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Anyone with MAV not taking meds?

Posted , 3 users are following.

patty818
patty818

Hi

I have been reading about the nortriptyline the ENT said I can take. Don't know if I'll take it. I was wondering if anyone is battling MAV without meds? If so what are you doing?

I've been doing VRT and taking Xanax when I have to. Mostly just getting thru it's. Since my anxiety and stress have gotten better it aeems to be better. I'm handling the dizziness a bit better. I really don't want to have have to take meds. It seems From what I've read people on meds have to keep changing them or adding more.

Is it possible this a is without the meds?

Thanks for the help

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • karina0608
    karina0608 patty818

    Posted

     Hi patty

    I have been suffering from Migraines with Vertigo since 1 year ago. I tried soo many different things before taking medications, since I avoid meds at all cost!!. I did Physical therapy, for like 5 months, I changed my diet, started meditating.. etc My migraines decreased, however the diziness is still present EVERYDAY day an night. After getting tired of feeling like that I consulted a ENT and he put me on Nertriptyline about 2 months ago.  The migraines have decreased, the diziness have slightly decrease but it is still present, the only thing I still  have are tension headaches during the day. So if have tried many things except for medication I think is a good idea to give them a try. My physical therapist, once told me, that to get better, we need a change of diet, therapy and medication, so I'm doing all three hoping to get better. 

    • patty818
      patty818 karina0608

      Posted

      Thanks for replying.  I have had MAV for a year also.  I'm doing the VRt which is helping some, but still have all kinds of different dizziness on most days, sometimes for days at a time.  

      You doc put you on nortriptyline,  what dosage?  My ENT gave me amitriptyline about 5 weeks ago, I took it for about a week and had a bad attack on it, so he said to stop and then  gave me nortriptyline 10mgs and I've been afraid to take it.  I'm afraid since its in the same family of meds as the ami it will do the same thing.  did you every take amitriptyline?  

      Are you having any side effects, if so what are they?  Some people say they make you feel worse before you feel better.  Do you have anxiety also?  If you have anxiety are you taking anything for the anxiety while starting the nortriptyline?  

      Thanks for you help

  • karina0608
    karina0608 patty818

    Posted

    My doctor gave me 10mg(per pill), however he said to start by splitting the pill in half, and then that half into another 12, so I take 1/4 of the pill, very minimal dose. I have been taking that amount for 2 months now, and I'm more able to do daily stuff, that I was struggling before. so yeah it has helped, not to the point where I have no dizinezz because I still do everyday, but is less intense.. I do suffer from anxiety which I think that's what started everything. I don't take medication for anxiety, I take some natural pills to control it. I was having a little bit of depression since I started getting my migraines and vertigo due to feeling like I couldn't do much, but this pill has also lift my mood already. Some side effects that I have noticed are, dry mouth, blurry vision, some episodes of dissociation (which could be a caused of anxiety as well) drowsy in the mornings and some heart palpitations but that was only like 2 days when I first started taking it, its gone now. So yeah there is some, but even with those side effects I feel better. I hope this feels. I'm glad to know people who have the same thing it makes me feel less crazy about all this. ITs HARD to deal with diziness 24/7. 
    • patty818
      patty818 karina0608

      Posted

      Its is nortriptyline you are on correct?  My mortriptyline came in a capsule, they said it doesn't come in a pill form..  if its nortriptyline where did you get it, I would be willing to try the pill cause i can split it.

      Thanks for the help

  • karina0608
    karina0608 patty818

    Posted

    Actually is a capsule! I split the capsule in 1/2 and you have a small part and a larger part of the capsule, so I take the small part and trashed 1/2 of the powder of it and I take what's left. Its kind of hard to be exact, but try to take 1/4 of the capsule. Let me know if you are going to take it! I want to know how you feel. 
    • patty818
      patty818 karina0608

      Posted

      I am confused a little bit. So when you open up the capsule it's into sections a small side and a large side is that correct? How do you split it and a quarter from there?
    • DizzyLizzy68
      DizzyLizzy68 patty818

      Posted

      Patti,

      I just saw this conversation. Back when I tried nortriptyline, I split the capsules in half. It's a bit crude, but I dumped about half from my first capsule into a small amount of juice and took it that way. Then, next dose, swallowed the half full capsule, and so on. It allowed me to take a smaller dose, but of course I wasn't getting exactly half each time.

      Those reading should ask a pharmacist if they can do this with a specific med. Some capsules are time released and should absolutely NOT be opened and messed with as you can get a burst of high dose at once. My Nortryptiline was not this way, and pharmacist said ok to split.

    • patty818
      patty818 DizzyLizzy68

      Posted

      Are you still taking it? Did you have side effects from it? I bet the juice was bitter. Did you take Amitripyline before the nort?

      My pharmistst said it was ok to split, but would difficult

    • DizzyLizzy68
      DizzyLizzy68 patty818

      Posted

      Patti, I've written to you about it before. I took it for two weeks, but had the side effect of ataxia. It did not cause any anxiety for me, only a great sense of calm and well-being. My neuro suggested that I stop it, then restart after a few days, as the side effect will sometimes disappear. I chose to try a different medication since I was only going to be off work a few days, and didn't have the time to play around.

      Yes, it may have been a bit bitter in the juice, but that kind of stuff doesn't bother me.

      I've since taken amitriptyline on an as needed basis for insomnia. It just makes me tired and relaxes my muscles. I don't feel that sense of well-being with it, nor do I have the ataxia side effect. So yes, they can behave very differently in the same person.

      Nortryptiline was the first migraine preventative drug I tried. I then switched to propranolol, and have been on it ever since.

    • patty818
      patty818 DizzyLizzy68

      Posted

      I do remember you telling me about the ataxia, sorry my memory is not so great sometimes. I may try it 1/2 anyway this weekend. I don't want to try it during the week coz if it makes me sleepy during the day that wint be good for me cause I have to work.

  • karina0608
    karina0608 patty818

    Posted

    Hi Patty 

    so I went to my doctor yesterday and he prescribed me Nortryptiline in a liquid form, he said its easier to measure the small quantities with a syringe than splitting the capsule.  I'll get it today and tell you about it. I know you're afraid of medication, but trust me I was in your place for almost a year!!! so we're in this together, I'm just so tired of feeling like that ALL day/everyday that I'm willing to try anything at this point. :D 

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