I took this drug for a year. I credit it for preventing me from becoming bedridden by my symptoms. However, it only helped about 30%, and when I got up to 150 mg, I had *three* seizures (and I don't have a seizure disorder)! I can no longer take Elavil b/c of that. Very unfortunate, b/c in conjunction with other treatments, it would have probably helped a lot.
Posted by: Little One May 23, 2009 12:47 am

*Double Post*
Posted by: Little One May 23, 2009 12:45 am

was depressed and had suicidal thoughts due to neuralgia type pain endep(amitriptyline)saved my life! It took 2 weeks to work but has controlled the pain.I still have mild pain on some days but nothing i can't handle i walk 4 km a day and find this helps weight gain and pain i feel lucky compared to some
Posted by: kathy1 April 27, 2009 2:31 am

Made me feel drowsy and sad. No relief from pain.
Posted by: El April 26, 2009 6:52 am

I've been on Amitriptyline for almost three years now and it has done wonders for me. I suffer from vulvar vestibulitis as well as dysthetic vulvodynia. Before I began taking the medication my pain was so bad I couldn't walk, could barely even get out of bed, and couldn't go to work. After a couple weeks of Amitriptyline my pain was greatly reduced. I was able to return to work, to walk, to actually move around and behave like a normal person again. don't get me wrong, it isn't a miracle drug. I still have pain flares and there are still limits on how much physical activity my body can take. But I am much better off with this medication than I was without it.
Posted by: Morrigirl March 9, 2009 11:56 am

The pain seemed better, but I took it for about 10 years and I ended up with very bad PVCs (Premature ventricular ccontractions). People livewith PVCs all the time, but I was having about 70 per minute around the clock. Thought I was having a heart attack. I now can no longer tale Amitriptyline or any meds of that kind.
Posted by: dcary February 25, 2009 12:04 pm

Tried this in vaginal cream & was like a drunk. Got a little sleep, though couldn't stay awake during the day either. Cut my dose down, so then I was only constipated, had difficulty holding conversations, thinking, gained weight & was extremely depressed. Held out for 7-8 weeks to give it a chance. Didn't do a think except make my entire summer a nightmare.
Posted by: hollyleaf February 11, 2009 12:15 am

Taking it orally definitely helped (oh the tears of joy during sex!) but the side effects were awful. My GP had it made into a compound cream for me and it seems to be helping quite a bit, slower than taking it orally but I don't get any side effects!
Posted by: Cara_Rouge January 23, 2009 7:39 pm

Also loopy and freaked out - no pain relief.
Posted by: itsnotsupposedtohurt December 31, 2008 9:43 am

I gained a lot of weight, and it made me tired all the time.
Posted by: cara December 15, 2008 8:28 pm

Did nothing for me
Posted by: georgina November 20, 2008 4:08 pm

made me feel loopy, no pain relief.
Posted by: dusty02 November 20, 2008 2:51 pm

nothing except weight gain
Posted by: glenda November 20, 2008 2:32 pm

Helpful and less intense & expensive compared to Lyrica. Works slowly over time. Side effect is weight gain/increased appetite. DO NOT take it with Trazadone, little known side effect can be pirapism (can't spell it). I have my best results when i combine this with topical Capsaicin compounded in an acid mantle base.
Posted by: McTwirly October 4, 2008 11:13 pm