Advised by GP to try amitryptline for persistent headaches

[maimeo]

Been attending GP over last four months about persistent headaches, lasting two/three days at a time. Left sided top of head. Unlike my rare migraines which always begin with an aura - different pain and as I say occasional. Thankfully CT brain and MRI neck have ruled out anything serious. Have tried diet changes and extra water too. She now says next step is prophylactic amitryptline every day. Have been referred to Headache Clinic but public waiting list nearly a year. I'm extremely nervous of taking amit for a number of reasons - the sleepiness the morning after, possible heart implications, weight gain when I'm working hard to lose weight at present, etc. AIBU to keep putting off starting it despite headaches since Friday rendering me unable to concentrate on anything. Would love to hear other posters' experiences

I take it for that reason and I love it. Massive difference to the headaches. No morning sleepiness for me

I've been using it for about 2 years for similar reasons. Has helped reduce the intensity of the headaches. Not gone completely but now much more manageable with normal pain relief. I sleep better but have no noticeable morning issues. I try to take my tablets at around 6pm.

I have taken it for back pain. I wasn’t aware there were any weight gain side effects and I didn’t have any. Didn’t feel sleepy the morning after, just very rested and fresh. They advise you to take it 12hrs before you wake up, I used to take it around 1800 and wake at 0600 with no issues.

I think you need to weigh up the reality of what you are experiencing with the headaches vs the possible and not guaranteed side effects. Dh also took it for migraine prevention and had none of the symptoms of side effects. You can always try taking it in the evening to see if you are affected by it at all and then take yourself off to bed and see how you feel in the morning. You could try it over the weekend so it doesn't interfere with your work if you are worried.

But I would at least give it a chance to see how I do on it, it could completely remove the headaches, why would you not risk that?

I take a pain medication that leaves me feeling completely doped up, I still take it though because I would rather that than the severe pain it is prescribed for.

@GeorgeTheFirst @toomuchlikemyusername I've been prescribed starting dose of 10 mg. Did it work for you guys at that dosage or do you take higher? Thanks all for replies

And do you take a glass of wine with dinner after taking it early evening? Going on holidays next week and wonder should I abstain from alcohol?

One of my relatives takes it for nerve pain. She is really thin - I don't think there are any concerns about weight gain. Her heart is fine as well, she had an operation earlier this year and they were surprised how good her heart was for her age (80s).

The one thing I would say is be careful with the dosage if you drive. It definitely made her a bit spaced out so she needed to reduce the dosage but it still works for her.

You should quickly adjust to such a low dose and might not even notice any side effects.

I suffer from regular headaches and also found regular massages really helped.

My relative doesn't drink alcohol but she's on other medication as well so I don't know if that's the reason. Alcohol and migraines don't generally mix though.

I've just been out on this 2 weeks ago for what they've diagnosed as cluster headaches. Waking me when I'm sleeping and leaving a painful eye and low,level heaven all day.

It went in for 6 weeks.

4 days after starting I've had no headache at all and no waking during the night with my eye feeling like it's being stabbed with not needles!

I take it at 8pm and I get up at 4am. I've had no issues with sleepiness with doing that.

And I'm on 10mg too

I think it’s mirtazapine that causes hunger and weight gain.

a lot of people take amitryptiline. It’s quite well tolerated from what I can tell. It’s quite an old drug too.

I was prescribed it for stomach pain at night at the same time as a colleague was prescribed it for migraine.

It's worked well for both of us, and I sleep very well with it. It says on this NHS website that it may take up to 6 weeks to be effective.

If it's one sided head pain and you have a history of migraine, then it's mostly likely migraine. Migraine can and does change over time and you can have different symptoms with it. Has your doctor tried you with a triptain, because if a triptain works then it's definitely migraine as these aren't painkillers and only work on migraine pain. Neurologist often use them to help diagnosis migraine.

If you fine the amitriptiline makes you to sleepy (I couldn't tolerate it) then again Neurologist often prescribe nortriptyline as an alternative as most people tend to have less side effects with it, but it works in a similar way.

I take it for back pain and headaches

For persistent headaches also consider sinus and ear issues - take Sudafed. Have you considered MOH- medication overuse headaches? I'm sure you have.

I get very few headed and sleep like a baby. Back pain has improved

I've take various doses depends on how my back is. Right now I take 40mg I think I used to take 50mg

I drink alcohol as normal (which right now is a lots as I'm on a cruise!)

I do not get morning sleepiness that I am aware of

I would say try it for a month.

The only downside is I cannot sleep without it and I feel this is a bit of an issue (ie giving it up)

Try and avoid paracetamol and ibuprofen.

I'm impressed your GP managed to get you in for MRI and headache clinic so soon, mine refuses after years of exactly the same symptoms.

You can take Sumatriptan during attacks, but daily preventatives are usually propranalol beta blocker (also causing weight gain) or a natural alternative 400mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is being recommended by NICE - I'm trying this at the moment, and lots of magnesium, and HRT (age 40)

I took it once for anxiety and insomnia, it helped me brilliantly and I don’t recall any memorable side effects. I hope it works for you too!

I take 2x10mg. Started at 10mg but was advised to increase as 10mg wasn't effective as hoped.

I do drink alcohol although very much in moderation, I have been known to wash down my medication with a GnT but probably not recommended!
I only have an alcoholic drink if already properly hydrated as this can certainly trigger symptoms for me.

@MigGril i had no idea that triptans only work on migraine! They are a lifesaver for me.
i tried the amitryp previously at 2.5mg and they wiped me out to the point of being non functional until about 9am. Starting at 10mg and even taking it early evening sounds daunting to me.

Worked for my adult daughter. She stayed on it about 9 months. Did the trick.

I take it for migraines, been on it almost 5 years. I found it made me really sleepy to start with but I now take 35mg and it doesn’t make me drowsy any more. It’s been effective at reducing the frequency and severity of my migraines (I was having 2 a week lasting 2-3 days at times!). I still have triptans if I need them. It doesn’t mix well with alcohol. don’t drink much. If I’m having a big night out I skip a dose.

I didn’t notice an issue with drinking, and I had quite a few boozy night out in the early stages!

I have for tension headaches, 10 mg every night, still get occasional headaches, but far fewer.

My husband took this for bad migraines. They started out of the blue, ended up with nearly six months off work. He had no issues as far as I can remember.

In a side note, he realised that oranges, tangerines and orange squash would trigger a headache for him.