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Chronic migraine I guess...Will this potentially dangerous medicine help? Something else?

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99prblemstomuch
99prblemstomuch

First post here, I hope everyone is doing alright all things considering.

So, 8-9 months ago I got a concussion (me vs car haha) and that was just great. I'm not here about most of those issue except for one. About 2-3 months ago I began having chronic right sided headaches, wierd tingly sensations, depersonalization/derealization, constant sinus pressure, brain zaps, seeing flashes of lights...etc. Sounds fun right?

I just got diagnosed with having a chronic occipital (I think?) migraine that was a result of irritated nerves from the whiplash of my concussion.

My neurologist prescribed me noratryptaline hcl (palemor) to treat this. It's a tricyclic anti-depressant which also apparently treats migraines. He said it would calm down the brain activity and somehow heal it I guess. I would be taking a low dose (10 mg vs the 100 mg for depression) for a few months.

I've read the side effects for this and they terrify me. I'm debating not taking it but I do want to get better. 

Do you think I will be okay taking this at a low dose without any serious side effects? Additionally, are there other good medications for someone in my situation?

He said there was also some kind of injection thats more of a last resort.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • mrcia78574
    mrcia78574 99prblemstomuch

    Posted

    Hi there,

      First of all, I'm sorry to hear of your headaches, as are all of us migraine sufferers. The generic for Pamelor is nortriptyline.  I took it for many years for depression, and many migraine sufferers take it for their migraines. The side effects of nearly every medication on the market are enough to blow your mind!  Don't worry about the side effects just yet.  Trust your body and trust your neurologist.  If I were you I would go for it (nortriptyline), but remember we all are diffeent and medications work differently in us all..  Remember too that there are many remedies out there.  What tests have you had?  (I have had migraines for over 13 years, although I believe now that I also have rebound headaches). Good luck.  Stick with it.  Don't give up.  Hang in there!  We're all with you!

  • Meka37
    Meka37 99prblemstomuch

    Posted

    Currently I am taking nortriptyline 40MG that my neurologist who place stents in brain prescribed. At first he wanted me to take1 capsule for a week and then increase it to 2 capsules after the 7 days. Well I did and they did not help me. When I told him that the 20MG was not working that is when he increased the dosage to 40MG. I been on them for a month and as of yet they are not working for my migraines.

    He basically indicated that there is nothing he can do. So I am taking matters in my own hands and going to another neurologist that I got a second opinion from who suppose to specialize in migraine headaches. I am even getting a second opinion from another opthalmologist, because the neurologist I went to go see for a second opinion told me that my cat scans and MRI looked fine. She said the problem as far as she could see was the servere swellen of both my right and left optic nerve. When I told my opthalmologist this he brush it under the rug and said that she was wrong. Obviously she couldn't have been if I am still in pain. Not to mention that my vision has gottten worse since the stent placement.

    Back to the matter at hand, since I have been taking the Nortriptyline I have not notice any side effects. I just know that they are not helping me. The injections you are talking about are botocks sorry for the spelling, but my second opinion Dr, mentioned that to me as well.

    Hang in there and I hope you feel better.

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