If you use amitriptyline for migraines...

[Fitzcarraldo353]

Can I ask about your experience?

I've been prescribed 20mg to be taken daily to try and keep my migraines at bay. I've been trying to tweak my HRT to see if that would help first, but it hasn't, so may start taking these.

Can I ask those who are already on it, how drowsy did it make you at first? I need to time starting it carefully if it's going to make me crazy sleepy in the day (I know you take them at night for that reason).

I've also been started on 20mg - is that the starting dose most people have tried?

My migraines are not totally debilitating - I can take painkillers and still largely function - but they have gone from being monthly to weekly (or more) so I'm spending a lot of time feeling exhausted, nauseous and brain foggy. I was trying sumatriptan but don't find it does much to help and also has some additional side effects.

I'm feeling a bit nervy about taking these also because apparently you have to wean yourself off them carefully which sounds weird.

Any help/advice much appreciated!

Starting at 50mg does seem high. I was told to start at 10 and add another 10 each week/few days. I couldn't get past 20 though as it made me so knocked out. I would fall asleep putting the kids to bed and still oversleep the next day. I had more migraines as sleeping in sets me off.

Thanks so much to all the advice and feedback on this thread. I've learned a lot!

I've been listening to some of The National Migraine Centre podcast episodes which have been brilliant. I've also decided to book a consultation with them to speak to someone about the migraines properly rather than my GP. So I'm really glad I started this thread and got all your info!

I in the exact same situation as you. I take it at night before I go to sleep and it doesn’t really seem to make much difference to the sleepiness although I have been sleeping better.

also started on hrt and migraines all over the place. I can also function on painkillers but would like the threat of them to go.