I have been having anxiety and panic attacks for almost a year now and Im ready to just give up on help. I have been on 7 different antidepressants. Prozac, Effexor, Effexor XR, Celexa, Buspar, etc. NONE of those have helped me. One made me suicidal, one made me so physically sick I was hospitalized and the rest just made my panic attacks worse!
My mom takes Elavil and has for 20 yrs for anxiety. Im just worried that it will do the same as all the other AD's Ive been on. Its apparent SSRI's and SSNRI's arent right for me. because most of those have stimulants in them that make my panic attacks increase. Would anyone think I should talk to my Dr about perhaps trying Elavil??? ANY advice would be helpful. Im at my wits end with all this! Thanks in advance!
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28 Answers
DE
depressa
11 Aug 2020
dear english rose,
25 yrs ago my brother was put on elavil for depression. as with all of these drugs everyone reacts differently. with him, it made him a bit manic. i do think it helped his depression.
Votes: +0
PR
Prettyboy1973
6 July 2020
Hello the answer to your question is yes it will help tremendously I’ve been on Xanax and Klonopin 4 years but since the opiate epidemic they cut me off of them and I went through quite a few ADs Myself they actually prescribed Elavil to me because I have severe neuropathy I am a partial foot amputee and have severe neuropathy and both feet. Long story short it all worked out for the Best, Not only for my neuropathy pain but my panic attacks and anxiety Was help tremendously I was prescribed 50 mg but they made me Feel like I had a hangover so I cut them in half and that worked out the best for me! I hope this answer was helpful to you it sure changed the dynamics of my life!
Votes: +1
RI
Ricknlisa
19 Oct 2017
I did take elavil back many years ago and it did help with my panic attacks. It took about 2 weeks to work.
Votes: +2
DA
Dawn4373
19 Oct 2017
Yes!!! It got rid of mine! Tried many meds over the years with various side effects. This is the only one that got rid of my anxiety and depression and gave me no side effects. Not to mention I sleep better on it. I was out of it the first few days until I got used to it and now I can't even tell I am taking something except that I have no anxiety, panic attacks or depression anymore. It was a game changer for me. I feel like a new, normal person again. I highly recommend trying it.
Votes: +1
EN
englishrose_12
17 Dec 2012
Thank you all for your responses. It is now 2 years later, and I still suffer from my anxiety... not to the extreme that it was, but its still there. My Dr decided to try me on Remeron, which is in the same family as Elavil, but she wouldnt give me Elavil, because it has been known to cause heart problems after prolonged use. Sad news... Im afraid to take the Remeron because of my phobia of AD's!! Ive had the bottle for 4 months now and havent touched it. It took me 2 months just to get the nerve to have it actually filled. Since my first post, my father passed away in Sept. 2010, and now my grandmothers heart is failing, and all this has went from being full anxiety to some anxiety, but mostly my nerves being shot. Just got too much going on at once. My marriage is pretty much over after being cheated on, and being played with like a toy. Anyway, enough of my rant about all that. Im still just so concerned over taking ANY AD.
Its got to the point where I shake constantly because my nerves are just gone CRAZY!! Not to mention, I have to go today to get a nerve conduction test because my Dr thinks I may have a pinched nerve in my neck due to my crazy curved spine! Asking for prayers for the physical and mental parts. But also maybe some advice or recommendations on the Remeron.
Votes: +2
DA
Dawn4373
19 Oct 2017
Elavil got rid of mine! Tried many meds over the years with various side effects. This is the only one that got rid of my anxiety and depression and gave me no side effects. Not to mention I sleep better on it. I was out of it the first few days until I got used to it and now I can't even tell I am taking something except that I have no anxiety, panic attacks or depression anymore. It was a game changer for me. I feel like a new, normal person again. I highly recommend trying it or the remeron. Why suffer if you don't have to?
DA
Dawn4373
19 Oct 2017
And I think its normal to be afraid to try a new medication with an anxiety and panic disorder. I was afraid so just made sure people were with me when I first started it. I'm glad I did. Its so nice to be free of anxiety and panic. Game plan your start and try not to read all the negative horror stories people like to post, it only feeds the anxiety about it. Everyone is different, there are a lot of us with positive experiences.
IN
Inactive
14 Dec 2012
Hello englishorse12. Yes it can. Elavil is prescribed off label for anxiety disorders. As also for pain and several other ailments/diagnosis. Regards pledge
Votes: +2
IN
Inactive
14 Dec 2012
If you have a problem with me pledge, I am open to "polish" the rough edges, with the proper respect.
Studies have shown that Elavil is effective for the treatment of depression. It may also be used "off-label" to help relieve chronic pain and to prevent migraine headaches. Elavil can also help with bedwetting, ADHD, fibromyalgia, and bulimia. The medicine is also effective at helping people quit smoking.
