Amitriptyline

[Blim]

I have get lots of headaches and once a week or so I get a really bad one. Last week I had 4 which wasn't great. I was given solpadol for them but today the doctor has prescribed amitriptyline to take each night and asprin for the bad heads. I was wondering if anyone else has been given this drug as it says it is an antidepressant and I am not depressed - although it does also say its for migraines. I am a bit cautious of new meds especially as my brain is already scrambled thanks to BM and I don't want to make it worse with drugs. Thanks.

[StrawberryCream]

It is commonly used as a pain medication as well as being an antidepressant. Dr will have prescribed it for your headaches and not because he is sneakily treating you for depression he hasn't discussed with you. It has been used for neurological pain for a long time. Might make you more tired to begin with but that usually settles. Hope you find it does really help as major headaches also affect BI function. X

[Blim in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thanks for this StrawberryCream. I was worried in case it messed with my head - if you know what I mean.

[Glittergirl5299 in reply to Blim]

Hello there

Personal experience..I was given this after being discharged from hospital for VM. To be used to sleep through the headaches but for me I got horrendous hallucinations as soon as I shut my eyes after taking it I stopped after 5 days. This is not intended to scare but just sharing

[Glittergirl5299 in reply to Glittergirl5299]

But taking 900mg aspirin with paracetamol helped better x

[Blim in reply to Glittergirl5299]

Thank you - I wanted to know what the possible side effects might be.

[Captainbeaky]

You are right to be cautious, as an anti depressant, Amitryptilene is not so good. But in smaller doses, it is a good anti-migraine drug. I've been using it, and it helped me a lot. It does not mix well with the smallest amount of alcohol though - so avoid alcohol at all costs...

It makes me drowsy for about 8 hrs - so I have to take it religiously at 8.30 in the evening if I am to be awake and alert in the morning.

[rowenafly]

Hi, I use amitriptyline for post viral meningitis migraine and it takes a while to work but it does calm the nerve endings down in your brain that are sensitive to pain. The word from the neuro team in the trauma hospital here in Australia is that it takes 6 -12 months to resolve. The headaches that is. So its worth a try if you are having migraines like I was. The drug does not effect me in any way except to be hungrier than usual and a bit groggy in the morning but it wears off. Its often a low side effect medication. I am taking 50 mg a night. I hope it helps you, I was and am having months of migraines that put me back in hospital for 14 days so I sympathise. I also over used codeine for the headaches and it made it worse. Apparently codeine is particulary bad for rebound migraines. Makes them stronger. So be careful if you are having opioids as they can be very damanging for migraines if they dont work. You end up needing more and more and yet still, the migraines come!! So the amitripytine is safer for your migraines than opioides. I hope that helps you. Its very debilitating and long recovery when you have migraines after meningitis but remember, your brain can heal and is plastic in its capacity to remodel its pathyways. I am wishing you all the best,

Regards

Rowena

[rowenafly]

Hi, I use amitriptyline for post viral meningitis migraine and it takes a while to work but it does calm the nerve endings down in your brain that are sensitive to pain. The word from the neuro team in the trauma hospital here in Australia is that it takes 6 -12 months to resolve. The headaches that is. So its worth a try if you are having migraines like I was. The drug does not effect me in any way except to be hungrier than usual and a bit groggy in the morning but it wears off. Its often a low side effect medication. I am taking 50 mg a night. I hope it helps you, I was and am having months of migraines that put me back in hospital for 14 days so I sympathise. I also over used codeine for the headaches and it made it worse. Apparently codeine is particulary bad for rebound migraines. Makes them stronger. So be careful if you are having opioids as they can be very damanging for migraines if they dont work. You end up needing more and more and yet still, the migraines come!! So the amitripytine is safer for your migraines than opioides. I hope that helps you. Its very debilitating and long recovery when you have migraines after meningitis but remember, your brain can heal and is plastic in its capacity to remodel its pathyways. I am wishing you all the best,

Regards

Rowena

[Littledove2002]

I take this drug and I was prescribed it for my spastic bowel (IBS and Crohns). it does have very minor amt of anti depressant and I am already on an anti depressant. I had VM mid April and still tired and not back to work full time. I dont notice any difference re depression. good luck

[Bonkitty]

Hi Blim, I had VM in March2014 and was prescribed Amitriptyline 20mg. My headaches greatly improved. I recently stopped taking the drug and had a very painful relapse so I have started taking 20mg again. 20mg is considered a low dose and I feel so much better for taking it. I haven't experienced any side effects, except for very wiered dreams! It certainly seems to help relax the membranes which eases my headache and stiff neck. I also tried reflexology on the day that my headache was at it's most severe and this helped to ease the pain too. I haven't found any other pain relief medication useful as my headache is a crushing pain as if my head is in a vice and once it starts it lasts for approx 1 to 2 weeks. So Amitriptyline certainly works for me. Hope this helps. X