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Taking amatriptaline 10mg for migraines

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kathy95326
kathy95326

Hello people I have just been prescribed amatriptaline 10mg for migraines, mine started around 16 years ago going through the change, I have never taken antidepressants or any other kind of medics but very concerned of the side effects especially the drowsiness as I work out at the gym slot have a job and do quite a bit of driving. Please help really not sure what to do thank you Kathy

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • stephen73292
    stephen73292 kathy95326

    Posted

    Hi kathy. I have been on 20mg for 2 & 1/2 years for migraines & helping me to sleep. The drowsiness side effect was with me for 2/3 months before i got used to my dosage. I still continued going to the gym & pool & it actually did me good. Just see how you go & take care!!

    • kathy95326
      kathy95326 stephen73292

      Posted

      Ahh thanks Stephen, much appreciated, my doctor said I could break them in half for 5mg but it looks like this would not work according to other comments, would you say it outweighs the negatives, I think I'm just really worried but I don't suffer anxiety or stress believe it or not. Lol x

  • stephen73292
    stephen73292 kathy95326

    Posted

    Also, i take my tablets 3 hours before bed. I sometimes finish work at 10pm. I know everyone is different, but the tablets have never affected my driving.
  • amanda59745
    amanda59745 kathy95326

    Posted

    Hi Kathy, i am currently trying to get off this medication the withdrawal is horrendous and this is my third attempt. However, to answer your question i drive for a living and after the first 2/3 weeks the drowsyness wears off. I take mine at 7pm which , is 3.5hours before i go to bed. If you take it too late say just before bed you will be tired in the morning. Lots of people say it helps there migranes however, i take it for nerve pain. I found it worked well but stopped and i had to increase to 20mg. Again it worked for several months and then i had to increase to 30mg. It was at this point i decided to wean off as i started to feel tired again in the morning on 30mg and i had put on a little weight. Everyone is different so some people love it and some wish they had never started it. I wish i had not started this medication, Just be aware if its not for you, you may experience  withrawal symptoms. But , like i said if it works for you its great and many people love it. Take care  and make your own mind up xx 
    • kathy95326
      kathy95326 amanda59745

      Posted

      Oh thank you so much Amanda your answer was really helpful, to be honest I simply can't make up my mind the only thing I might do is wait until the winter cos that's when it's worse as I said I think mine are hormonal, I do if possible take the alternative i.e.:- feverfew holland Barrett but it's not working now. I'll get there hopefully.

      Thanks again xx

    • stephen73292
      stephen73292 amanda59745

      Posted

      Hi amanda. How are you coping with your weaning off the tablets. I too want to come off them, but am concerned about the side effects, withdrawal symptoms etc.
    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 stephen73292

      Posted

      Hi stephen, im doing well i am taking 7mg at the moment  half a 10mg tablet and 2mg via liquid. i will reduce down to 6.5mg next week.
    • Ose
      Ose amanda59745

      Posted

      The mg you are taking are very low. I have been at 75 mg for 10 years and total 26 years. I cannot take any opiads or other nerve pain meds. I had a genetic test because I metabolize meds different than 99.9% of people. Being afraid of stopping a antidepresent  should not be equal to stopping a narcotics pain med. I started when I had IC finally determined after I was tortured and my bladder ripped to pieces inside. The pain was excruciating with no relief for 10 minutes in 4 years of recovering. They did not really consider Amit. to be a pain med at the time, but it helped me to sleep. Now 26 years later I have pelvic floor dysfunction with IBS. Most likely a nerve in my pelvic area is causing the burning pain. Without Amit. I could not live. I also took another antidepressent in the morning. I was on the evil Cymbalta for 2 years and had horrific side effects. Black outs while driving caught my attention as well as no memory for even 30 seconds. I had no idea about these side effects. I could hardly talk or have any consentration over 20 seconds. I stopped the billion $ law suit drug the day I found out about the problems with it. It was a 3 week step down from 60 mg. my withdrawal was much like my side effects. It is now a month later and today I am out of the fog, but have disabling nerve pain. I think the Amit. I still take made that withdrawal easier. I am very depressed by my pain and being in bed for 6 months now. I am going to have pelvic nerve blocks to try to get that pain lessened. As far as taking the Amit. I figure it is better to be on that then a narcotic. I do not know of any side effects I have ,but dry mouth and constipation. So many of the other classes of antidepresent are much more likely to be harder to stop. If I have to take it forever I will. You have to ask your self why are you taking it. Has that reason abated . If you still need a antidepressent why are you trying to stop it. Looking at the SSRI and SSNRI meds they are not easy to stop either. As long as I get the pain relief and can sleep I will take Amit. at night. I see my med Dr. tomorrow and will talk about what to do for the day time depression. Taking meds is not a negative thing to do if you need them. Many people are alive because there are medications for them. Being depressed is as legitimate as taking insulin. 
    • amanda59745
      amanda59745 Ose

      Posted

      Hi Ose, yes i am on a low dose and even at my highest 30mg this is still low compared to some. like i said to Kathy ,  i agree if you need amitriptyline and it is working then great stick with it, it seems to be used for many conditions. i decided to try and come off it because i had to keep increasing it and i did not like the  side effects. i started to take it for burning nerve pain however, i am afraid i will be back at the same point that i was when i first started the drug, this is scary did not like the  constant burning nerve pain. i am thinking of trying herbal medication if it returns. i agree taking meds that make you feel better is positive but , some do have side effects and its upto each individual to decide if any side effects out weigh the benifits the drugs give.  hope your dr review went ok x
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