Imigran with citalopram

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Hi everyone.   I have suffered with migraines for over 10 years, they started in my mid twenties.  I have not seen my GP during this time as both my parents have them so I knew what they were and mananged them myself.  However, over the last 2 years they have become more frequent and more painful. Especially over the last 8 months.  I cannot find a trigger and I am unable to say why they suddenly got more frequent and more painful.  I am a mum of three and when they come on they can wipe me out for days at a time, which is now starting to be 3 a week and sometimes 2 in one day! I saw my GP this morning and he has prescribed me beater blockers, 40mg twice a day, and Imigran for the pain.  He knows I am currently taking Citalopram for anxiety and I mentioned in the consultation that I was on these and was it OK to take these alongside my SSRI medication, to which he said yes, no problem, I can see you have been on these for 2 years.  Ive come home and read the patient information leaflet and it states NOT to take if I am taking Citalopram! Now, do I ring the GP surgery and ask him to ring me back or do I trust his judgement, knowledge etc and take if I need to? Do any of you take these together? *So hoping these work*  cheesygrin

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Faye, sorry to hear about your suffering with migraines, I've had them since I was 18 and am now 48, have tried absolutely everything including botox and had every test going.  Mine are definitely 90% hormonal depending on where I am in my monthly cycle and have gone even more erratic over the last 2 yrs as I have gone into peri menopause.  I am the only person in my family who suffers from these debilitating migraines, I have had the most patient of employers over the years who allows me to work from home as I am so bad with migraines lasting a few days at a time (however that will change as I have just been made redundant!) and I have been known to have 15 migraines a month as I diarise absolutely everything for GP & neurologists.  I am currently taking a beta blocker Propranolol - same as you 40mg twice a day and I do definitely say that they are helping the onset of migraines.  I also am prescribed rizatriptan melts for when they get bad and these are alot better for me than sumatriptan/imigran that I have also had prescribed for years.  I am on sertraline for anxiety (been on these for 2 yrs) and have been ok taking these alongside the beta blockers and haven't had any adverse reactions, I know every medication can be different so if I were you I would give your GP a call and just get him to clarify the situation for your own piece of mind and explain that you have read in the leaflet and you are worried - he will put your mind at rest and that will also go some way to helping you if nothing else does!  

    I really really hope these meds work for you, it takes time to get them into your system, I find the beta blockers are best taken in the morning and then work during the day for me, I did find they gave me insomnia and vivid dreams if I took them before bed.

    Fingers crossed for you Faye and good luck.

    • Posted

      Thanks Mo. I also work from home, which is a blessing really as I think if I had to drive and sit in an office with strip lights and noise I would be off sick all the time! We seem to have a lot in common, I'm 38 and feel worn out by these horrible migraines. Thanks for your advice and tips I will give my GP a ring. Hope you start to feel brighter too, and good luck getting a new job! X
  • Posted

    It never hurts to double check with your GP or even your pharmacist.  I too was on citalopram (Celexa) and had been taking Xanax for anxiety  I am now taking Prozac and Ativan for anxiety.  As to the migraines--I have been on everything and had every test imagineable--not sure they are actually migraines, but close enough--maybe rebound headaches.  In the absence of not finding anything for my constant head pressure and searing headaches in the early morning hours--every day--I am taking Relpax, which is also a triptan, and alternate that with Excedrin for Migraines every other night.  I think you should be okay with what you are taking, but everyone is different and as I said earlier, it doesn't hurt to double check.  Hang in there and remember, one day at a time.

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