Visit with my cardiologist

I had double by pass surgery with aortic valve replacement late September, then early October I had a Pacemaker/defibrillator placed.  I saw my cardiologist today and he changed my cardizem 60mg every 6 hours to cardizem LA 240mg.  My surgeon put me on Elavil for depression.  Would Elavil be contraindicated since I have epilepsy (very well controlled with Primidone--seizure free for 30 years). My cardiologist didnt seem to feel Elavil was the best choice of antidepressants, however did not make a change.  He said my PCP could deal with the depression aspect.  My PCP just relocated last week, (he moved 300 miles away).  At this time I am without a PCP.  What do you think about Elavil for treatment of my depression?  I also have a good amt of pain at the pacemaker site.  Dr's feel the amt of pain is possibly due to my size/weight "you dont have much meat on your bones"

[jim62]

I didn't think that Elavil was used much any more.  But I don't know how epilepsy would fit into that equation.  I'd tend to agree with your cardiologist as far as not being the best choice.  Elavil has been around a long time, and it would seem that some progress must have been made in depression meds in the mean time.

I do wellbutrin, my own self.