Nortriptyline for Migraine Prevention User Reviews

• Heath...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 24, 2019

"I started taking this nortriptyline medication back in February for chronic migraine with daily chronic headaches. I feel like I have tried just about everything to get rid of these headaches that just never went away. I finally had a referral to Neurology, where they suggested taking Nortriptyline. I was so skeptical as everything else I had tried, failed. After the first night of 30 mg, I saw an improvement in my headaches and continue to have great relief still today. No more daily headaches and migraines are pretty rare now. The main side effect I have is the dry mouth. The effect this has had on my life has been shocking. Because my head doesn't hurt all the time, I finally have energy and I actually want to participate in other activities. Because of this, I am down 15 lbs! Haven't been able to lose weight in over ten years! This has been a life saver for me!"

• Relie...
• June 9, 2019

"I’ve had migraines on and off since high school. Around my 50th birthday I started getting them every 3 to 4 weeks for over a year and a half. Over the counter meds didn’t work. The only thing that worked was an IV at the hospital. My doctor prescribed 10 mg of nortriptyline, which did nothing. It was increased to 25 mg, then finally 50 mg. It’s now been about 12 weeks since I’ve had a migraine. I had a mild headache last week due to a cold, but Tylenol took care of it. My doctor thinks my migraines are hormonal, caused by peri menopause, and plans to keep me on it for another year or two until I go through menopause. Without wanting to sound sappy, this medication in this dosage has changed my quality of life as I can make plans without fear of having to cancel them."

• Rdoh
• November 10, 2013

"52 year old female. I had recurring mid range to severe headaches which became migraines for several years. I had them so often, I was taking tons of over the counter headache pills, which then damaged my stomach after long term excessive use. After finally telling my doctor about them, he put me on Nortiptyline, (2) 10mg pills every night, so 20mg total daily. It was like a miracle for me! Within a very short time, I was 95% migraine free. It has no side effects for me and I have eliminated my excessively large intake of over the counter pills almost entirely. What a huge impact this medication has made for me."

• Mandy
• September 16, 2018

"After 10 years of migraines, it took a village to get rid of them. I tried everything! The 11th neurologist was the charm. She got me off the Zomig which were giving me rebound headaches and started me on Nortriptyline, 50mg at night. No more migraines! Seriously! I haven’t had one in 4 years now."

• Rhnes...
• April 30, 2014

"I just turned 40 and have suffered from migraines with aura with increasing frequency and severity since I was 16. In March 2014 I was up to 18 migraines in 22 days. My doctor took me off all the Triptans I was taking and never ever worked, to my great relief! At first I tried a blood pressure med but after 2 weeks of horrible side effects (horrible depression, weight gain, insomnia) my GP put me on Nortriptyline. I have been on it for 4 weeks. We started with 10 mg at night. I noticed that the pain from my migraines and frequency reduced by about 50% and Advil liquid gels were able to take the pain away. I have now been bumped up to 20 mg. I haven't noticed dry mouth, but I did notice my eyes get dry. I sleep really well. no other effects."

• Kdano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

"My headaches were non stop for about 3 years. The cause was my neck. I had already had neck surgery about 8 years before. So, I was told they said i was not a candidate for surgery anymore. So I tried cortizone shots, and some other shots and nothing. Then the doctor came up with nortriptyline 10 mg a dose of 2 pills a night. Well, by the third night I slept like a baby. Before, since my headaches were NON STOP, it meant I could not sleep at all! After a week, I had no headaches and I could finally sleep!"

• Anono...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2014

"10 mg at night for chronic tension headaches. The first few days were horrible: extremely fatigued, grumpy, felt like a really bad hangover. But by the fourth or fifth day, all of that was gone, and my headaches went too. I'm glad I stuck it out, because I had had headaches that interfered with my daily life. It made me very drowsy at first, and still does act as a bit of a sedative, so I only take it if I plan to sleep very soon. Also, it really lowered my alcohol tolerance, so watch out for that."

• Harlow
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 6, 2020

"I have been taking nortriptyline to help stop getting migraines, been on it for about 6 months now and it has completely changed my life. I used to get migraines 3-5 times a week and they were unbearable. I do still get migraines but maybe only a handful of times a month. I also take it for anxiety and it has seemed to help quite a bit with that too."

