I've started taking Amitriptyline to prevent migraine. Does anyone know the recommended maximum dose needed for it to be really effective?

[goingrotten]

hi amitriptyline starts at 10mg and can increase to 200mg depending on how bad your condition is . ive been on 200mg for ages but dont ever run out as i did ,causes severe cold sweats,shakes etc and that was after 1 day

[Hidden in reply to goingrotten]

I'm a bit puzzled. Sorry, I don't understand: "ive been on 200mg for ages but dont ever run out as i did" and then "causes severe cold sweats,shakes etc and that was after 1 day". Did you have those side effects on 10mgs - i.e. after one day??? And do you still get migraine? I went up to only 20mgs but wasn't happy with the constant drowsiness and bad taste in the dry mouth. I didn't get any other side effects.

[whatsup]

Hello I'm not sure how many you can take for them to be effective I was on them for 2 days but had to come off them as they gave bad muscle cramps in my calfs and pins and needles in my finger tips ,I'm still looking for something to stop my headaches and dizzyness.

[Hidden]

But you don't tell me how much you were on!

[bikerblob]

GPs start with amitriptyline, 10 mg per night, increasing after 5 days to 25 mg each night. It is very important with amitriptyline to begin with a tiny dose (10 mg), as many patients cannot tolerate more than 5 or 10 mg. If patients are very tired upon awakening, instruct them to take the amitriptyline at 7 or 8 pm instead of prior to sleeping. side effects most common are dry mouth,take regular sips cold water to relieve during day.

[Hidden in reply to bikerblob]

Thanks Bikerblob. My GP suggested increasing the amitiptyline dose from 10 mg to 20 mg after two weeks but didn't suggest increasing it to a higher dose. I can only take 25mgs by chopping a third tablet in half!

I stopped taking it after a month as I experienced no improvement and because I was aware that the taste in my mouth (and therefore probably my breath) was very unpleasant. I didn't want to have that problem just before mistletoe time!

[bikerblob]

hi have you asked GP if you can try propranolol (beta blocker) to prevent migraines?,I found 20mg a day ,increased to 40mg stopped them totally and relieved anxiety which is a bonus.

[Hidden in reply to bikerblob]

Thanks again. I tried propranolol some years ago but it all it did was slow my heart down to about 40 beats per minute which I found a bit disturbing! My normal resting heart rate is just under 60 bpm.

[thelwell]

I have been on 25mg for 6 years..didnt really do much good.Now I am increased to 50 mg and I am on a mood stabiliser as well. They have improved.After a week on 50 mg I have to increase to 75 mg then the following week 100mg.I will let you know how it goes.Everyone is different.I have a lot of success with Imigran[sumatriptan] 100mg.I take diclofenic suppositories 100mg when the pain is unbearable and this enables me to work.I have had migraine for 50 years.hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Thanks Thelwell. i don't think my migraines are severe enough now to warrant my taking such big doses of amitriptyline. Sumatriptan always works for me (50mg) but I was over-medicating on it (about 25 a month!) so had to cut right down and I'm feeling a lot better now.

I've had migraine for about 65 years! Beat ya!

[Juliapester3 in reply to Hidden]

Hi John, how are you getting on with the amitriptyline? Hope Xmas a good one? I thought I,d update you on my gotu kola experiment! In a month I have had 2 days where I,ve woken with migraine but have taken gotu kola with migraleve and it's gone away(I normally get 4 per month that won't budge!). I've had 6 headaches that have occurred but normally get one every day. I would say this seems to have improved severity and frequency quite impressively. I have had no side effects at all just feel generally better all round. They are not magic pills that have completely cured me butI feel much better and positive about these tablets so will keep you posted of my journey with them. If you,re interested I,ll give you more details. Happy new year!

[Hidden]

Hi Julia,

My Christmas was OK, thanks. I got lots of nice presents!

Amitriptyline? I stopped taking it about a month ago because I hated the taste in my dry mouth, the associated bad breath and the fact that it didn't seem to be having any affect on my headaches. I guess I need to take a bigger dose but I'm very wary of doing so... I don't want to get hooked!

On the whole, though, my headaches are less frequent and less intense and I'm within the sumatriptan maximum for the month so I feel I'm just about maintaining the progress I've made since August.

Thanks for keeping me updated.

Happy New Year!