I am a diabetic and use to take Elavil yrs. ago and it worked well for my depression. Now I have to watch what I take because the potential to raise or lower my glucose levels. I have tried just about every anti-depressant out there thru the yrs. and Elavil (amitryptline) has been the best for me. If there is a better drug that won't affect my diabetes PLEASE let me know! I am on insulin.
How does Elavil affect blood glucose levels in people w/diabetes?
Question posted by jane531 on 21 Feb 2011
Last updated on 16 August 2011
3 Answers
vlb1955
21 Feb 2011
Elivil will make you crave sweets and not good carbs in a huge way. Thus your blood sugar levels will go up. I too had this problem.
Inactive
21 Feb 2011
Jane, I just read in "Arthritis Today" last night (the March - April subscription) that Cymbalta has been approved for fibromyalgia, & that it also helps diabectic problems too. Don't know if they were referring to neuropathy or what. Wasn't explained just said some complications of diabetes. This is a antidepressant. Good luck to you & best wishes.
LaurieShay
21 Feb 2011
Yes, good choice Mary, cymbalta helps with diabetic neuropathy and depression. It is also prescribed for fibromyalgia.
culturedprl
16 Aug 2011
I was excited to try Cymbalta. I had been on Celexa for a few months, but it had become less effective for me, so I asked my neurologist about Cymbalta. It worked really well for my stress-induced headaches and my neuropathy, but - and this is a big one - my A1c went from slightly high (7.2 or so) to 9.8! I immediately talked to my endocrinologist and he asked me to find out if I could go on something else because of my sugar. When I spoke to my neurologist, he said he had never heard of Cymbalta raising sugar (although it's in the literature) and he refused to prescribe anything else for me. I'm looking for a new neurologist, obviously. My endocrinologist has given me Elavil, and I just started it today. Hopefully it will have better results for me! Please be careful of you blood sugar and monitor it carefully, which I was not doing as well as I thought. The dangers of the high blood sugar are not worth the effects of the Cymbalta to me. You may not be affected by it, but watch out!
LaurieShay
21 Feb 2011
Dear Jane,
Upon reading the info available for the professional on elavil side effects it says:
Both elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels have been reported.
I recommend you speak with your doctor as far as an antidepressant that would be appropriate for someone that is diabetic. An endocrinologist (specialist in hormone control) would be best as far as advice on this subject. Are you under the care of a specialist in diabetes?
This may be a situation were the benefit of antidepressant use out weighs the risk, particularly if you monittor your glucose levels often.
Just my thoughts and discoveries,
Laurie
Related topics
elavil, depression, insomnia, urinary incontinence, fibromyalgia, glucose, anxiety and stress, diabetic
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