Has anyone tried Amitriptyline for the prevention of migraines? [Archive]

trish3

04-17-2002, 10:57 PM

Hi there! I'm new to these boards and looking for some fellow migraine sufferers to share ideas with. I am 28 and have been suffering from severe migraines for four years. They have become so frequent that my doctor has prescribed 10 mg of amitriptyline every night to try to prevent the migraine attacks. I am wondering if anyone else has tried this protocol, and if so, what kind of results did you have?

Thanks in advance...

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mlgable

04-18-2002, 02:17 AM

Some meds work well for some people but not well for others. I think the best advice is to give it time to see what it does for you. If it is not doing the job after about 4 weeks then the doctor should try something else as there are many things that can be used for preventative medicine. I would assume you have been thoroughly examined by a Neurologist to rule out any problems that may be causing your migraines. Good Luck.

sleepystar

04-18-2002, 07:00 AM

10mg of amatriptline has been a life saver for me, it took 4 years of experiementing with differnet drugs but i was having short migrane attacks every few seconds, they were so intense i couldn't breath during them but now since i have taken them i on;y get one or two a day

trish3

05-01-2002, 06:10 PM

Well, I have been on the amitriptyline for two weeks now and haven't noticed anything different yet as far as migraines go, although I do seem to be sleeping better. Thanks for the input and I will post again in a couple of weeks.

blueshore99

05-02-2002, 11:21 AM

I didn't see a difference with it until I was give 20 mg. The 10 mg just wasn't enough for me. Talk to your doc, maybe he will increase your dose for a while to see if it helps.

Amy42601

05-10-2002, 07:02 PM

I was on 25mg of 'Tryp for my migraines and it worked a charm...only problem was it made me WAY too tired the next day and I was unable to cope with raising my son. I tried going a lower dosage, but it didn't work at all...the 25mg seemed to do the trick, but I can't be on it or I'm a complete zombie the next day, so I'm now back to square one. Good luck to you though! I hope it works out ok. :)

--Amy

trish3

05-11-2002, 04:28 PM

Hi Amy,

Thanks for your reply. My doctor told me I could take 10, 20, or 30 mg (I have the 10 mg tablets) so I started taking two a week ago. A few days this week I was totally in a fog and work - really fatigued! - so I am trying to now take the pills right after dinner instead of a couple of hours before bed time. I am definitely sleep a lot better, which is a great side effect because I am a very light sleeper. Thanks for the good wishes :-)

JoyceAnne

05-17-2002, 07:11 PM

Trish3

How is it going with the Amitriptyline. I am thinking of giving it a try. I am real sensitive to meds and was wondering if the 10mg. dose at bedtime worked for you. I can't be sleepy at work.

JoyceAnne

trish3

05-17-2002, 07:59 PM

Hi Joyceanne,

I am happy with the amitryptiline. I am taking 20 mg after dinner and am sleeping better. I now wake up feeling refreshed rather than groggy. As far as migraine prevention, one trigger for me is hormones and I expected to get a migraine Monday or Tuesday. I got one on Tuesday, but it was quite mild. The pain was in the same spot and was annoying, but not nearly as sharp and pounding. I took one dose of Zomig and it went away in half an hour. Anyway, my doctor said the amitryptiline works in about 60% of patients. I think it's worth a try!!!

Josh1313

06-16-2002, 03:19 AM

I have been taking amitriptyline for a little over 2 weeks now and I have noted feeling a little better but nothing signficant yet. I was not diagnosed with migraines. In fact, the doctors I've seen can't seem to come up with a bonafide diagnosis. My primary care doctor needed a CT scan to diagnose sinusitis. His meds didn't work for me so on I went to an ENT specialist who looked at my CT films and showed me my sinus abnormalities and suggested surgery. She couldn't guarantee the my sinus problem was causing the headaches nor that surgery would cure the headaches. Instead she said the headaches could either get better or I would experience a different type of headache - whatever that means! I wanted a 2nd opinion before going into something as drastic as surgery so I went to a neurologist who prescribed Elavil (amitriptyline). He thinks I either have atypical migraine or a cranial neuralgia. I just don't know what to do. Should I have the sinus surgery? I think I'm going to give the amitriptyline a month or so to work and if I don't feel it has made a significant difference than I will probably go ahead with the surgery to see if my sinuses are doing this to me. It doesn't seem possible since this pain is sharp, jab-like pain in my temples and sinus headaches tend to be dull and aching. Anyone out there know about ethmoid sinusitis (what I have) and if it can cause sharp, intermittent, jab pains in the temples?

Future M.D

06-16-2002, 03:22 PM

I have never used amitriptyline, but I have heard good things about it. I believe it is an antideppresant that is good for migraines and tension- type headaches.
It's pupose is to treat not only the headache but the undelying cause. I would give it some time and if it doesn't work, your dr. will probably increase your dose. Good luck!!

54321

08-26-2002, 08:59 PM

amatripyline has been a godsend for me, i have had a constant migrane for 6 years, but i was getting these other attacks when i would get a stabbing pain lasting afew seconds and being so intense i couldn't breath, i would get about 5 or 6 of them a minite, spent 4 years trying different drugs then went onto amatrip, 25mg (but made me tachycardic so now on 10), i still have a constant migrane but those stabbing attacks, i get maybe one or two a week if that. I couldn't live with out amatriptyline, i know we are all different and different things work for different people but i recomend people try it

Jseiple

08-30-2002, 03:20 PM

I have been on Amitriptyline for a few months now for other reasons. It doesn't do anythign for my migranes, just makes me tired. I have a pill called Butalbital for migranes, its amazing, a life saver

Super Sarah

09-02-2002, 06:46 PM

Hi,

I have never taken Amitryptyline for migraines, but my doc prescribed it for me to help me sleep and also for my stomach problems. I take 75mg at night to help me sleep and it has seemed to help my stomach quite a lot. I do get migraines as well, so next time I get one, I'll take some and see what happens.

