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Elavil Review – 15 Reasons To Consider

By Sasha de Beausset Aparicio, MSc

Reviewed by Rebecca Williams, MD, MA, MB, BChir

Last Updated:

Evidence Based | Overview | Ingredients | Health Benefits | Is it Safe? | Cautions | Price | Buying Options | How To Use | Conclusion

Elavil (generic: Amitriptyline) is now a discontinued prescription drug in the United States that used to be prescribed for mental and mood problems such as depression.[1] However, the brand name Elavil is still available outside of the United States. For instance, in Canada, Elavil is made by Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.

Amitriptyline may help increase energy level, improve mood and feelings of well-being, relieve anxiety and tension, help you sleep better. Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by modifying the balance of specific natural chemicals (neurotransmitters such as serotonin).

Overview

1) Quick Overview

Elavil-Amitriptyline-Rexall-Pharmacy-Facts

Amitriptyline, sold under the brand name Elavil, is a medicine primarily used to treat many mental illnesses.[2] These include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and attention deficit disorder (ADD).[3]

Other uses include prevention of migraines, treatment of neuropathic pain such as fibromyalgia and postherpetic neuralgia, and less commonly insomnia.[4]

2) The Company Behind Elavil

Amitriptyline was first produced in a lab in 1960. Later, in 1961, the substance was introduced for medical use in the United States. In 1962, Amitriptyline was approved for medical use in the United Kingdom under the brand name Elavil.

As of February 2020, Amitriptyline was marketed under numerous brand names worldwide alone and as a combination drug with each of medazepam, perphenazine, and chlordiazepoxide.

Some of Amitriptyline’s most well-known brands include Amicon, Amitrip, Laroxyl, Latilin, Elavil, Tryptizol, Qualitriptine, Amineurin, Triptyl, Triptyline, Mitryp, Modup, Arpidox, Odep, Syneudon, Teperin, Amitriptyline, Amitriptylinhydrochlorid, Vanatrip, Redomex, Amilin, Amiline, Norman, Pinsaun, Maxivalet, Polytanol, Triptric, Tripyline, Deprelio, Elatrol, Elatrolet, Trynol, Tryptalgin, Sarotex, Amitryp, Amotrip, Adepril, ADT, Ambival, Amilavil, Amiplin, Amirol, Amit, Amitin, Amitone, Amitrac, Amitriptilina, Amitriptilino, Amitriptilins, Amitriptine, Amitriptylin, Amitriptyline, Amitriptylinum, Amylin, Amypres, Amytril, Amyzol, Anapsique, Endep, Fiorda, Levate, Maxitrip, Propanol, Saroten, Stelminal, Trepiline, Triamyl, Trillin, Trip, Tripta, Triptiline, Triptizol, Tryptanol, Trypsin, and Tryptomer.

In 2003, the FDA requested the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to discontinue Elavil in the United States due to GMP problems.[5]

Rexall Pharmacy Group contact information:

  • Phone: 1-877-378-4100 (Monday to Friday 9 AM – 5 PM EST)
  • Address: 5965 Coopers Avenue, Mississauga, ON L4Z 1R9
  • Website: rexall.ca
Ingredients

3) Details on Elavil Ingredients and Uses

Elavil contains the following active ingredients: Amitriptyline.

4) Does Elavil Work?

Amitriptyline (pronounced: a-muh-trip-tuh-leen) is an earlier class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and one of the first medications intended to treat depression and anxiety. However, the substance can also be commended for chronic pain, discomfort, sleep, and improved ADD/ADHD symptoms.[6][7][8]

Elavil works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that the brain sends out to nerves in the body. It’s believed to improve the way your body responds to mood, quality of sleep, pain, and emotional state.[9][10]

By increasing your serotonin levels, Amitriptyline should change your body’s reaction to pain. The low dose won’t treat depression, but it should improve your sleep, relax your muscles, and alleviate pain.

Doctors prescribe Elavil to treat depression in adults. They may also recommend the medicine in ways that the FDA has not yet approved, known as off-label uses.[11] For instance, a physician may prescribe Amitriptyline as an off-label treatment for:

  • Sleeplessness
  • Chronic pain
  • Shingles pain
  • Excessive production of saliva
  • Migraine
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Anxiety
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Bladder Pain Syndrome
Health Benefits

5) Elavil Health Benefits

Elavil-Amitriptyline-Rexall-Pharmacy-Medicinal-Uses

Some Elavil (Amitriptyline ) claimed benefits[12] include:

  • May improve mood;
  • May increase energy levels;
  • May improve motor skills in patients that are experiencing chronic pain.
Is it Safe?

6) Elavil – Is it Safe?

