Amitriptyline for Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome User Reviews (Page 2)

• Bik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2017

"I have had cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) for 15 years or so. CVS started when I was about 18-19 years old. I have been 'sick' at least 2 days per week this whole time, sometimes 7 days per week I'm sick, but never just 1 day. ER visits, IV meds, week-long hospital stays, and doctors literally worldwide scratching their heads trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I settled into the fact that I was destined to be sick and that it was going to kill me. At 33, I FINALLY got the diagnosis of CVS and have been prescribed 50 mg amitriptyline, and I have slowly been improving. I have gained weight and sleep 10 hours nightly, only side effects so far, so I'll take it! Been 6 months, I'm down to 4-6 sick days per month, so it's working!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 2, 2023

"About 8 years ago, I started vomiting twice every month, only for 24 hours. But I would be out of work for at least 4 days a month. I realized it was cyclical during ovulation and menstruation. I was then put on Norethindrone 0.35mg per day, which I am still on now. This reduced my vomiting to once per month, the day or a couple of days before menstruation. After numerous medications and procedures, I was finally put on 10mg of Amitriptyline every night. I've been taking it for almost 2 years. If I take it after 8pm, I have a difficult time getting up the next day. If I miss a dose, I feel nauseous. I still get nauseous around menstruation, but not nearly as bad, and I don't miss work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 2, 2023

"About 8 years ago, I started vomiting twice every month, only for 24 hours. But I would be out of work for at least 4 days a month. I realized it was cyclical during ovulation and menstruation. I was then put on Norethindrone 0.35mg per day, which I am still on now. This reduced my vomiting to once per month, the day or a couple of days before menstruation. After numerous medications and procedures, I was finally put on 10mg of Amitriptyline every night. I've been taking it for almost 2 years. If I take it after 8pm, I have a difficult time getting up the next day. If I miss a dose, I feel nauseous. I still get nauseous around menstruation, but not nearly as bad, and I don't miss work."

• Pea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 24, 2016

"I'm 35 years old. My CVS showed its ugly head when I turned 21. Now I look back at my childhood, and I see some signs. Took me a long time to get diagnosed, but it was pretty much confirmed when 10 mg of amitriptyline completely stopped my cycle. I had been on and off it for years. Recently, after moving to a new state, it seems I am now always on it. In 7 years, I went from 25 mg to starting today 100 mg. This drug really is a lifesaver, but I'm getting concerned I'm going to get to the max dose and have to find something else. I also take 5 mg of Lexapro for irritability. My side effects have been dry mouth and weight gain, which I don't mind for getting my life back."

• Gol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 25, 2022

"I have had Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) for 21 years. And it has been a very rough road for me. I was taking Elavil for fibromyalgia and decided to wean off, just to try and reduce number of prescription meds I was taking. When I did, my symptoms returned and with ferocity! Agonizing nausea and vomiting for several days, usually ending with a trip to ER for fluids. I got back on Elavil and it has helped tremendously. It has made me put on weight but anything is better than 24/7 mind-numbing nausea when you can’t eat,drink or sleep. It has reduced my migraines also. I take in the morning (although you are supposed to take at night) because it gives me restless legs and I cannot fall asleep. Overall, miracle drug, life saver! 25mg/day"

• Jon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 12, 2018

"I originally started on amitriptyline 50 mg (at bedtime) as a treatment for Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. It helped immensely with this. Additionally, not long after taking it, I noticed it helped with several other issues. I struggled with anxiety for a long time without treatment and had even had an anxiety attack where I thought I was dying and went to the hospital. After starting this, my anxiety problems disappeared entirely. Additionally, it helped a lot with chronic pain associated with having Crohn's disease. I also sleep a lot better. I have been taking the amitriptyline for about 3 years now. The only downsides were some wild dreams and being a bit cloudy in the head in the first couple of weeks. Also, if you take this regularly and miss a dose, you'll be out of it the next day."

• Tif...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2021

"I was on my death bed. I went from 145lbs to 118 in 3 weeks. My cyclical vomiting took 2 whole years to get diagnosed. Within those 2 years I was in the verge of dry heaving 24 hours a day for the WHOLE 2 YEARS! My doctor's had tested me for everything under the sun. My life as I had once known it had ceased to exist. My family had to raise my children for me. My brain was so screwed up from malnutrition, dehydration, emotional and mental strain that I began having seizures on and off all day long and for days on end. I was a shell of my once self. A listless entity. A near vegetable. When it was finally discovered that I had CVS I was prescribed amitriptyline because apparently CVS has similarities to migraines. Amitriptyline is from what I understand mainly used for that. After the many, many other different prescriptions I had tried none at all had worked.. until then. l have been free of my nightmare of an existence for 3 years now. If I go more than two days without it I'm back to square one."

• Sha...
• April 28, 2015

"I started amitriptyline about 5 or 6 years ago. It was a miracle drug. But it has stopped working in the last 2 months. I've been in the ER 5 times in 2 months. 2 episodes fell on a day I had wakes to go to and missed them due to CVS. Has anyone had success with any other medications? I am desperate for a new med before I lose my job!!!!"

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2018

"Amitriptyline is a lifesaver. After throwing up for a week straight with CVS my GI doctor prescribed amitriptyline. This medication totally stopped the episodes after only two days of taking it. It calmed my nerves too. I am so so thankful for this medication. It gave me my life back!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2022

"I was in and out of hospitals for about 2 years. Every 2 months or so I would have episodes that would require me to go to the ER because of dehydration. When I started Amitriptyline, the vomiting stopped, though I did have to get my dosage increased when the migraines started. But after almost 8 years, I am off of Amitriptyline and I have never been better!"