Panda74

10-16-2002, 02:36 AM

I am on amitryptyline to prevent migraines. The protocol as outlined by my neurologist is that you begin with a low dose (say 10mg) and then increase it until you find some relief. The amount you need depends on the individual. It does not work at all for some people. Because I have asthma it is the safest thing for me to take, but my neurologist did mention that there are other families of meds that are more useful for the majority of people... propanolol is one he mentioned.
Note to SuperSarah: amitryptyline will not work to stop a migraine once it starts, it is only meant to help prevent them from starting. Once it starts, you need to use a different med that is specifically for stopping an attack. :)

debralou23

10-20-2002, 04:28 PM

Yes I too was prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg. My doctor wanted me to take 3 tablets at bedtime. While on this medication I was also prescribed Zoloft 50mg to be taken once daily. I was on these 2 drugs for 4 month's and had very little improvement. But this may work for you unlike it did me.

siegels4

09-27-2003, 02:35 AM

Im 18 years old and after suffering for two years from constant migraines my doctror perscribed 10 Mg. of Amitriptyline every night before bed. for the first six months I noticed an improvement it's been seven months and the dose has had to be incressed to 30 Mg. eveery day. The side efects iv'e noticed are extream tiredness and dizzyness.

siegels4

09-27-2003, 02:37 AM

zavey

09-27-2003, 04:50 AM

i tried it for several months, didn't help me at all...

cmomson

09-27-2003, 05:36 PM

hello all. i began taking 25 mg last night and today i feel tired but i dont have the headache (first day without headache in 27 days!). i have a pitutitary tumor and an arachnoid cyst. neurologist says these are not causing headache but have to grow bigger before they are surgically removed. reason for headache (according to neurologist) is that before the headache appeared i was taking 50 mg of amititriptilyne? every night for 13 days then quit suddenly. Doc said i basically overdosed cause body and brain could not deal with such a high dose then stopping suddenly really messed me up. anyway the 25 mg i took last night may have somethging to do with the fact that i dont have a headache today but dr wants me to sttay on this dose for 2 weeks before deciding if it will be enough or if i need more or less. will keep you poted. another thing i noticed today is that i cant type. keep mispelling everything. bye

cmomson

09-27-2003, 05:38 PM

Laney00

09-27-2003, 08:01 PM

I took amitryptiline for one month and had no help, but maybe I should have tried it longer and increased the dose...then went to nortryptiline amitrips cousin, I believe) and got up to 20mg helped a little at first but by the time I was at a year on it, it was not helping anymore. Hated the sleepiness side affect...awful mornings! I sure slept nice a deep though!

cmomson

09-29-2003, 09:50 PM

hello all!. im very excited to say that this is day 3 without a headache. i will see dr on wednesday and ask if i can go back to work on monday. i have to keep tabs on certain things like my vision for example because dont forget that i have a pit tumor and a cyst on brain. these will have to be removed one day but not yet. in meanwhile i am to stay on 25 mg amitriptlyne? 1 thing i noticed is that it allows me to sleep well at night but also causes me to take nap in late afternoon. maybe its just because im bored and need to go back to work. oh well. will keep everyone posted.

Susan Porter-Thomas

10-01-2003, 11:47 AM

I've just started on 10mg of amytryptoline 2 days ago, so far no effect on my daily headaches...do I need to wait a few days for it to kick in..? I'm getting the side effects of drowsiness but not effect on the head? My Neurologist told me to try 10mg for 7 days and then up it to 20mg for another 7, then 30mg ...but if it's not working after 2 days do I wait the full 7 days or go to 20mg now? I'm also not clear if I'm supposed to be able to take paracetamol to deal with the headaches I'm getting while I'm waiting for the amitryptoline to work? Any advice would be great...

cmomson

10-08-2003, 09:30 PM

hello all! I am happy to report that the 25 mg. of amitriptlyline? is working wonders for me. I have not had a headache in 10 days now. Dr wants me to begin taking 50 mgs. per night but I dont think that I need to do that. leave well enough alone right? anyway im gonna cont with the 25 mgs per night cause it has worked so far and in meantime will stay alert for any other changes in health that may be due to tumor and cyst. get to go back to work on 13th!. Take care all.

tpilgrim

07-28-2008, 08:05 PM

Hi Everyone:

I stated having neck tension headaches in the back of my head about 5 weeks ago. My doctor prescribed me amitriplene and I have been taking it for 4 days now. The first 2 days were tough with the dizzinesss and fatigue, however, I still have a constant dull ache in the back of my head and neck area. I have read soem varying results from this postboard, both good and bad. I feel that we all have to remain optimistic, despite our pain and discomfort. I try to reduce my stress level, do my yoga, and walking. I've also tried acupuncture without much success. I don't think there is a quick fix for many of us, I feel that these headaches may be a part of who we are - a composition of a chemical imbalance maybe? Could it be another underlying problem such as anxiety or depression. I am not depressed but I have a fair amount of stress in my life.

I also had these headaches 10 years ago and they lasted 1.5 years. I finally gave up taking medication.

pamg6

07-28-2008, 09:59 PM