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Welcome to the Elavil Forum

I started Elavil about two months ago for migraine prevention. I was mostly concerned about the risk of weight gain because I knew it affects your appetite. Somehow that has become the least of my issues. I’ve been having way more migraines than I’ve had in months since I started it and I’m sleeping constantly. I was willing to push through and see if I could adjust to the fatigue, but I’m frustrated with the way my body has responded. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow so we’ll talk and decide what’s next.

Had a great appointment with my primary care doc today, and we decided it only makes sense to taper off the Elavil. I might stay on a low dose since it’s been helpful with getting to sleep at night, but this dose of 100 mg is just too much. And it’s on to the next thing.

Good luck Diana. Elavil didn’t help me either, but it did help with sleep which was welcomed for a while. I hope you are able to find something that works better for you.

Thank you, Ellen. I may stay on a very low dose for the help with getting to sleep. Hopefully I can tolerate it at a lower dose. Never a dull moment with these migraine brains!

I had the same problem as you, I gained 40 pounds while on it.. we got the dose eventually up to 150 mg, I was happy to be sleeping because my migraines have led to terrible insomnia but the sleep was so good I woke up several nights having HORRIBLE hallucinations from the medicine. I immediately got off it, the weight gain, while I wasn’t happy about it was one thing.. but I was away at school calling my mom in the middle of the night telling her all of the stuff I was seeing, and while I knew that I was hallucinating after talking to her.. it couldn’t calm me down!

melissadwyer13,

It’s so hard with these medicines. We take them to help us, but then the side effects can be worse sometimes than the Migraine themselves. Honestly, the pain of Migraine is about the worst thing I can imagine (next to only a few other things) but we need to be able to hang onto our mental faculties as well. We shouldn’t be forced to exchange one huge problem for another.

Were you able to find another medicine or are you still taking it?

I have tried several medications since the Elavil, and with no success unfortunately. I will be trying an MAO Inhibitor next week. But I hear that has more side effects than anything! You almost can’t win!

I’ve been taking Elavil for over 15 years to prevent migraines. It’s worked for me all this time and haven’t had a single migraine, but the dry mouth and sensitivity to sunlight are the worst side-effects for me. It helps me sleep better too.

Elavil works for many of my family members. Since it worked for me, I recommended it to my Grandmother and some Aunts and Cousins. It works for all of them, but all have some side-effects. None worse than a migraine though:)

This medication has helped me tremendously. I have been on this for about 9 months and, not by my doctors direction, but my own, took myself off this medication cold turkey! Well, since I’ve done that (about two weeks and it’s been two weeks of pain and suffering. I’m back on this again, just started up again tonight at 10 mg, which my usual dose is 30 mg.

I too was worried about weight gain, and I’m already overweight, but like Ellen had mentioned, the pain of the migraine is also one of the worst things I’ve constantly endured and anyway I can avoid that, I’ll have to do it. I just have to stay away from the fridge… Easier said than done.

This really helps me sleep, keeps my mood up and stops by headaches by 3/4, so right now I just have to focus on being healthy.

But, everyone is different. What works for one doesn’t work for
All so it’s always good to try something else if you feel this isnt right for you

I’ve struggled with this drug a lot too. It’s alway me vs myself,’but now after much suffering I have made up my mind

Rosie – I’m so glad you’ve been able to reconcile yourself to working with Elavil. I hope you are talking to your doctor too. Most medications for Migraine shouldn’t be stopped abruptly, so discussing how to do it with your physician may be very helpful in minimizing side effects should you ever want to try a “holiday” again

I am on 100 mg of Elavil for my migraines. The side affect that bothers me the most is dry mouth, but increasing fluids greatly relieves that. When it is bothersome I use dry mouth mouthwash and sugarless cough drops. My eye doctor also told me to use dry eye drops if needed.

After hearing about weight gain, since I so badly wanted this to finally be something that works, after trying so many other meds, I increased exercise a lot and watch my diet more, so far have lost about 6 lbs.

RRKD – AWESOME!! Lots of people want to keep their weight down with preventives, but it can be really super difficult. You’re sounding like you’re on the right track!!

Yes Ellen, I have to agree with you. It’s never a good idea to abruptly quit any drug. I have been talk g 30 mg and feeling good! Good sleeps, head feels good “oh glorious day” (that’s how I feel when the headache is gone). Life is good.

Rosie, Oh, I am so happy you’re feeling so much better! I love it when a treatment plan comes together like that