Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 10:31:15
I had to stop Geodon, which I love & miss. I was stable & felt great.
Then, because of an unrelated condition, I had to start taking Elavil for neuropathy. It works great for pain, but it's an antidepressant and causes me to have insomnia. I had to stop Geodon and start back on Trileptal.
Life sucks. I failed Neurontin (gabapentin) for neuropathy.
Isn't there any other meds I can try for neuropathy so I can go back to Geodon?!
I'm feeling awful.
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 5, 2014, at 12:33:10
In reply to I'm HATING Elavil!, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 10:31:15
lyrica? I think its like super Neurontin. Lower doses, more potent (more $$$, too). Schedule V or something.
I seem to recall reading that some people take high-ish doses Klonopin for neuropathy. Maybe I'm wrong.
Ummmm....Elavil can be rough. Are there other TCAs you could try? TCAs are worse for inducing (hypo)mania and sometimes psychosis than the newer ADs are. They also cause weight gain and some other problems...dry mouth, sedation, cognitive dulling, etc. Then again...they can be extremely effective.
Have you ever tried Tofranil? Its my go-to AD when I'm seriously down in the dumps. You take it at night, either the old school stuff or Tofranil-PM. Less sedating than Elavil, good for some ADDers, can help anxiety....
...its the first TCA. I don't know why so many people are on Elavil (much more sedating, I think it usually requires a couple doses throughout the day). There's also Pamelor and Vivactil (stimulating), Surmontil (sedating, soothing), possibly maybe I dunno...amoxapine? Amoxapine is partly metabolized to loxapine, which is an older AP. In sufficiently high doses, amoxapine can control some psychotic disorders fairly well, as well as elevate mood. The AD component is more NE than SE, so its activating. Its supposed to work quickly, probably because of the loxapine component. Its been recommended to me, but I already take 30 Abilify, so I've been hesitant..
...there's also Cymbalta (60-120mgs/day, I think) to consider. I don't think its as big a deal combined with neuroleptics. I don't know if its safe with Geodon. Pretty much any AD drug will boost levels of your AP/AAP, so watch out for that...depending on your level of sensitivity, that could mean absolutely nothing in terms of side effects, or it could trigger sedation, cognitive dulling, tremors+twitches, etc. Really depends.I'd think Geodon+Lyrica would be fairly modern and clean, assuming Lyrica works for you. Abilify+Cymbalta+Lyrica...I dunno. TCAs do help a lot of people, can but they can *rough stuff*.
Sorry this was so long...
Good luck!
Posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 13:52:10
In reply to I'm HATING Elavil!, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 10:31:15
I took amitriptyline for 5 years but at 250 mg. But even just starting out I've never ever slept better in my life. If you aren't sleeping on it talk to your doctor.
Posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 13:59:36
In reply to I'm HATING Elavil!, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 10:31:15
I would try upping the dose before giving up on it. Are you at risk for sleep apnea?
http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/women-and-sleep-apnea
Posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 15:43:15
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Sheilac, posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 13:59:36
Not at risk for sleep apnea. If I take Elavil in the morning I shake and am hyper. If I take it at night I don't sleep.
And I'm not crazy about Trileptal. It's working to keep the hypomania away, but it kicks in my Raynaud's Syndrome (I know, totally unrelated, but my toes are icicles on Trileptal).
I miss how I could take Geodon and it worked for hypomania & depression. It was a great med for me.
I going to see if I can't get into my doc sooner. I've been taking naps during the days because I'm not sleeping at night. My world is all messed up. I'm miserable.
Posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 16:20:11
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Phil, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 15:43:15
When you're miserable it's hard to see daylight. I didn't know it at the time, I was diagnosed with depression. But early on I was manic and didn't know it while on amitrip. I was bipolar and misdiagnosed for 20 years! Amitrip is probably the cause of this mania and manic people don't sleep so well.
Posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 16:33:32
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Sheilac, posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 16:20:11
Yea. When my one doc gave me Elavil for my neuropathy it really helped my pain. But she had no idea what Geodon was and I didn't realize there could be a problem. I figured that Geodon was my mood stabilizer and there'd be no problem. If anything I figured I could just up my dose of Geodon.
