Advice needed re nortriptyline please as preventative

[Fran16]

Please can anyone help/advise me. I’ve had migraines since age 11 but over the last few years they’ve increased to two or four a week. I’m 64. I take rizatriptan and cocodomol(45mg) I’ve recently seen a migraine specialist who suggested nortriptyline as a preventative. I’m now taking 50mg at night and it’s been up to 3weeks on this dose. He suggested upto 70mg but the side effects of awful sweats and nightmares are getting to me. No respite from the migraines yet (4 this week) and due on a train holiday end of the week! . Should I keep going on these pills? I’m so fed up with the constant pain and worries with how I will manage the holiday. On top of that the Dr said I’m taking too many codeine and triptans but if I try not to the pain is awful. I was taking Amytriptyline for nerve pain (10mg) and wondered if I should try this instead at a higher dose.

Sorry for long post and drug spellings! Anyone else had joy from nortriptyline?

[Shawnie]

Hi.... sorry to hear that you are having a bad time....I too suffer from chronic migraine...(became chronic not long after menopause). I have tried so many preventatives in last few years ... Some had little effect on pain, others I had to stop due to intolerable side effects. I tried nortriptyline a few years ago...it did nothing for the migraines...also tried amitriptyline but was like zombie during the day ( although I did enjoy better sleep at night). I am sorry I can't be more help, (and I am very sensitive to medication). Maybe talk to doctor about going back to amitriptyline......I have heard of several people benefitting from it when they can tolerate it. Good luck.

[Fran16 in reply to Shawnie]

Thank you for this. I don’t know anyone who gets migraine apart from my Mum who has passed away. She told me they would stop after menopause but like you mine have got worse! I have had to give up work they are so bad. Did you try beta blockers? My consultant said I should give all preventatives between 3-6 months trial unless side effects are unbearable. Also considering Topiramate.

[Fran16 in reply to Shawnie]

Just wondered what dose you were advised to take on these two drugs?

[Shawnie in reply to Fran16]

Hi ..it was quite a low dose....i was so sedated during the day that I could not function at all. Yes, every doctor I saw said that the migraines would go after menopause.."be patient"...but the opposite happened. It is frustrating that doctors don't seem to recognize that for some women menopause makes things worse! I tried propranolol, which helped until I increased the dose....then side effects were too bad.. ( Low BP, dizzy etc). Topiramate reduced migraine quite well but side effects were awful! Mirtazapine was most recent drug I tried as it helps sleep ( migraines start between 2 and 4 a.m,so I am very sleep deprived), but withdrawal from mirtazapine was a nightmare! I am sorry that this is not more encouraging, but I just don't seem to tolerate medication... You may be quite different and may respond much better, if you try them. I know that lots of people can take meds with few side effects, so it is worth trying, it is definitely trial and error. Chronic migraine is a nightmare, I feel so cheated, having had to cancel holidays, family events etc..and can't even babysit my little granddaughter..it breaks my heart. I hope that through this site, you will at least get some support....it helps to know that you are not alone. I hope you find some relief soon.

[Cally01]

Hi sorry your having such a tough time...I've tried every tablet available and had just about all of the side effects and weight gain...

The only med that even slightly touched my pain was mirtazipine.

If you haven't tried it maybe you can speak to your GP.

What types of mugraines do you get? Mine are aura mortly but they also diagnosed hemacrania continua.

I've suffered aince 14yrs old, now 54 and menopause sent me spiralling out of control for 4yrs.

I now have them under control by taking radical steps.

Good luck, speak to your GP .

[Fran16 in reply to Cally01]

Thanks for this Cally. I’ve only had one appointment with a specialist and he has just agreed I have migraine. It can be on either side of the head, more left and I also get auras beforehand sometimes with crashing headache afterwards. If it wasn’t for triptan sand very strong codeine I would be lost! I will be looking into mirtazipine, thank you

Sorry you suffer -but it is so good to talk to someone else who knows how awful they are!

[Cally01 in reply to Fran16]

Your very welcome 😁 it's such a terrible illness. If your taking a lot of painkillers be careful of rebound headaches, you just get stuck in a loop.

Always here, let me know how you get on x