Nortriptyline for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 3)

• Ron...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2013

"I've had migraines for decades. I've taken nortriptyline for many years with great success. When I do get the occasional migraines, the severity is nothing compared to my pre-nortriptyline days. Right now, it's been quite a few months. At that time, they were relatively minor and lasted 2 or 3 days. It didn't keep me out of work."

• cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2016

"I've struggled with migraines since I was a child and have managed mostly on Excedrin until age 30 when I first tried Imitrex. The combination helps me, but the frequency of my migraines (2-3x) made me seek out a neurologist for preventative medication. I've been on Pamelor for only a week and stopped taking it last night because I couldn't take the side effects anymore: fast heart rate, major heartburn (a burning feeling that reaches up my chest, throat, and head), nausea, constipation, blurred vision, anxiety, fatigue, ringing ears. In that week, I had only 1 migraine and had 5 headaches. For me, any potential mitigation of future migraines isn't worth dealing with these side effects. I'm miserable and it's interfering with work and life."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2013

"I'm on week three, taking 100 mg of nortriptyline. I feel so much better! An added bonus is it helps me sleep at night. I'm able to fight most of my headaches with an Aleve that would have spiraled into a migraine before. The one and only negative, I've been so hungry! Gained at least 5 lbs. But I'd rather be a little fat and happy mommy of four boys than the skinny, miserable mom in pain I was before. I did get cotton mouth at first, but it went away."

• Wol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2013

"I have had a headache upon waking every day for 40 years. I always took Excedrin, and when it was taken off the market, my headaches became much more frequent and migraines were a weekly occurrence. Nothing helped, so my neurologist put me on nortriptyline 10 mg, but I can take up to 3 if needed. The first time taking it, I didn't have a headache in the morning. It has been a Godsend. My only side effect is that I oversleep. I take it at bedtime, which is the morning since I work nights, but it made my mind 'wake up,' so I take my Lunesta with it. I have to force myself to get up after 8 hours so that I don't sleep 10 hours or more, which is easily done. It's been 3 months with a rare minor headache that OTC aspirin takes care of."

• Sun...
• February 23, 2015

"I've been on this for 3 weeks now, and it helps so much. I used to have migraines that would last up to 3-4 days at a time, nonstop. Lately, I have only had 1 mild headache a week. Wish I was put on this years ago."

• maf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2016

"I titrated up over two months, 10 mg at a time until I reached 50 mg. The side effects for me were: bad dreams, increased appetite, tiredness, heartburn, decreased sex drive, and sadness. I began taking the medicine at 7 PM, and that eliminated the bad dreams. However, the medicine made me feel depressed. I would feel sad and start crying for no reason. This was all in the first 2 months, and then the side effects went away. I have been at 50 mg for almost 3 months now, and I feel normal! While it was hard for me in the first few months, I stuck with it, and sure enough, the side effects went away. Unfortunately, I’ve been getting more migraines recently, and so I’m instructed to titrate up to 90 mg... So I'm not sure if it works yet."

• 48f...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 22, 2016

"I started taking nortriptyline a couple of years ago after about a six-month-long migraine that never seemed to get relieved. I had tried amitriptyline before, but it made me very drowsy. The headache relief with 75 mg daily of nortriptyline has been nothing short of miraculous for me. I do get rare mild to intermediate headaches from time to time, but they never last long at all. The dry mouth is a real occurrence, but easily ignored. I've been reading about other possible side effects lately and was surprised to find that tingling and numbness in the extremities is a possible rare phenomenon. I must admit my fingers do get numb frequently. I was beginning to wonder if I was experiencing a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. Small price, though!"

• jaz...
• April 4, 2013

"I have been having headaches every day for the past 4 years. Doctors have put me on several different medicines that did not help until I started seeing a new neurologist. I was prescribed nortriptyline. The side effects for me were extreme fatigue, but that did go away. I feel better than I have been in the past years."

• Uni...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2016

"I've been dealing with migraines for about 2 years now. After extensive testing to rule out brain tumors, Wilson's disease, MS, etc., I was essentially told that I would have to manage my migraines for the rest of my life. The only pain meds that worked were T3s, which weren't an option when I was getting more than one migraine a week. After trying several medications, nortriptyline actually worked. My only complaint is the worsening of my other symptoms, such as vision issues, an essential tremor, and speech difficulties. The benefits far outweigh the costs, though. I am a functional person today because of this medication."

• Moj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2018

"I have had crushing migraines since an auto accident in 2004. On average, between four and six debilitating episodes per month. I have tried dozens of treatment modalities and many different drugs. I recently saw a headache specialist. She mentioned Nortriptyline. I was skeptical but agreed to try it, starting at 30 mg (taken at night). I kept a journal and returned a month later. I had fewer episodes, but I still had some very bad days. My doctor increased the dosage from 30 mg to 40 mg and finally to 50 mg. 40 mg turned out to be the appropriate dosage for me. I still get headaches, but they are far less frequent. I haven't had a crushing migraine for over two weeks. This is a first in over nine years! I am hopeful now, and it has drastically improved my family life and work life. My doctor also recommended taking the medication before bedtime so I wouldn't experience daytime drowsiness. So far, I would say this is the best I've felt in years."