After a few days on Elavil I was almost full blown manic. I thought at first I just needed to up my Geodon, but I called my pharmacist and he said that both drugs work on some of the same neurotransmitters. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably be in the hospital from having a heart attack from taking both drugs together.
I'm no longer manic and I'm not depressed. I'm just mixed up. The Elavil makes me nauseous and jittery. The Trileptal works great as an anti-manic. But I'm miserable.
Everyone says Elavil will knock you out and you'll sleep great. Not me. But I do tend to have the opposite effect with some meds. But I think Elavil in bipolar is bad news. I can't take any antidepressants. They make me crazy hypomanic.
Maybe tonight I'll try taking just the Trileptal and in the morning I'll try taking the Elavil. Maybe then I'll have a chance if getting some sleep.
I just hate how I feel and miss the simplicity of Geodon. It worked for me.
Posted by Phil on October 5, 2014, at 17:50:05
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Phil, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 16:33:32
I know that Elavil was the go to drug many years ago for fibromyalgia. AFAIK. It is harsh though. I kept Senokot in business for 5 years.
I tried to stop it after about 3 weeks. There wasn't info out there to say what would happen. I called my mother at 6 a.m. babbling about how I had the cure for all the worlds ills. Holy crap I wonder if she thought I'd lost my mind. I know she thought that!! I sat at the kitchen table, sweating palms, nausea. I said sh*t, this is withdrawal. Called my doctor. "You can't Do That!!!"
Well, why didn't you tell me you idiot?
I thought it wasn't working so I stopped taking it. There was no internet in those days and no one talked about their mental illness.
Prozac cured that problem sorta.
Posted by herpills on October 5, 2014, at 20:57:07
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Phil, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 16:33:32
If Geodon worked so well for you why did you discontinue?
Have you ever tried high dose B-6 for the neuropathy?
Posted by Sheilac on October 6, 2014, at 7:09:25
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Sheilac, posted by herpills on October 5, 2014, at 20:57:07
I have interstitial cystitis and vuvadynia so the pain is terrible and it really limits me on what I can eat, drink and the supplements I can take. B6 would hurt.
The go to drug for this condition is Elavil which you can't take with Geodon.
Meanwhile I feel terrible. I miss Geodon and I hate taking the Elavil, but it's working for the pain and burning.
When I see my pdoc in a week I'm going to see if there isn't another med I can take.
Posted by Phillipa on October 6, 2014, at 9:29:49
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » herpills, posted by Sheilac on October 6, 2014, at 7:09:25
Interstitial cystitis? Aren't there new meds out for this now? Used to give pain meds for this. Now they don't as far as I know. Phillipa
Posted by Sheilac on October 6, 2014, at 13:37:28
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Sheilac, posted by Phillipa on October 6, 2014, at 9:29:49
Yes, they give Elmiron, which is supposed to help rebuild the lining of the bladder, but it can take up to a year and it only works in about 50% of patients. Plus it makes you lose your hair.
Elavil and Tramadol are the go to drugs for pain management. Some people say they get relief from Cymbalta.
So now I have to decide if I go back to my Geodon & try Cymbalta. Or if I go to depakote and Elavil.
Right now I just feel awful from coming off the Geodon. I feel sick and nauseous and I'm not sleeping.
Elavil is supposed to make you sleepy, but it gets me wired.
Posted by Phillipa on October 6, 2014, at 20:52:10
In reply to Re: I'm HATING Elavil! » Phillipa, posted by Sheilac on October 6, 2014, at 13:37:28
Sounds like the geodon and cymbalta may be worth a try. The way you feel now isn't good. I'm sorry.
Posted by phidippus on October 20, 2014, at 19:31:48
In reply to I'm HATING Elavil!, posted by Sheilac on October 5, 2014, at 10:31:15
I'm not sure why you had to stop Geodon. I take it too, and love it.
Keppra would make a better treatment than Elavil for the treatment of neuropathy. Eleavil is an antidepressant, btw.
Eric
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