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2009

Pamelor (nortriptyline) "I had taken almost everything for migraines and came up with a combination of Topamax and Elavil. I work in intensive care and started having memory problems. I also started sleeping almost constantly. I scheduled an appointment with the neurologist at my hospital and started on nortriptyline. This is the first time I've had total control. I'm not sleepy and I have more of my old self back. It feels good not to have any pain."

• camping
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2014

"2 or 3 weeks in with 25mg Nortriptyline at bedtime. Migraines seem reduced, but it has had an unbearable effect on my ACID REFLUX. As long as I eat healthy and avoid trigger foods, I do not take an acid reducer such as omeprazole, but I will need to take it if I continue the Nortriptyline. I tried this medicine about a year ago, but stopped taking because of heartburn. My doctor said it was not associated with heartburn, but now I have been taking for the 2nd time and gotten a huge flare-up of heartburn again. I am convinced that for me it is the medicine and not a coincidence now. "

• pro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2015

"I have been on this since the beginning of October 2015.. I never really write any reviews.. but I swear this drug saved my life. . I am a pro athlete and my migraines had got so bad I couldn't train any more. Almost a year went by with no training. . It got to the point that I was going into the hospital at least once a week. . CT scans and Mri. . The whole 9 yards. Finally the ER Dr told me I should really consider taking this so I did. Within 2 weeks I was migraine free. . And haven't had one since. It is truly a life saver. I am also finding that I am in a better place mentally as well."

• Tree
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

"I have migraine associated vertigo (1 year +). Forget how many meds I have tried, but 10 mg nortriptyline was fine. I was having good sleep. Dry mouth. DR increased it to 20 mg. I started feeling more dizzy and nausea. Week 2, blurry vision and slurred speech. I declined more with mobility and strength. Told to go to the ER and got migraine IV. Slowly weaned off nortriptyline and thankfully no more blurry vision and slurred speech. DR never talked about these side effects and this was very frightening."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 17, 2013

"I've been on nortriptyline for close to 15 years now for migraine treatments after a significant head injury. Before being put on the medicineI'd get migraines that would put me out for days at a time. After starting out a low dose it helped control my migraines and has continued to do so over the past 15 or so years (though with increased dosage). The most common side effects have been drowsiness, dry mouth, quivers in my hands along with adverse reaction to prolonged periods of being in the sun. I've also put on a few pounds over the past few years, but that may be the result of moving from an active job to a more sedentary one and not the medication. Overall nortriptyline has been great at controlling my migraines without too many negatives."

• Xxano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2019

"Tension headaches gone, less stressed/anxious feeling and better mood. Sleep is perfect. 20 mg in the evening. Do not take during the day, it will make you too tired and "out of it". Worked perfectly day one, then seemed to make headaches worse for a while. I stuck with it since I read everywhere it can take up to 4 weeks or even longer to work and then at 4 weeks almost exactly everything is much improved. Works great. Went up to 20 mg week 2 (started at 10mg). 10 mg may have worked just as well...hard to say..."

• Patri...
• March 19, 2013

Pamelor (nortriptyline) "I have been taking Pamelor for close to 4 years now. After a coiling procedure for an inoperable brain aneurism, I suffered constant migraines. The doctor who performed the coiling did not offer any solution, but a local neurologist in my home town prescribed it for me. It changed what was to be my new life of pain into a much more tolerable existence. A little dizziness is easy to live with. I take 50 mg every morning. Life is good again!"

• Grac
• March 16, 2013

"Been having worsening migraines for 8 or more years. Tried so many different things, I am basically disabled at this point sick almost daily from either migraine or rebound day. After Topamax, steroids, beta blockers, you name it I've tried it. Finally I've been put on nortriptyline, after 2 weeks I haven't had a single migraine. I hate to be skeptical but it's almost too good to believe for me since I've been sick so long, so I will be reporting back soon. But I even feel differently just how my brain feels. Right now I'm quite thrilled and the results seem to be what's reported by everyone else here (taking 25mg at night)."

