he was inclined toward Effexor. I ate! I felt good again. I am still on it. I am concerned regarding withdrawal. Short-term use recommended if possible."

• 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."

• Grr...
• June 10, 2017

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Keeps you from wanting to kill yourself, makes you feel more comfortable, just mellows you out, keeps me from having flashbacks. First time, I didn't like bad side effects, the doctor gave me 50mg a day, but I take 50mg at bedtime, then I cut the pill in half late morning and early evening. First time taking, makes you sleep really well. I have no side effects. I like it, keeps you calm."

• bad...
• May 28, 2010

For Insomnia "It did not help me fall or stay asleep. I took this medication for 3 months. I started out at 25 mg and worked my way up (per doctor's orders) to 100 mg. It still did nothing. I weaned myself off of it, and it was like I had never taken anything in the first place."

• dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2023

For Insomnia "In my younger years, I was plagued with depression and anxiety, and none of the tricyclic antidepressants seemed to work on me other than make me tired. I am now on Zoloft, and though it seems to work well, it has put my libido in the garbage. My doctor does not want to put me on Elavil because she thinks I have dementia and that will make it worse. If I have dementia now, then I was born with it! It is a great med for getting to sleep."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I just started taking it last Thursday, and I am so happy that it is working, no headaches (except one today). I feel like I'm in a dream! No one around me understands how miraculous this is, suffered with them for 30 years now. I feel like a normal human."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Helped my migraines a lot! However, had severe constipation, gained 45 lbs in 6 months, gave me night terrors, and caused me to have slight depression. For migraines, though, it was great, but due to all the side effects I was having, I have since switched. I would recommend Elavil to migraine sufferers, it worked for me!"

• bar...
• September 7, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I started on Elavil about 15 yrs ago for fibromyalgia. It brought me a lot of relief at first, but it stopped working for me. I still take it, but the doctor wants me to take a lesser mg. I was up to 100 mg, but now I am down to 20 mg. She said that the Elavil made my heart beat really fast. It can also make your blood sugar go up or down."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I was very tired the first week, but after pushing through it, I felt better. Headaches took about 2-3 weeks to go away, but they were gone. I had been having headaches almost daily, and they were getting severe. I felt pain-free, however, I felt like my IQ had dropped about 20 points. I couldn't think of things quickly anymore, and it was getting worse. My typing was getting worse, and I was forgetting everyday things like family members' names. I pulled backwards out of my driveway one day, and with myself turned around looking out the rear window, I couldn't orient myself to figure out which side of the road to be on. I was on Elavil for almost 2 months. I took myself off 1 week ago. Headaches are coming back, but my memory is returning."

• Sta...
• June 26, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Elavil for several weeks now, and the only side effect I have had is the dry mouth. I would rather deal with that than the migraines, which I must say have been dormant for weeks now, and I am so happy."

• ama...
• October 19, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I started on 25 mg of Elavil for 1 month and recently increased to 50 mg. The Elavil has worked well to some extent. I didn't have very many side effects, and I am hoping that it will continue to give me positive results."

• Jas...
• January 17, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia, was beginning to feel like I am losing my mind. I am 29 years old and some days can barely walk, I hurt so bad. I have been on Elavil for headaches, 10 mg is all I can handle, as it knocks me out. It helps to prevent the headaches, but I hurt so bad still. Thankful to be rid of headaches, but wish the doctor would help!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 8, 2024

"I was given amitriptyline for interstitial cystitis. Before being given this medication, I was in pain all the time. I also couldn't sleep at night because I was constantly getting up to urinate. On top of this, I had become severely depressed from my condition. Amitriptyline helped with the depression too. I had tried other medications, but none of them helped. I consider amitriptyline my miracle drug. It restored my life."

• kjg...
• May 28, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "This medicine did not help my fibromyalgia at all. I had doctor after doctor ask me to take it as I searched for answers and relief. I finally had to stand up for myself and refuse to take it because it has such a strong effect on me. I felt like a zombie each time I tried it. This is regardless of how small the dose was. The medicine did nothing to ease my pain or any of my other fibromyalgia symptoms."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I was having daily morning migraines, and my doctor prescribed Elavil 10 mg to take at night as a preventative medication. It worked right away, and I love it since it helps me sleep too. I am very happy with what Elavil has done for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I had daily migraines for several years. I have been prescribed many different preventatives but was taking 50 mg of Imitrex and 4 Tylenol #3 a day for pain relief. Since my neurologist started me on Elavil at 25 mg and finally building up to 50 mg a night (2 months ago), I have only used 2 Imitrex and no more Tylenol with Codeine. This is truly miraculous! The only downside is a 10 lb weight gain. I eat a pretty restricted diet to begin with (no butter or fats, lean meats/fish, and no sweets or snack foods). I am trying to further reduce my caloric intake to stop the weight gain. Anyway, I would rather be a little chubby and almost pain-free."

• 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."

• SDA...
• September 30, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I had epilepsy surgery last year, and I have suffered with headaches ever since. After over a year of trying different remedies, my doctor prescribed Elavil. I was so tired of having headaches every day that I was willing to try anything. I take one 25 mg tablet at bedtime, and my headaches have gone away. It's like I never had them. Elavil has been a blessing to me."

• 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..."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "This has been great for me. I've been on it for 2 weeks, and in the last week, I only had 3 headaches, which went away with 2 Tylenol. I was having chronic daily headaches that wouldn't go away no matter what I took. I'm still a little sleepy during the day, but I know that will get better. I take 10 mg at night."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2022

For Pain "I struggled with esophageal spasms for a year, and after every test known to man, they were all negative. The pain was excruciating, woke me up every night about 3 a.m., and it would last for hours. It felt like a major heart attack and caused severe abdominal pain too. I took Elavil, and within 2 days, I was in no pain and sleeping through the night. It gave me my life back!!"

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2017

For Insomnia "I told my doctor about my symptoms, and he told me that my symptoms did not appear in his medical handbook, so he disregarded my symptoms completely. He said it was mandatory for him to report any symptom not listed in his book to the proper health authorities to update the handbook. However, he didn't report the side effects that I told him about because it was 'too much paperwork.' Instead, he tried to convince me that it had nothing to do with Elavil, and in a threatening demeanor, tried to change my mind about my symptoms so that he would not be forced to do any paperwork. After reading this site on Elavil, I see the symptoms that I told my doctor about. I find that my doctor acted in an unsafe, unprofessional, and negligent manner."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2019

"I had a terrible experience with these pills. I've never experienced side effects on a medication before, and I trusted my doctor who told me that I was taking such a low dose I shouldn’t have side effects. This medication made me feel like a zombie all day, no matter how much I slept. It caused me to feel spaced out and exhausted and also caused me to experience visual hallucinations before bed one night. Awful pills I would never try again. There are a million people online desperately trying to taper down their dose and get off the pills but having withdrawal symptoms. To each their own, but I wish I never even tried it at all. By the way, I was put on this for functional dyspepsia."