Just diagnosed / Aimtriptyline weight gain!

Hello:) So glad to find this online support group site! My symptoms started almost 6 months ago (Nov 2015). Woke up one morning with frequent urination (I've always had frequency since menopause) and never had a UTI before. Fast forward...after seeing urologists, a gynecologist, urogynecologist, NP who specialized in Interstitial Cystitis, 2 cystoscopies, many ecoli UTI's....I feel the final diagnose is correct - vaginal atrophy (started premarin cream 4 months ago) and vulvodynia (just diagnosed with this couple days ago by gynecologist). Symptoms went from frequent urination, to severe burning, to a CONSTANT horrible urge to urinate, to a steady burn (still some frequency, especially when another UTI) on a pain scale from 4-6. I couldn't tell if it was my urethra or my vagina where the burn was coming from! Gyno the other day said there was redness around the outside of my vagina most likely causing the burning (said urethra and vagina inside looked good). Vaginal was not sensitive to touch at all, but I was burning badly after the vaginal exam was over.

She prescribed a vaginal ring, liquid lidocaine that I am to soak in a cotton ball and sleep with it pressed against my vaginal opening at night, and she wanted me to continue on the aimtriptyline I was put on 2 months ago by the NP I saw. I told her NO WAY! Reason being, in 2 months I have already gained 14 lbs! It causes carb and sweet cravings and I am trying not to indulge, but I read that the weight gain from it could also be hormonal related. I know over 50% of women gain weight on aimtriptyline. After 2 months on it and still have irritation/burning (I have frozen ice down there 24/7) I don't think the aimtriptyline is even helping (other then I sleep great). She said it could take longer, but I would like to try the ring and lidocaine without the aimtriptyline because I refuse to gain any more weight! Has aimtriptyline really helped anyone with my kind of burning? Thank you!!

Hi and welcome!

Don't you hate that everything is so darn close down there that it is hard to tell exactly what hurts! I've had the same issue with not knowing if it was my urethra or vagina that was causing the symptoms. I refused antidepressants and anticonvulsants from my OBGYN. I was on them as a kid for migraines (including amitriptyline), and I hated the way they made me feel. So, unfortunately I can't speak to them for vulvodynia, but I know a lot of women have given them a try on here.

Have you ever tried a powder supplement called D-Mannose for prevention and treatment of your UTIs? Two of my Naturopaths recommended it to me when I was having UTI issues. It only works on UTIs caused by E coli, but there are studies on its effectiveness on PubMed. So it's not just fluff that only Naturopaths use. It is a little sweet and a little bitter but super easy to take (just mix it with a little water). I bought mine on Amazon for pretty cheap.

My current specialist has me on a bioidentical estrogen tablet vaginally every other night (among other things), but I'm only starting my 5th week of treatment. He said it will take about 2.5 to 3.5 months for me to feel a difference; so I can't comment on how well it's working yet.

I assume all of your tests come back negative for everything? The only thing that stopped my urethra/vaginal burn (also had a weird prickly feeling at my urethra as well) was boric acid suppositories. However, that did nothing for my current pain, but at least I can check one thing off my list.

I hope the ring and lidocaine relieve your pain!!

Castle 16 Go back to your doctor and ask to be put on nortriptyline 20mg at night.I have been on this since June 2012 with a diagnosis of vulvar vestibulitis. Your story is very similar to mine. It takes a longtime for these meds to work but eventually I hope you will notice a difference. Persevere with the side effects.

Thanks for your reply about nortriptyline - did you have weight gain from this med? I know it's just like aimtriptyline. I was hoping the vaginal ring and the liquid lidocaine/soaked cotton ball would be enough treatment because the weight gain has been emotionally upsetting . Really appreciate your responding. I'm new to this site, so not sure how to navigate it all. Not sure if I'm supposed to re-type my subject line in the 'post title' section under Post a reply -so sorry if I didn't do this right! I hope you are feeling better

Nortriptyline is a more advanced drug and more expensive than amitriptyline. It has far less side effects and suited me more than amitriptyline. I have been on 20mg until last September when my dr up it to 30mg to help with my migraines that I also have. That extra 10 has helped both conditions. I have put on a few pounds. Yes it does give you the munchies as someone else said on this forum.