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2014

"I'm a 47yo male who has suffered from migraines for about 30years. They have increased in frequency and duration over the last 2years to the point where I sought preventive therapy. I tried propanolol, various muscle relaxers and most recently nortriptyline. I started with 10mg taken at bedtime with little relief. Eventually, increased dose to 75mg and am happy to report migraines have decreased from 2-3 week to 2/mo. Still have to stay away from triggers such as alcohol and chocolate. Only side effect seems to be short term memory loss."

• CJCJC...
• November 15, 2015

"I never write reviews but for this drug I feel like I have to! I have tried so many drugs, herbal supplements, chiropractor, massage, acupuncture etc. have been hospitalized before for my migraines, and at some periods had them everyday. I thought if this is the reality of my life being in pain everyday, what is the point? This is the only drug which works and has almost no side effects except for at first a dry, nasty tasting mouth which has gone away for the most part. It took a couple days to kick in and I'm on a very low dose of 10 mg which I take at night. It's been almost a week pain free! I feel like a new person and it finally feels like the miracle I've been looking for, so don't give up!"

• pam
• September 26, 2013

"I was prescribed this medication because my migraines were increasing and my sleep was getting very erratic. Since taking this medication for the past month, I have slept throught the night and it is easy for me to fall back asleep if I wake up to use the bathroom. I am so glad my doctor suggested this. After 13+ years of bad sleep and increase of migraines, I think I found something that works without any side effects (thus far). I take about 1 hour before bed and it has worked like a charm."

• birdo...
• October 17, 2010

Pamelor (nortriptyline) "I've suffered from migraines for 14 years and have taken numerous medications for prevention including Topamax (Topamax caused MANY bad, undetermined health issues). My Internal Medicine physician took me off Topamax and put me on 25 mg of Nortriptyline for migraine prevention. Almost immediately, I had relief from migraines, had clarity of mind even better than ever before, had a great attitude. I felt "normal" for the first time in my life. This medication caused noticeable urinary retention, constipation and increased appetite which caused weight gain. Due to weight gain, I was changed to Pristiq. Migraines have returned. I intend to ask to be put back on Nortriptyline and will have to alter diet and exercise."

• Lia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2014

"I'm a disabled vet due to migraines and have been on many medicines to both prevent and treat. I have botox injections every 90 days and a constant supply of Imitrex injections to which I take approx 8 times a months. I notice a HUGE difference when taking the nortriptyline (75mg a night). I love that it helps me sleep. I just can't forget to take it, if I do: hello migraine."

• Liv
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

"Be careful with this medication if you have struggled with depression or have a family history of mental illness, depression, bipolar, etc.. I went on this for migraine prevention, not for depression and on my second day of taking it, started having really dark thoughts and hit a real low point. I have never been suicidal before and am actually usually the happiest I have ever been but this medication completely distorted my perception of things. Had to go off it a week later as the feelings only got worse."

• 2Reli...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2016

"I've had migraines since I was 9. My parents weren't big on doctors so I "bucked up" through the raging pain. I didn't know until my 20's that having headaches every day wasn't normal. When I got married and my husband found me curled in a ball of pain, he didn't take "I'm okay" for an answer and took me to his family GP. The first day I took Nortripylene my migraines vanished. I didn't even know life could be so pain free! It's been 8 years now and I'll happily take it forever to be free from the wracking pain. If I stop, they come back and remind me to get my refill. It has worked wonders for me."

• Sash
• August 24, 2019

"Since being on Allegron 35mg now (Nortriptyline in the UK), I started on 10mg, my migraines and even headaches has massively subsided. In the past 4 months I’ve only had 2 migraines. Previously to taking this medication I was have anywhere between 5-6 migraines a month, some months I was have 2-3 every week. Very pleased with result. Much happy at work and home. Enjoying quality time with my kids and husband."

• alyma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2014

"I've been on this for a month or so at 25mg a day and it has reduced my headaches down from one every day with a migraine once a week to about a headache a week and I haven't had a migraine yet. When I take this I have noticed that I sleep better. I also have dry mouth with this unfortunately but it is nothing compared to having daily headaches. (18 years old, female, migraines since age 4)."