Elavil (Amitriptyline) is known for causing more side effects than your average prescription medication. Some of these side effects[13][14][15][16][17] include:

  • Weight gain
  • Drowsiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Headaches
  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation

Although less common, the following side effects may also occur:

  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty paying attention
  • Abnormal heart rate
  • Acute angle glaucoma
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Tremors
  • Postural hypotension
  • Difficulty passing urine

In some rare cases, Amitriptyline may cause the following severe adverse reactions:

  • Heart arrhythmias
  • Prolonged QT
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Conditions affecting the bone marrow
  • Coma
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Paralytic ileus
  • Seizures
  • Temporary loss of consciousness
Cautions

7) What You Need to Know Before Taking Elavil

Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil (Amitriptyline) can be deadly if the patient takes them with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)[18][19][20]. Although MAOIs are an older type of prescription antidepressants that have been phased out by most medical doctors, some may still prescribe MAOIs when modern antidepressants prove ineffective.

For that reason, we advise caution if you are already under treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Taking MAOIs with Elavil or other tricyclic antidepressants can lead to hazardous effects, including severe convulsions, high fever, severe convulsions, and even death.

Some of the most commonly prescribed MAOIs include:

  • Isocarboxazid
  • Phenelzine
  • Moclobemide
  • Selegiline
  • Tranylcypromine

Elavil may also cause severe reactions[21][22] when a patient uses it in combination with other antidepressants, such as:

  • Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
  • Phenobarbitals like Solfoton and Bellatal
  • Sedatives
  • Fluoxetine like Sarafem and Prozac
  • Citalopram (Celexa)
  • Paroxetine (Paxil)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

8) Elavil – Legit or Scam?

Elavil RX pills cost anywhere between $40 to $80 for a supply of 100 tablets. The price may vary depending on the pharmacy you are buying from.

For the United States, only generic forms of Amitriptyline are available. The following list shows the costs for 30 tablets of Amitriptyline by dosage.

  • Amitriptyline 10 mg: $4.00
  • Amitriptyline 25 mg: $4.00
  • Amitriptyline 50 mg: $4.00
  • Amitriptyline 75 mg: $4.00
  • Amitriptyline 100 mg: $16.82
  • Amitriptyline 150 mg: $23.50
Buying Options

9) Where to Buy Elavil in the United States?

Elavil RX is no longer available in the United States, but it can still be purchased online from stores from Canada, EU, Australia, etc. However, we do not recommend purchasing Elavil RX online without a medical prescription.

Price

10) Elavil Price

Elavil is a moderately priced antidepressant. Furthermore, the generic form of Elavil (Amitriptyline) is even more inexpensive.

Most prescription plans and health coverage programs will pay for this particular medication. However, please take into consideration that Elavil may no longer be under production. While the formula is still available for purchase (within the United States only), we firmly recommend our readers to analyze the situation with their doctor before starting treatment.

11) Alternatives to Elavil

Because Elavil is a prescription medication, we can only review other prescription medicines as potential alternatives. We don’t advocate substituting a treatment directed by your medical doctor with an over-the-counter dietary supplement.

Endep (Amitriptyline)[23] is another tricyclic antidepressant used to treat mood and mental problems such as anxiety and depression. It may help relieve tension, improve feelings of well-being and mood, help you sleep better, and boost your energy level.

Tofranil (Imipramine) is prescribed primarily in the treatment of depression.[24] It may also be effective in treating panic disorder, anxiety, and nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) due to its ability to reduce the time of delta wave stage sleep, where wetting occurs.

Norpramin (Desipramine) is prescribed to treat major depressive disorders and ADD/ADHD.[25] It is also used to increase energy levels, improve sleep quality, elevate mood and appetite, and restore your interest in daily living.

How To Use

12) How to Use Elavil

Take Elavil by mouth, typically one to four (4) times daily or as directed by your physician. If you take only one (1) tablet daily, take it at bedtime to help lessen daytime sleepiness.

13) Variations of Elavil

Elavil (Amitriptyline) is available in several variations:

  • Elavil oral tablets: 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg.

14) What the Customer Elavil Reviews Say

"It got rid of mine! I've 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. " [Read full review]

---Dawn4373

"Keep you from wanting to kill yourself, make you feel more comfortable. Just meadows you out keeps me from having back flashing. The first time I didn't like adverse side effects, the doctor gave me 50mg a day, but I take 50mg bedtime, then cut the pill in half late morning and early evening." [Read full review]

---Grratfostbyji

"I was prescribed Elavil for depression and migraine prevention. After taking only two 10mg doses of Elavil, I had a severe manic episode. (Note: I am not bi-polar.) I was shaking, pacing, unable to sleep, talking a mile a minute but making no sense, full of anxiety and rage, unable to eat or keep anything down and in a total panic." [Read full review]

---MigraineMisery

Conclusion

15) Conclusion

Elavil can be an effective way to help manage chronic pain and depression. However, it’s important to recognize that abuse of any prescription medicine can be dangerous and lead to severe addiction.

Talk with your doctor about how long it may take for Elavil (Amitriptyline) to start improving your symptoms. If it seems like the medication isn’t working, tell your physician as soon as possible. There may be other alternatives to treat your condition.

4.7/5 - (4 votes)

Reference Sources

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