Medication during pregnancy/ Amitriptyline

[Melissaleigh]

Hello, has anyone taken Amitriptyline during pregnancy? If so was there any problems with labour/ baby?
im currently 24 weeks.
so little back story, I have suffered with migraines since I was 15 but it was only last year that the doctors put me on Amitriptyline and when I say they have done me the world of good I mean I’ve gone from headaches every day to maybe once a week and not really had a bad migraine until I stopped taking them when I found out I was pregnant at 10 weeks. Had a meeting with my consultant who said I could continue taking them (19weeks) however I booked into the doctors for a non pregnancy related issue and he advised me not to take them but instead prescribed be propranolol but advised can cause low blood sugars in baby when born and a lower birth weight. So I’m slightly confused as to what I can actually take. The propranolol is a higher dose than the Amitryptiline and I know that the latter works for me and my headaches but I don’t want to take something that could potentially cause problems for my baby. So guess what I’m asking is has anyone taken either during pregnancy and if so was everything ok?

if you’ve managed to read to end thankyou and sorry for rambling 🩷

I would personally listen to the consultant, they probably come across this all the time. I take sertraline so similar drug, I’m not sure I would like to do a straight swap from SSRI to propranolol as the withdrawal might be tough!

Thankyou for your reply, this is why I haven’t taken the propranolol as I don’t want to swap from one to the other and I know the amitriptyline works for me. The consultant did say to stop taking 5 weeks before birth, I have a consultation at 33 weeks as having section so will discuss coming off then. Thankyou

This is the NHS page on amitriptyline and pregnancy. It's safe to take in pregnancy

www.nhs.uk/medicines/amitriptyline-for-pain/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-amitriptyline-for-pain-and-migraine/#:~:text=Amitriptyline%20and%20pregnancy,choice%20of%20painkiller%20during%20pregnancy.

Hi I was in a very similar position ref headaches. However as I was having IVF I booked in for a medication review prior. They opted against amitriptyline and propranolol and put me on twice a day 500mg naproxen and indometacin nasal spray for any migraine flare ups. However then had to stop naproxen when I got pregnant. I was looking into paying privately for a nerve block as was struggling but decided to try acupuncture first as it’s less invasive, to my complete shock it’s worked so well. I’m almost 40 weeks now and been medication free all the way through after being on meds since 2020! I think I’ll continue post partum if it means I don’t need to take regular meds! That being said, the obstetrics consultant said there’s no issues with propranolol in pregnancy & he has seen it used loads, just need to be mindful of it causing the mums blood pressure to go too low & cause them to be dizzy/faint. Treatment for headaches are apparently in much lower doses.