Pizotifen

[Chleo11]

Hello everyone. Has any of you ever taken Pizotifen for migraine prevention? How did you go? My head specialist prescribed the medic to me but I am not sure why because it looks like it has major side-effects (and my specialist know this is a known issue for me) and the evidence is not there really. I don't think I will bother but would still like to know if there is some of you who tried it, as it is after all a medic that was made specifically for migraine prevention.

Thank you in advance.

[Langley-Loper]

Yes, me! I've been on it for a few years and it has totally transformed my life for the better. I've worked around the side effects for the benefits it gives me. The ones I've had to tackle are:

Weight gain: eat less and do more exercise

Sleepy in the mornings: go to bed earlier and just force yourself to get up

Constipation: eat more fruit and veg and less stodge

You need to decide what you want to live with - unbearable migraines you have no control over or side effects that you do have some control over.

Give it a try.

[Chleo11 in reply to Langley-Loper]

Hello Langley-Loper. Thank you for your response. If I could find a medic that works for me, I would take it straight away with all the side effects. Unfortunately for me, I normally get the side effects and nothing else. Take care!

[Mfsjds]

I have been on it for about 15 months a small dose of 0.5 mg. taken nightly.

I at first didn’t want to take it as one of the side effects was supposed to be a big weight gain. I have put on weight but only about 3lbs so can live with that.

I have no other side effects.

However I have noticed that they have started to come back, weirdly about every 40 days. Have no idea why as don’t know wheat the trigger is but have decided that frequency is bearable.

[Chleo11 in reply to Mfsjds]

Hello Mfsjds. That is another thing that I find strange is how medic seems to wear off after a while. Thank you for your input!

[Katya3]

It made me extremely grumpy and angry - within a week I had told my mum my life would be better if she was dead and my boss that her management skills were pretty useless. Had to do a lot of apologising - and refer them to the leaflet identifying anxiety, depression and aggression as known side effects. Stopped taking it pretty quickly - though it taught me some useful lessons about how I really felt about life.

[Chleo11 in reply to Katya3]

Hello Katya3. Yes, I've had those strange symptoms with some medic. That is the issue when you get a lot of side-effects: you become so miserable! And again, it's lucky if you get any good effects. Have a good evening.

[Nillyjane]

I took it for a few weeks but unfortunately felt as though I was completely drugged all the time - luckily, I wasn’t working at the time! I also put on quite a bit of weight. Try it as not everyone has side effects.

[Chleo11 in reply to Nillyjane]

Thank you Nillyjane. Yes, I can imagine this. When they gave me amitriptyline, after 5 days on the lowest dosage (10 mg), the doctor told me to stop as I looked like a zombie. Why is it such bad medic that do anything for migraines??? Are you on any other preventative now?

[Nillyjane in reply to Chleo11]

Hi Chloe, I seem to be sensitive to the side effects of lots of medicines (not just migraine meds) as my Doctor would confirm! I don’t take any preventatives only Zomig when I have a migraine. Thankfully, having gone through the menopause, my migraines aren’t as frequent or severe now. I know this is no consolation for you (assume you are a younger age) but I would suggest you try it and hope for the best!

[NaughtyNanna]

Hi Chleo11- yes I took pizotifen for about 3 years for cluster headaches- ( thankfully in remission)- the main side effect for me was weight gain but they kept the headaches away which meant I could live a reasonably normal life - some of the weight dropped off immediately I stopped taking them which was good- hope you get on ok with them.

[Chleo11 in reply to NaughtyNanna]

Hello NaughtyNana. Thank you for letting me know. Have a good evening.

[Ceedee]

I took it for a number of years and it really made a difference, in spite of the weight warning I only put on 7lbs

[Chleo11 in reply to Ceedee]

Hello Ceedee. Thank you for letting me know. What was the dosage you were taking? How long was it before you saw any difference? Thank you.

[Ceedee]

It was a long time ago Chleo ,. I'm now post menopause so migraines are much less frequent.

[Fayzi in reply to Ceedee]

HI Cedee. Sorry to ask a personal question but did you have more migraine in the perimenopause stage. I am there now and my migraines are destroying me. 3 a week and nothing works except sumatripton. Just wonder if their is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so much. Faye

[Ceedee]

They eased up when I hit the menopause but came back in a changed pattern when I started HRT . They are hormone related so it’s likely they change in peri menopause , there is something called unopposed oestrogen syndrome so maybe your hormones are out of balance. Good luck xxx