Migraine Headaches Support Group
Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.
After Topamax put me in a constant stupor without touching the headaches, my Neuro put me on Nortriptyline. She told me it is an old school ant-depressant that isn't really used for that anymore, but often helps with chronic pain. Has anyone tried this? Does it work?
I'm working up to what it considered a low dose now. I hope it works a preventative. She did say it has some mood enhancing effects, and though I am not clinically depressed, anything that helps me stay cheerful in the face of daily headaches is good, right?
I also got Zolmig, and boy is that an expensive medication! I have a savings card that she gave me, thank god. I like that though, it works better and faster than the Maxalt and I don't have to take anything else with it like I did with Maxalt. It actually aborted a migraine the other day, instead of just dulling it! I wish I didn't have to take it up the nose, lol, but I know thats why it works so fast, and is pretty practical if I'm nauseated.
I'm working up to what it considered a low dose now. I hope it works a preventative. She did say it has some mood enhancing effects, and though I am not clinically depressed, anything that helps me stay cheerful in the face of daily headaches is good, right?
I also got Zolmig, and boy is that an expensive medication! I have a savings card that she gave me, thank god. I like that though, it works better and faster than the Maxalt and I don't have to take anything else with it like I did with Maxalt. It actually aborted a migraine the other day, instead of just dulling it! I wish I didn't have to take it up the nose, lol, but I know thats why it works so fast, and is pretty practical if I'm nauseated.
I will tell you some things from MY experience so far from this class of drug. I had to convince my doctor to put me on it because it does carry the risk of heavy weight gain, but it worked so well for me before for my insomnia. Originally, I was at 100 mg. I became quite tolerant to the medicine quickly, and had to have a really honest conversation with my neurologist. After having blood work and an EKG, my dose was upped to 200mg. (if you read any posts in this group, the fibro group, or the chronic pain group, most people are out like a light from just 50 mg). Being on 200 mg of the amitriptyline gave me MORE relief than 3 rounds of botox. Currently, I'm at 250 mg and still climbing.
I think tricyclic antidepressants can have effects on the heart, that's why larger doses have to be monitored by EKG and bloodwork, but I'm lucky that my neurologist was willing to go there with me since literally NOTHING else worked for me. He was actually quite surprised that I was finding relief with such an old medication, TBH. A complete surprise.
I don't know what dose you are on, and I don't know how sleepy the nortriptyline makes you. Obviously you don't want to be tranquilized. But this is the first drug that has given me some sort of relief in years. Sometimes, I don't have a head for a few hours during the day. For me that is huge.
@Tessa- I hope this works for you.
@djbritt- I hope this works for your daughter
If it doesn't work right away, please have the conversation with your doctors about going to a higher dose. No matter what, good luck to you both.
What I meant to say in my post was * Sometimes, I don't have a headACHE for a few hours during the day. For me that is huge. *, and not that I don't have a head. LOL
Does it have any mood lifting effects for you? As I said, I am far from clinically depressed, but daily pain takes its toll-how bad could a boost be?
I am already a curvy girl so I really, really hope it doesn't cause weight gain for me.
As for it causing weight gain: I have gained a lot of weight over the past 2 years. Every time I'm put on a new medication, it has to be with the understanding that it not be a weight gaining drug. But I had to make an exception for this drug. I haven't gained any EXTRA weight from this, so maybe you won't either. So all the weight I have to lose is what I put on prior to being put on this drug. Just be aware if you find yourself more hungry than usual.