I have the same reactions to ssris that you do... they make my heart race and cymbalta gave me serstonin syndrome..which can be fatal... like you I am scared to take any kind of ssri... but I was desperate for sleep and my ambien stoppeed working bc I guess I was takin it too long... but elavil has improved my sleep tremendously... and helped with anxiety/depression. I did feel hungover for a few weeks, but that went away... my quality of life has changed simply bc now I can actually sleep... i average 9 hours of sleep now that ive startef this med... compared to sleeping only about 4-5 hours before... its workin wonders for me..i totally understand where your fear of ssris comes from, but this drug is older and its chemical makeup is differenr than the newer ssris. I think that doctors try to push the newer drugs bc they get kickbacks from the drug manufacturers... but this drug is awesome..and ive had fibro for 8 years and hve tried just about everything...
its definately worth a shot... my suggestion would be to have someone with you when you first start it... it will decrese some of your anxiety of starting a new drug if you know you hve someone there to help you if you have a reaction..good luck!
Votes: +1
LE
Less Than Human
1 Nov 2011
I was prescribed Klonopin and Neurontin to help control my panic disorder. I take that in addition to Abilify, Cymbalta, and Wellbutrin to control both my panic attacks and my depression. I have been afflicted with both since I was 10, and it took me 15 years to find something that is actually controlling my symptoms. Good luck, and take an active role in learning CBT and practicing it along with your medications.
Votes: +1
KS
kst150
19 March 2011
I suffered from the same problem untill i was put on klonopin and zoloft the first drug is addictive but it helps in the fact that it takes away the fear of the return of another panic attack THANK GOD, i know zoloft works bcuz while ridin n the backseat (which i could never do)i realized ,omg, im n the back and didnt freak out.Hope u can find a doc.who will let u try this combo.GOOD LUCK:)
Votes: +1
CA
caringsonbj
14 March 2011
I have written and in the midst of making you my friend I lost the half page that I wrote so I feel this is important, I started having serious panic attacks when I was in my later teens and had them throughout my life, I stayed home a great deal of the time because I could just see myself being out and believe me I wanted to be out with close friends but I thought what wil I do or what will i say if I have an attack right in front of everyone, this went in for such a long time I felt so hopeless, I got a tablet out one day and I started to write whether it was a good day, a bad day or a day when I thought I just couldn't write another word, it was a help to me just to be able to start focusing on the good days, I took a medicaton that they called Librium 25ng.
then one day the doctor told me it ws time for me to be able to handle this without so much medicine at my age, talk about upset but I did withdraw from this medication, the one thing about Panic is that you develop fear so strong that you can't possibly see beyond that awful word, start looking for the positive things, Oh it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but I was able to come through that. as I've said I have friended you so if you decide you need a friend to talk with you through the private times I will be more than happy to do so, you be the one to decide, I friended you and now it's up to you, as far as the medication that you mention there is always the possibility that this might help you, many of us have seen people post positive results about this drug on this site, just be sure and discuss this with the doctor first, I cannot tolerate the Celexa, prozac, pristiq, cymbalta, and many of the others I was able at one time to take Librium 25mg. and then from there Diazepam 10mg. but now I only use 1 tablet in the morning, I will be thinking about you and wishing you the very best my first name is Billy my site name is , please consider working on getting better
Votes: +2
CI
cistre
26 Jan 2011
I understand that Elavil is for depression, not anxiety. For anxiety and panic attacks, I take Xanax and Klonopin. They have worked very well for me. I haven't had a panic attack in quite some time.
Votes: +0
CA
caringsonbj
12 Jan 2011
I feel I have to tell you that since I deal with panic and have for a long time I want to encourage you in every way that I can to keep on keeping on!! I have thought many times maybe there is another person out there who has it more difficult than me and perhaps going through this will help a person be able to get through this. I have heard that Elavil is used for panic I think it is an older drug, because I use Xanax please know that you inspire others I do hope that gives you something so hang on to take care
Votes: +1
VA
valerie1017
24 Nov 2010
Hi, I was put on Elavil for depression and anxiety. It was the worst. I was in grad school at the time and had a Grand Mal seizure from the medication. It was very traumatic. It didn't work for me.
If SSRI's have not worked for you, I would try something else before going on one of these anti-deppresants.
Thanks and good luck
Votes: +1
XX
xxRockerxx
31 Oct 2010
Try Zoloft @ 100mg.
Votes: +0
JB
J.Blaze
18 Oct 2010
I've struggled with panic attacks also for quite some time. I was prescribed BuSpar (a non-narcotic anxiety drug) for a while. It takes approx. 3 weeks to get into your system though. It seemed to help, but eventually I was prescribed .5mg of Klonopin. But you have to be careful... that is considered a narcotic. It's a benzo like Xanax, Valium, etc. But if taken properly & not abused, Klonopin works well. My doctor said it stays in your system longer than Xanax so you don't have to take it as much.
