Question:
I have been taking Elavil for about 8 years for Periperal Neuropathy. About a year ago I began having bladder problems. I stopped the Elavil, on order of a Urologist, to see what would happen. The bladder problem went away but the pain, which had been at a tolerable level for awhile, came back like nothing I have felt in years. So now it seems I can have some pain relief but can’t go to the bathroom. Or I can urinate but have much pain at the same time. Anyone else have this problem? Any alternative meds? Glen
Response:
Try Pamelor or Nortryptiline It is a tricyclic like Elavil but with less anticholinergic effects (in some people) than Elavil. (I am assuming that your "bladder problem" is retention or difficulty initiating a void.) Courtney – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have been taking Elavil for about 8 years for Periperal >Neuropathy. About a year ago I began having bladder >problems. I stopped the Elavil, on order of a Urologist, >to see what would happen. The bladder problem went >away but the pain, which had been at a tolerable level >for awhile, came back like nothing I have felt in years. >So now it seems I can have some pain relief but can’t >go to the bathroom. Or I can urinate but have much >pain at the same time. Anyone else have this problem? >Any alternative meds? >Glen
Response:
Glen: First of all, let me say that I am NOT an MD, but speaking from personal experience and research. Elavil is one of the oldest tricyclic anti-depressants which is helpful for some people with neuropathic pain. However, the side effects can include constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision and prostate problems. This is due to the anticholinergic effects (drying mucus membranes). I would probably suspect that you may have BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia)…. or an enlarged prostate. This would explain the trouble urinating. If this is the case, I would assume that once the serum levels of Elavil begin to drop, the prostate will go back to its normal state. However, BPH can also occur without meds….. there are prescription drugs out there to treat it. I think this is why the urologist tried getting you off the Elavil first to rule out whether it was the cause of the problem. You know, of course, that every medication has its side effects…. I think that the best option (from my experience, at least), is to find the LOWEST dose of the medication that is effective for YOU and produces the least amount of side effects (i.e., can you live with constipation??? etc). Hope the info helps, Jeff
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have been taking Elavil for about 8 years for Periperal > Neuropathy. About a year ago I began having bladder > problems. I stopped the Elavil, on order of a Urologist, > to see what would happen. The bladder problem went > away but the pain, which had been at a tolerable level > for awhile, came back like nothing I have felt in years. > So now it seems I can have some pain relief but can’t > go to the bathroom. Or I can urinate but have much > pain at the same time. Anyone else have this problem? > Any alternative meds? > Glen
Response:
I have tried taking Elavil several times for FMS/MPS. I was only taking 1 tablet at bedtime. But, it always caused a bladder control problem for me during the night. When I stopped it, the problem stopped. I do take a Flexeril at bedtime now, and it doesn’t bother me. I do know that it is in the same family as Elavil, but for some reason, it doesn’t affect by bladder control. Beverly
Response:
Flexeril is not a tricyclic like Elavil Courtney
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I have tried taking Elavil several times for FMS/MPS. I was only taking 1 >tablet at bedtime. But, it always caused a bladder control problem for me >during the night. When I stopped it, the problem stopped. I do take a >Flexeril at bedtime now, and it doesn’t bother me. I do know that it is in the >same family as Elavil, but for some reason, it doesn’t affect by bladder >control. Beverly
Response:
Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) IS structurally related to the tricyclics and has similar side effects. Brad
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Flexeril is not a tricyclic like Elavil > Courtney >I have tried taking Elavil several times for FMS/MPS. I was only taking 1 >tablet at bedtime. But, it always caused a bladder control problem for me >during the night. When I stopped it, the problem stopped. I do take a >Flexeril at bedtime now, and it doesn’t bother me. I do know that it is in > the >same family as Elavil, but for some reason, it doesn’t affect by bladder >control. Beverly
Response:
I have always read and been told by doctors that Flexeril wasn’t the same as Elavil, but it was in the same chemical family and had some of the same benefits and reactions. It is more of a muscle relaxer. Beverly
Response:
>I have been taking Elavil for about 8 years for Periperal >Neuropathy. About a year ago I began having bladder >problems. I stopped the Elavil, on order of a Urologist, >to see what would happen. The bladder problem went >away but the pain, which had been at a tolerable level >for awhile, came back like nothing I have felt in years. >So now it seems I can have some pain relief but can’t >go to the bathroom. Or I can urinate but have much >pain at the same time. Anyone else have this problem? >Any alternative meds?
Yes there are alternative meds that might not cause this trouble. Have you tried Zoloft? You have to start at a low dose and build up. Another drug is Neurontin but it wll make you tired in the beginning. Dr. Elliot
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I have been taking Elavil for about 8 years for Periperal >Neuropathy. About a year ago I began having bladder >problems. I stopped the Elavil, on order of a Urologist, >to see what would happen. The bladder problem went >away but the pain, which had been at a tolerable level >for awhile, came back like nothing I have felt in years. >So now it seems I can have some pain relief but can’t >go to the bathroom. Or I can urinate but have much >pain at the same time. Anyone else have this problem? >Any alternative meds? >Yes there are alternative meds that might not cause this trouble. Have you >tried Zoloft? You have to start at a low dose and build up. Another drug is >Neurontin but it wll make you tired in the beginning. >Dr. Elliot
Does Zoloft work on this as well? What else do anti-depressants do, and if we’re taking them for depression, do they only have an effect on other parts of us if there is actually a problem there? Katharine.
Response:
The studies that have been done using the SSRIs (including Zoloft) for neuropathic pain have not been nearly as promising as the old tricyclics have been at reducing pain. I have been switched to two SSRIs (Zoloft and Prozac) in an attempt to mitigate the weight gain side effect. Within 48 hours each time, a significant amount of pain returned. Also, I immediately stopped sleeping as well. Seems SSRIs have a nasty side effect of insomnia in a significant number of people who take it. I’ll deal with the weight gain the best I can. It sure beats pain. Sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Yes there are alternative meds that might not cause this trouble. >Have you >tried Zoloft? You have to start at a low dose and build up. >> >Dr. Elliot >Does Zoloft work on this as well? What else do anti-depressants do, >and if we’re taking them for depression, do they only have an effect >on other parts of us if there is actually a problem there? >Katharine.
Response:
Tricyclics (Elavil) exhibit what is known as anticolinergic side effects, and this activity "dries you up like a chip" This contributes to urinary retention and constipation, as well as dry eyes, dry mouth, and decreased sweating, a real problem in thermal regulation. SSRIs (Zoloft being one) exhibit some of these problems, but nothing like Elavil. Common adverse reaction to Zoloft is headache when the drug in initiated, but resolves. A few patients experience nightmares and hallucinations at high doses. The most common lingering adverse effect is fatigue and insomnia, which also appears to be dose-related. Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) also can occur, and if persistent is a reason to change the medication. Sexual dysfunction also can occur-but either way. The only complaints that are generally expressed is decrease in desire-but no complaints on the increase. Understandable. Hope this is helpful. Dave/
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