Migraine - how is amitriptyline for you?

[mechanicalpencil]

I have been prescribed amitriptyline for chronic migraine.
Starting at a dose of 5mg and then to be gradually increased.
Did it help with your migraine?
Is there anything to watch out for side effects wise?
If it works, do you just take it everyday forever?
Thanks.

It worked for me for a bit and then didn't. Had better success with candesartan

I started taking it a couple of months ago. I had awful headaches, constant 6 days out of 7. I take 10mg a night, up to 20mg if needed. It has really worked, but it does knock me out and it takes me a while to come round properly in the morning. Haven't noticed any other side effects.

I started it just before Christmas for menstrual migraines that would last 7-10 days at a time. I take 10mg a night.
It's been a total game-changer for me but worryingly this month I did have a migraine. I'm hoping I can up the dose as opposed to it having stopped working 🤞🏻

I've had 3 migraines in the 4 years I've been taking it, and each one was shorter/less severe than previous experiences. Before I started it I would get hemiplegic migraines and often it could take weeks to recover feeling in that side. The ones I've had while on it I get visual disturbance, headache (nowhere near as severe as previously) and a bit of tingling and all resolved in less than 24 hours.

I did find I need to take it a good few hours before bedtime though if I need to get up in the morning without feeling groggy.

Meant to say before I started taking it I'd have one every other month at least, sometimes not fully recovering before the next one hit.

It really helped my migraines, and my sleep too.

Game changer for me! I’d got to the point where mine lasted 2-3 days twice a week. Often so bad I struggled to function. I still get migraines but the frequency and severity have eased.
Side effects - sedation! When I started, I struggled to get up in the mornings. DD was about 6 and still coming through in the night and I couldn’t speak to her! Broke the habit though. I used to do on calls and I had to stop them because I wasn’t safe to work and drive on them and I wasn’t able to miss them on my weekly on call night.
I’ve increased gradually, I’m now on 40mg to help with the migraines and also low mood. I can tolerate it okay. I’ve been on them 6 years now, will only stop if they stop working or I’m advised to for medical reasons.

I've been on 20mg of amitriptyline for 6 weeks now. It's been brilliant for sciatica and getting a good nights sleep. Initially felt sleepy and out of it during the day - but after a few weeks this resolved. I'm glad I persevered with it - I think it's made my mood better (but maybe just dialling down pain has cheered me up!) only downside is that it seems to have raised my resting heart rate by quite a lot (I only know this because I can see it via my Apple Watch - I don't feel any symptoms related to that )

Amitriptyline really messed up my bladder control. Botox for migraine all over my scalp however was life-changing. From daily migraine to none in 4 years. I have it done once a year (Dr says most people need it more frequently). I pay privately as I didn't meet the criteria for NHS as was unwilling to try certain meds, and also coz I have a bit stuck in my face as well! It costs about £400 (because they use a lot of Botox), but is money well spent. I usually have it done in January as our in-laws give us money for Xmas.

Thanks for sharing!

@mechanicalpencil can I please ask if you have now started the amitriptyline, how you have found it? I have just been prescribed it for chronic migraines too.

@Riley1989unfortunately it has been out of stock in my area so I am on the waiting list at the pharmacy at the moment …
horrendous migraine today and for past 2 days so really struggling.
Sorry to hear you are struggling with chronic migraine too. You have my full sympathies.

@mechanicalpencil really sorry to hear that! I hope you manage to get your hands on some soon and they work for you! Currently on day 2 of an awful migraine as well and I’m a SAHM for my 2 year old DD so it’s absolute hell on earth here atm. Obviously she doesn’t understand why but I’m struggling to do anything with her other than her basic needs! Been hospitalised 3 times In the past 3 months because of these bastard migraines so I really feel for anyone suffering x

It didn't work for me (although it has helped a friend). It also didn't make me sleepy, and I had a horrid metallic taste in my mouth for weeks after starting it. Hope it's good for you.

Didn't work for me. Made sort of manic and I didn't sleep for 3 or 4 days. I needed a lot of time after to recover and I only tried it for a week

Literal lifesaver, i take 20 a day, though trying to get down to 15 to find the lowest dose that controls them

It didn't work particularly well for me, and I found the side effects pretty unpleasant. After struggling for a while and a few consultations with my GP, I switched to Gabapentin, which was much more effective.

As ridiculous as it sounds, my migraines stopped for good after a triple heart bypass about ten years ago - not that I'd recommend such drastic treatment for everyone!

Ugh, sorry to hear this OP. I’ve never tried it but like a PP I was prescribed candesartan. That has been brilliant, and with candesartan and the occasional eletriptan I’ve managed to stay migraine-free for over a year. It’s been life-changing. I hope this can be sorted for you as well 💐