Levsin or Elavil?

[Mehita]

Just doing a little research on IBS meds available. Has anyone had experience with either Elavil or Levsin for IBS?

Still not sure I'm buying the whole IBS thing, but want to have all my ducks in a row before the next appt.

 

[Jmrogers4]

Jack has taken Levsin for stomach spasm/cramps it worked really well. No experience with Elavil.
Levsin is a tiny pill you put under your tongue and let it dissolve and it has a mint taste.

 

[DJW]

Elavil (amtriptalyn sp?) is a tricylic antidepressant. I take it for sleep because of its sedating effect.

 

[Mehita]

At a low dosage Elavil is supposed to help with abdominal pain and diarrhea associated with IBS. I'm not too impressed with the side effects though... especially in a kid.

 

[Maya142]

Mehita - I have no experience with Elavil yet but my daughter's rheumatolgist does prescribe it for pain so we might be heading down that route soon. I will let you know!
Incidentally, my daughter also has IBS (supposedly, not sure I'm convinced) and is a very anxious person, so I'm hoping Elavil might help all of that.

 

[DanceMom]

Elavil was mentioned at A's appointment today for her headaches. Our GI said an EKG is required before starting the medication. That statement alone made me nervous. We're holding off for now.

 

[rivitex]

My son has tried both. He first tried Bentyl but Levsin worked better-my GI says that if one doesn't work, try the other. Neither one was very effective, though, so now he is on Donnatal, which is a cocktail drug and works a little better.

Elavil was amazing at first-the only thing that ever had a strong effect on him. Suddenly for the first time in his life, he could fall asleep before midnight. But it only lasted 2-4 weeks. However, I've read that tricyclics can have a constipating effect, and as that is an issue for us, it didn't seem ideal. His current psychiatrist switched him to Zoloft--suposedly the SSRI's have more of a loosening effect.

 

[Patricia56]

I suggest you check out this website - UNC Chapel Hill Functional GI Disorders

https://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/patient-education/educational-gi-handouts

 

[my little penguin]

DS has tried Bentyl, Levsin and Elavil.
Levsin worked the best when it was just a stomach/abdominal cramp/spasm.

But not when it was all day abdominal pain.

 

[Brian'sMom]

We tried Bentyl yesterday. It made our son really dizzy. Didn't help the cramp/spasm.

 

[Patricia56]

The treatment document for IBS under the educational materials at the UNC website includes an extensive discussion of levsin and other anti-spasmodics and anti-depressants.

I really do think you would find a lot of the information helpful.

https://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/patient-...al-gi-handouts

 

[Brian'sMom]

Does anyone have trouble with being dizzy or sleepy with levsin? I noticed it also has that listed in the side effects like Bentyl

 

[DustyKat]

When Sarah was undiagnosed she did try Buscopan, not the same as Levsin but in the same class, has the same side effects and is used to treat IBS. She did not have any side effect issues that I recall but it also did not alleviate any of her symptoms.

Dusty. xxx