mild antidepressant scares me

Hi Case1!

Hope you had a Merrry Christmas.  I was on Amitriptalyne for  quite a few years, for chronic headaches.  It helped at a high dose.  But,,,, it is wonderful for weight gain.  So, unless you are very thin, and desperate to put on weight, then I would be careful.  It gives you the munchies for carbs, and I was NOT aware of that!  I went off of it, and over about 6 months I lost 50lbs without trying.  Of course, I was in major pain, and had major  brian fog, but at least I was thinner!

Try it, it may work good for you, and you maybe one of the lucky ones who doesn't gain  weight, or much anyways.

The dr  put my 16 yr old daughter on it for her miagraines, but I would only allow the 10mg dosage.  It didn't work.  So she went off.  I didn't want her gaining weight, as she has the same body type as me.  Now turns out she may have Crohns!    We are waiting on the biopsy results.

Hope you start feeling better soon!  I take T#3's for my headache/pain, not that it really helps, but that is all the doc will give me.

Bonnie

Hi case1,

My husband's migraine medicine is Amiltryptiline (sp?), but he won't take it, because for him, the side effect is that it makes him so dopey that he is pretty much out of commission for 12-15 hours after taking it. He feels he can't drive safely (which is one of his problems when he is in the throws of a migraine), among other things. He never, as far as I know, got the munchies from it, or gained weight (he is really thin), but he has never stayed on it for very long. Since he's never stayed on it for very long, I don't know if the side effects would subside eventually, or how long it would take for them to do so.

I wish you the best in finding a migraine medicine that works for you. My husband's mom takes Depakote for her migraines, and has for nearly 10 years, and it works very well for her. Currently, I'm searching out a new neurologist and different medication options for my husband. These migraines have taken, and are taking, a huge toll on him (and on the whole family) -- so much so that he doesn't seem very motivated to try anything else. He is usually a very optimistic person.

Best,
WaterMinky

Hi gallyndur,

Can you tell me what the side effects of Topamax are? I think someone on another thread might've mentioned that it's a blood pressure medication? Is that correct? I've just been wondering about Topamax because I've seen it mentioned a number of times on this forum as the meds people are taking.

WaterMinky

I have not taken amitriptyline, but in late October began taking nortriptyline (a related tricyclic antidepressant). It does not have quite the evidence (for preventing migraines) to back it up as amitriptyline, but it is another medication used for the purpose and it has fewer side effects than amitriptyline. It made me gain about 5 lbs and it does give you a dry mouth, but I don;t feel knocked out in the morning or anything. I am only taking 25 mg and my migraines have practically gone away -- just a few menstrual ones and less in severity than previously. It has really changed my life. I can actually plan things and know I will be able to do them. Before it was sort of a crap shoot -- I never knew if I would be able to keep any appt or other plan because of a migraine. I could do without the extra 5 lbs but I guess life is a series of trade-offs....Hope this helps a little.
Laura L.