Migraine Headaches Support Group

MUCH more used as an antidepressant. I am no doctor, but I think there are much better choices for migraine treatment. Not that it is a poor choice for you. I would rather be 'sleepy' than have a migraine, but perhaps there is something better for you. LOTS of medications for migraine.

"Amitriptyline is now used in the United States and UK to prevent migraines only in very small doses."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitr...

I take it also to prevent migrains It does get better. but make sure you dont miss a dose or it will come get you.

I took it for about a month last year (same dose). It never helped the migraines for me, so I eventually went off it, but the side effects did lessen after my body got used to it. I still slept like a champ every night and waking up was always hard, but not as severe as it was the first week. I think my doctor had me on a half dose for the first week just to get used to it and then upped it after a week.

If it helps the migraines, it might be worth seeing it through for a couple weeks. Ask your doctor about cutting back the dose perhaps.

Its a great med for migraine prevention. I tried it, but it made me into an idiot - really, I couldn't think, remember anything or hold a conversation. It made me brain dumb. My fiance takes it and he gets the exact same reaction as you. He is sleepy all the time, has brain fog and feels like he has no motivation to do anything. He's been on it over 10 years and still gets this same feeling, so for him, it never went away.

I as on it 10 years ago and I couldnt even drive my car or hold a conversation. I am very skeptical of the meds for migraines. They all made me dopey. Except the narcotics which gave me rebound headaches to take more. You have to be careful. My headaches went away after 3 months and a leave from work...I think it took so long because of all the weird drugs. Try Tylenol when you first feel it 1000mg and see what happens. Maybe you have cluster migraine like I did and it will just go away eventually. Lower stress, eat healthy and exercise when able.

I was recently put on it for my TMJ. I would take it an hour before I go to bed. I finally for the first time slept through the night. When I told my migraine Dr. I was on it he told me it would also be a great help for my migraines. I found that if I take it too late at night I have a problem trying to get up and can sleep over 12 hrs so I started taking it at 9 everynight even on weekends. Once my body got used to it I had no trouble getting up. My Dr always tells me it takes 4-6 weeks to feel the meds and about 2-4 to get over the side effects. I would hang in there and see where it goes from there.

hi i was given amatriptyline for helping me sleep and to ge t over pleurisy 2 years ago and it made me sleep for over 48hours on the 1st tablet.

while it was wonderful fro what i needed it for at the time i would not take it for my migraines unless i know i have the few days to sleep and feel lethargic afterwards.

The biggest side effect I've found is weight gain! Yes, you can cut your pill in 1/2. There are 10mg pills available. I don't have this side effect. But, I took ambien for 4 years...which made me feel dopey like this. It will take 10-14 days for your body to adjust to the med. but in my opinion, it does get better~ I had to make myself get up and move around, once i was moving....it seemed much easier, as to maybe work the side effects out of the system. Yes, it is used much for for depression, but, it is perscribed for fibromyalgia, migraines, and depression (which I have all 3) depression is mainly caused by pain. so, when the pain is less, naturally, so is the depression. Good Luck!

I am on 50 mg of Elavil or amitriptyline. I've been on it for about a year, and started with 10 mg. It gets better. It has helped me some. I've been on topamax, inderal, prozac, and zoloft for prevention. This is the first one that has worked at all. It is used for chronic pain with usually good results. You can google Elavil and migraines and get a lot of information. Good Luck.

Hi sorry to hear you are having these side affects, yes it could or could not get better, about two years ago I went on it for prevention, and OMG I had the worst side affects mainly sleepiness being the most part and even when cutting down I felt like a walking zombie, also major weight gain which took a long time to loose beware of this med! there are many others you can use...