End Fatigue

Elavil (Amitriptyline) is Not Very Effective in Fibromyalgia

This review looked at 10 studies using Elavil in Fibromyalgia. What it found was that low doses (25 mg or less) were helpful for up to 8 weeks, but then the benefit wore off by 12 weeks and it was no better than placebo. Higher doses (50 mg) were not more effective than placebo even in the short term.

As we have noted for years, we do not recommend Elavil be used routinely in Fibromyalgia because the side effects well outweigh the benefits. The exceptions—We do use Elavil or related medications at a dose of 10-25 mg at bedtime in cases of nerve pain, vulvodynia, and interstitial cystitis (vaginal and bladder pain).

If you are on Elavil and it clearly helps, I would stay with it. If not sure that it helps, consider having your physician taper off the medication and, if needed, add other meds on our list of sleep treatments.

You may find you get more benefits and fewer side effects.

References

B. Nishishinya, G. Urrutia, et al. Amitriptyline in the treatment of fibromyalgia: A systematic review of its efficacy. Rheumatology, Aug 12, 2008