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2009

"Does not have the constipation side effect of nortriptyline, which is a plus if you ask me. With the help of my physician, I have looked for a miracle, and the answer came with a combo of amitriptyline-topamax. It is not the ultimate cure (I still get an episode here and there, but hey, I can take being sick once a month or month and a half), but in the meantime, no vomiting, no migraine, no 'can someone hand me that screwdriver' if you know what I mean. It worked for me, hope it helps someone else."

• Cha...
• March 16, 2021

"What an awful experience since March 2020 I became so so sick consistently sick every single day no anti sickness from the doctor would help. Many many hospital trips IV fluids bloods taken I was still violently sick. I went from 9 stone to 7 stone and honestly thought I was never going to have a quality of life again, I couldn’t take care of my daughter. Amitriptyline has been my life saver I’m nearly a week in with no sickness for the first time in a year! 10mg a night. They do make me super sleepy but so far so good!"

• cvs...
• May 30, 2011

Elavil (amitriptyline) "So far, Elavil is the only thing that seems to help on a daily basis with my cyclic vomiting syndrome. A drug I have used to abort an episode is Maxalt, which I think it is the same class of as Imitrex."

• Ari...
• February 20, 2017

"I have had cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) since I was at young as 16 but only got diagnosed a week ago at almost 31. I was misdiagnosed even told I was anorexic and bulimic at the same time but never got any answers and never comfort. My CVS went dormant for a while when I was 18 and I believed the dr that told me I produced too much acid but at 28 my CVS came back with a vengeance. I couldn't keep a job until I went back to an employer I had prior to getting sick again that knew my worth and was willing to work with me and keep me employed thankfully. I would have had no way to come up with 1200 bucks for my tests to rule out everything else and finally found my miracle doctor. He gave me amitriptyline 25mg at bedtime 5 nights ago and since I have been fine no episodes or symptoms"

• Hea...
• April 18, 2017

"I was sick with violent to moderate vomiting episodes daily for 5 years, numerous tests and docs with no answer. Eventually when I ended up on IV fluids at home we tried amitriptyline it was amazing, a life saver literally. Now 5 years later it has stopped working and I am devastated. I am trying nortryptaline as a change to see if taking a break from amitryptaline will get it to work again. I was up to 100 mg every night. The nortryptaline is not working at all, I am vomiting numerous times a day. Has anyone else had great success with amitript, and have it stop? What did you do? Thank you for any insight from other sufferers, it really helps. My first episodes started about 32 or 33."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2021

"Worked like a charm for vomiting and nausea, had to take dicyclomine for cramping. Started to get pervasive rash from amitriptyline. Excessive dry skin. I’d still take dry skin with pseudo sunburn over vomiting though."

• ani...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2022

"This medication is a life saver for me. I was having episodes of nausea and vomiting, making me rapidly lose weight and very weak. Once I started on Amitriptyline my episodes became very mild, with just a little nausea and burping. I'm only on 20mg too. No side effects either."

• Hen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2018

"My daughter was diagnosed with CVS (cyclic vomiting syndrome) last year at the age of 17. Prior to this she was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Polycystic Ovarian syndrome. She was put on his doses of metformin which the doctors believe kick started the CVS. However after being taken off of metformin she got worse. Her doctor started her on 25mg of amitripiline and now she is up to 50mg after a month due to her cycles being more frequent. She has lost about 15 lbs in a week in her prior episodes. Currently on the 50mg she has not vomited and her nausea seems to be gradually getting better. When she started the 25mg at night she didn’t seem to have any drowsiness. However, upon starting the 50mg she was extremely sleepy and groggy. It took her about a week for these to subside some. We kept backing her time to take it in the evening so she would not feel so out of it the next day. Currently her thyroid is once again out of whack so that may have something to do with that as well."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

"I had nausea and had to force food and drinks for over 12 months. Extreme weight loss as too nauseous to eat. Took 25mg amitriptyline for 1 month but then had urea breath test which came back positive for Helicobacter Pylori. Have been treated for this and am now nausea free. Did not have a problem stopping the amitriptyline after such a short time of taking it. My first test for H Pylori came back inconclusive as didn’t realise you must stop taking probiotics and Nexium at least two weeks before urea breath test."

• Twa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2023

"In December 2021, I became severely ill. Nausea, overall illness malaise, internal body tremors, and no appetite. Unable to do daily activities. My life stopped. Lost 18 lbs and started at 126 lbs. This went on for 4 weeks. Had many episodes every 2 months through July 2023. Gastroenterologist ran CT scans of the entire abdomen, pelvis, chest, and brain. Had endoscopy, colonoscopy, and gallbladder removal. Many rounds of blood work. After gallbladder removal surgery, it was great for 2 months and all previous symptoms returned. I saw my neurologist, and he diagnosed CVS. Started with 10 mg of Amitriptyline. Worked immediately. After about 6 weeks, had a minor relapse and went to 20 mg. Have been basically symptom-free for 3 months. Just now having another episode. Symptoms minor but still a bit bothersome. Using 4 mg of ondansetron for nausea once a day as needed. Will wait and see if this episode is shortened due to using Amitriptyline. Continue to take 20 mg of AMT. May go to 30."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2020

"I just started 25 mg of amitriptyline two days ago. I have cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) so bad that I have vomited almost every day since I was 14. I'm two days puke-free."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2011

Elavil (amitriptyline) "Elavil helped immediately."

• Fre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2021

"I was in and out of the hospital for 14 years till they finally diagnosed me with CVS. I was having episodes every three months for four days at a time. amitriptyline saved the quality of my life."

• Mik...
• September 29, 2020

"Worst crap ever. Triggers my cvs attacks."