I started taking Elavil for fibromyalgia, 15 years ago, when Thomas was six
months old.  I had been told I would have to wean, which I wasn't willing to
do, but then found out that Elavil (amitriptyline) is compatible with
breastfeeding.  I continued to take it throughout the rest of the next 8
years, during which I was always nursing one or two of my children.  The
main thing it did for me was make it possible to sleep.  It didn't knock me
out.  I could always respond to my babies in the middle of the night.  But
where, before that, I had a terrible time getting to sleep and staying
asleep, which made the fibromyalgia symptoms much worse, I could usually at
least get a fair amount of sleep a night after that.  This made it much
easier to cope with three little boys, including an infant, both physically
and mentally, although I still had quite a bit of pain, during the day.

I would also encourage a mom with FMS to do her best to find a comfortable
place to nurse, where she can have her baby supported to the breast without
having to hold him there with her arm.  If I couldn't be in my recliner,
with pillows under the baby, I found it easier to sit cross-legged, in a
chair or on the floor, to nurse.

There are certainly newer drugs on the market, for FMS, but if the physician
feels that she shouldn't use those while she is breastfeeding, I would
encourage her to request a prescription for Elavil.  Another benefit to that
is that it is one of the most economical drugs still in use.  A year's worth
costs me less than a month's worth of most of my other prescriptions!

Best Wishes,
Darillyn

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