My thoughts on my first week on Amitriptyline

Eileen,

It's good to hear from you. I started a new daily drug, Aciphex, for acid reflex and my mail pharmacy changed my birth control to a generic at about the same time. I suffered two migraines almost immediately, but have gone back to the one or two a month at the end of my period. I don't know how long you have been on the Amitriptyline, but my feeling is to give it a chance for a month or two. Unless someone who knows more about all this thinks otherwise, of course!

We began renovating our kitchen, which has caused me many sleepless nights for many reasons. That is usually a trigger for me, but I haven't had a migraine because of it. I am continuing with Bikram's Yoga, upper and lower body strength training, and massage therapy. I think those things, along with a reasonable diet, have helped. I allow myself one chocolate item a day - a small bag of Famous Amos choco chip cookies or a candy bar. Nothing wrong with a little sweet now and again - enjoy!

Winnie

Eileen,

Changing medications is so tough.  I am in the process now.  I'm was having side effects from Topamax the neuro didn't like so that is being decreased and another anti-seizure medication is being added.  So I'm getting mild migraines frequently.  The upside is my brain is less fruzzy. 

I am also working on my sleep.  It's been a problem for a very long time and my neurologist has me working on it or will put me on drugs for it.  I really don't want another drug so.....  I have been amazed that the "sleep hygiene instructions" given to me by her and the hypotherapist while not rocket science, have made such a difference, if I will follow them.  The better quality rest does help my focus greatly.  So maybe it wasn't all due to the Topamax.  I would be happy to share with you the detailed information if you would like.  Nancy could probably direct me on how to put the inforamtion on the site for all to use.

Good luck Eileen. 

Cindy

Hi Eileen!

Maybe as the Amitriptyline increases, your migraines will get much, much better!  Let's hope you just haven't reached the perfect level yet.

I think about the side effect thing, too.  In fact, I've stopped reading the patient information that comes with my new meds.  (Eek--I'm not sure if this is a good idea or a bad one...)  If I feel generally strange or see my behavior changing, I'll pull it out and take a look at it.  But I figure things are going OK if I don't notice anything too dramatic.  Also, I've noticed that my specialist and pharmacist are both very good at telling me about what side effects I ABSOLUTELY should watch for.  That makes those patient info pages less important to me, I guess...

Here's hoping things will get LOTS better for you very soon!!

jenny

The craving sweets thing was/is definitely a problem for me on nortriptyline. I've tried twice to increase my dose to 50 mg but just can't get there. I'm back down to 40 again. I've posted about this a bit over in the forum, but the main issues I've had are constipation and increased appetite/craving sweets. The constipation I've had since I started the nortrip at 10 mg, but is tolerable with the magnesium supplement I also take.

The increased appetite/sweets issue came on suddenly and with a vengeance. For most of the past year and a half I've had moderate/severe nausea and vertigo, even when my migraine pain isn't too bad. So some increased appetite was fine. But I felt like I would eat myself out of house and home before I could get things under control. The one thing that does help me is to try to eat sweet fruit instead of junk food. (I've tried to severely limit my sugar intake as sweeteners of any kind are a stackable trigger for me - diet or sugar-free anything is out because of the chemical sweeteners.

This comment is much longer than I intended it to be. Oops! Hopefully the side effects will calm down for you soon. Increased appetite doesn't sound like a bad side effect until you actually experience it.

Let us know how it goes. I'll be crossing my fingers for you!

Eileen,

I have been on Amitriptyline for about a year now. Unfortunatley for me I did not see any improvements in my Migraines untill I was taking it for about 2 months. I was also perscribed Inderal along with it so I don`t know if it is really the combonation of meds that helped so much. I have to say the cravings for sweets is out of control at times. I have always liked sweets so it is hard to say how relevant it is. My neuro says that the low amount of Amitriptyline I am on (10 mgs) is not enough of a dosage to chalk it up to my weight increase. I did not gain a ton but enough to change clothes size.  I was so happy to not have a Migraine every 3 days or so that I dealt with the side effects regaurdless. I do know if I exersise more I can control the weight and cravings somewhat more. You could be on to something when you talk about not reading the side effects pamplet that comes with the drug.  My neuro also said he would consider putting me on Topamax. I heard of all of the side effects but It may be worth a try just to stop the sugar cravings and drop some weight.

Best of luck to you and hang in there,

Khrystaa