Melatonin vs amitriptylene

[weddinglady]

I've been on amitriptylene for 20 years, mostly at the 25 mg dose. Last year I had breast cancer and during the entire chemo, then surgery, then radiation phase (about 9 months) I did not have one migraine. Two weeks after this was all done, I began experiencing migraines about every 2-3 days for at least three months. Despite diary entries about what I was eating, doing etc., the only constant was the already familiar barometric pressure changes. I feel it was my body weaning off all those cancer chemicals. I have sleep apnea and again amitriptylene is the drug of choice for doctors.

My doctor doubled my amitriptylene and about a month later the headaches subsided. I didn't want to go that route because of the weight gain. I had lost 20 lbs. during cancer treatments but I gained back 10 almost right away (I need to lose 100 lbs). It's been about 5 months now with good relief. I don't want to stay on this dosage so I did a bit of research and found one study done in 2013 that involved taking 3 g of melatonin and it showed the same relief as 25 mg of amitriptylene.

Two nights ago I took my first melatonin and slept really very well. The only problem was I woke up after 10 hours with a headache that lasted quite a few hours. I assumed it was from sleeping too long which is characteristic for me too. Last night I decided to drop to 25 mg, take a melatonin pill and so far. so good.

Anyone can comment on their experience?

Thank you.

[Lolish]

Hi Wedding Lady

Well done on getting through your cancer treatment, how strange you didn't have a migraine during that time.

I took melatonin one night and had a bad migraine the next day too so to be honest was too scared to try it again. My theory is I went in to a really deep sleep, which is a trigger for me.

Good luck

Lisa

[weddinglady in reply to Lolish]

I did have a headache the first day after worthy of the Migranal spray I use but none since in the last 3 nights. Hoping this will be beneficial. I slept 10 hours the first night and I think that is what triggered the headache. I

have slept the last 3 nights with only 1 25 mg amitriptylene vs 2 and so far so good.

[Lolish in reply to weddinglady]

Well I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep us updated as I've just had to come off topirimate due to it causing hair loss. Apparently am a candidate for botox though so may try that. I am sick of pills!

Take care x

[weddinglady]

I am sick of them too. The chemo must have kept it at bay but when I was done radiation et al, the migraines unleashed three months of pain. I swear I had a migraine every other day and rebounds in between. I was afraid of becoming de-sensitized from Migranal. I kept daily diaries and nothing fit. It took a month for the ami to work but I hate the weight gain.