Migraine advice please -increase amitriptyline, start POP or both?

[mechanicalpencil]

Currently on 10mg amitriptyline per day but does nothing especially for the horrendous hormonal ones 😣
GP has suggested either :

1. increasing amitriptyline to 20mg
2. starting the Progesterone Pill
3. or both

i am 46.

Any advice please from fellow migraine sufferers?

Thank you

Have you got triptans?

If you know when you get migraines, cycle related, weekend etc, there are some triptans with a longer half life. The idea being you take them the night before you know you might need them and they work as a preventative.

Or a tens machine, for daily preventative use.

I can't help but I would be also interested in replies as I'm facing the similar options. I tried propranolol and Candesartan both with no success. I take Frovatriptan which clears it but I get so many migraines I do really need a preventative. Doc suggested POP or different preventatives.

I take amitriptyline and it worked from 10mg. I've increased dose over the years, mainly due to peri/menopause messing with my hormones and I'm now on 50. I guess if I were you I'd be tempted to give 20mg a go for like a month or so to see if that makes any difference?

@Isthisrealomgwow I tried triptans once before but had awful side effects.

The TENS machine is a good idea, thanks.

I’m a bit younger than you (39) but the POP has been a game changer for me. I went from having two or three migraines a week to one or two a month, tops. Other solutions when they occur have been zolmitriptine taken as a nasal spray when they occur and this on-head TENS machine. can’t recommend the TENS machine enough; sometimes when I get a migraine I slap that on and fall asleep for half an hour (it’s weirdly soporific) and wake up at the end of the cycle with the migraine gone. I’ll still feel groggy and a bit weird, but the sting of the migraine has gone.

My migraines totally stopped when I had my hysterectomy.

The only thing that got rid of my hormonal migraines is Sumatriptan. Amitriptyline just made me tired.

I take amitriptyline 10mg - 20 was too much for me it actually triggered an awful migraine in the night. Dolovent supplements (available on amazon) have helped a lot, as has making sure I don’t go back to sleep once I’ve woken up in the morning. Doesn’t matter if I wake at 6am but don’t need to be up till 8, I have to stay awake. Triptans plus Anadin paracetamol/combination tablet when the unavoidable monthly ones occur. I’m 47 so I assume peri-menopause. Good luck OP, migraines are grim.

I take amitriptyline for other reasons. It’s never done a thing for my migraines. I’d get the hormonal aspect sorted. It makes a huge difference.

Same. The combined pill that I'd tolerated for years started to give me migraines in mid to late 30s

DD used Sumatriptan once a migraine had started and they didn't really work. She ended up on a migraine preventer which worked really well. No idea if it will help for hormonal migraines but perhaps worth asking your GP? She took Pzitofen for several years.

DD was a sufferer (they were mostly stress-induced and her mental health is vastly better now). Sumatriptan (the dissolve in the mouth ones) helped a bit, as did draping a long life pack over the top of her head. She found something that really saw them off purely by chance - Anadin Extra. Might be worth giving it a go if you haven’t already.

@vipersnest1
i haven’t tried a anadin extra so will get some next time I’m in Boots, thank you. What is a long life pack if you don’t mind my asking?

Does your DD no longer suffer?

I think Sumatriptan works well for migraine related to hormones. Do you know what causes yours?

Very rarely now. I hope the suggestion helps.

@menopausalfart
i am getting them at least once weekly now…but the ones the day before my period/ start of my period are so so awful 😞 and recently ,around ovulation too..then again at the end of my period. Stress and lack of sleep are the other major triggers for me.

i did try sumatriptan before and felt awful on it so stopped.

@vipersnest1
that is fantastic to hear and gives hope for us all!

I also had an appt with the National Migraine society who were really helpful. The doctor said you need to ‘keep the brain quiet’. So no caffeine after midday, and eat every 3 hours, including a bedtime snack. Basically keep your system calm.

Try magnesium but research as there are different types.