Elavil (amitriptyline) is a tricyclic antidepressant. It is used for treatment of neural pain caused by shingles. But it is a habituating drug. There is no sense of using it for long term. Your neural pain of shingles must have subsided. Its side effects are terrible if you use it for long time. its side effects include hypotension, tachycardia, palpitation, heart attack, arrhythmias, heart block, stroke, hallucinations, disorientation, anxiety, excitement, restlessness, insomnia, disturbed concentration, nightmares, numbness, tingling, incoordination, ataxia, tremors, seizures and bone-marrow depression. If you have sleep problem then you can use other safer medicine for sleep induction. Advice 1. Stop Elavil 2. Tablet Zolfresh (zolpidem) 5 mg at bed time orally for 1 month 3. Avoid tea & coffee in evening & night 4. Avoid alcohol and smoking especially in night 5. Exercising for at least 30 minutes per day can improve your sleep 6. Avoid foods you may be sensitive. Sensitivity reactions can cause excess congestion, gastrointestinal upset, bloating and gas. This disturbs your sleep Sleep induction pills are used for short term control of insomnia. It is an addicting medicine so avoid using it for more than 1 month. Thanks