• Ian...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2019

"I suffer from depression, social anxiety, and migraines. I was prescribed nortriptyline at just 20 mg daily to reduce migraine frequency, but I noticed it seemed to make my anxiety much worse. I plowed on because the migraines were dreadful, and it did reduce their frequency and severity. I have stopped taking it after three years because I can no longer tolerate the side effects of dry mouth, general spaciness, difficulty finding words and speaking, and heightened anxiety. These side effects disappeared completely within forty-eight hours, and my anxiety is much more bearable. I’ll find another medication for the migraines because this one is just too troublesome."

• May...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2016

"I suffered with migraines for years because doctors weren't able to diagnose them. They thought my headaches were related to sinus problems. I got headaches 4-5 times a week. Finally, a neurologist prescribed 25 mg nortriptyline daily. It took a few weeks to take effect, but now I have been nearly headache-free for four years. I do still occasionally get headaches every few months, but they never last more than a few hours, and generic Imitrex helps. I asked the doctor about going off the nortriptyline, but she said if it's not broken, why fix it? So I am going to stay on this wonder drug. Best of luck to anyone suffering with headaches. It's a tough time."

• 2dr...
• July 8, 2016

"I have a love/hate relationship with this drug. When I take it, I am headache-free, but if I forget to take it just one time, I have the worst headache imaginable the next day. Like a hangover headache with nausea and dizziness. It is worse than the headaches I had before I started taking the medication. I've also noticed my energy levels are way lower, and I am super constipated every day. The doctor did advise me about the constipation but not the lack of interest in doing things. I am super slow and have literally no energy to do anything. So I am not sure if it is related. I want to try to get off the medicine, but the doctor advises against this. I am not sure what to do."

• No...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2015

"I had debilitating migraines for a few months. Eyes were blurry 24/7, ice pick headaches, dizziness. Got an MRI to rule everything out. Diagnosed with chronic headaches. Neurologist put me on nortriptyline. Started out with 10 mg, each week added another 10 mg till I was up to 40 mg. By the second week, my headache went way down. In a month, it was completely gone. Tried to wean myself down, but the headache returned. I'm staying on the 40 mg! I feel great now! This stuff works!!"

• Jes...
• October 24, 2014

"I'm currently on 150 mg daily of this medication, and it does a great job in preventing headaches. A few smaller ones get through that ibuprofen will take care of, but the amount of serious headaches and migraines has decreased significantly. The only difficulty is because the pills are so lightweight, they do not go down easily. I have to chase it with food (such as taking it during dinner), or else the pills get stuck and cause pretty bad heartburn-type difficulties."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2018

"My doctor had put me on Topamax 100 mg for 8 weeks and added nortriptyline 25 mg for a week then upped it to 50 mg. And it seemed to make the headaches worse. And on top of that, my mouth is always dry and every time I look around I get dizzy and have to sit down. Plus, my heart races and pounds, and I hate this drug."

• 15y...
• November 14, 2014

"I have been using this medication for a year now. I was on the basketball team my freshman year (I'm a sophomore now) and unfortunately suffered a severe concussion. This medication is my lifesaver. In December of 2013, I had to go on home hospital and I was on home hospital for 8 months until August of 2014. I first tried steroid-type medication for a week and it failed. But I was on this medication soon after, 10 mg, then 20 mg, and then 25 mg over the course of 8 months. It has worked wonderfully for me and I have been able to go back to school. The only reason I am giving it a 9 is because it also caused me to have slow thinning hair loss on my scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes, however, this was my experience and I still suggest using it."

• Car...
• January 1, 2017

"I have been on nortriptyline for 6 years, with two breaks in the middle. I have had severe migraines since I was 13 and have tried several treatment options. The two times I stopped were because it was no longer effective in preventing migraines. During those times, my doctor increased beta blockers for 6 months, then went back to the regular dosage with nortriptyline. I take up to 100 mg a day but average 50 mg. Sometimes I take for granted how well this medication has worked for me. The downsides are weight gain, restlessness, and vivid dreams. If you suffer from migraines to the extent I have, it is well worth the side effects."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2015

"I'm not an effusive person, but for me, this is a miracle drug. I have had migraines for 40 years and have tried just about every preventive and palliative med out there. I've been taking this for 6 weeks and have only had 2 migraines (both times I had multiple triggers going) that were relatively mild. I only needed to go up to 20 mg to get relief. Had a non-migraine headache the first few mornings I started on 10 mg and then 20 mg, but it went away with Tylenol. This is the first review I've felt compelled to write for any product."

• It ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 8, 2016

"I woke up one day with a horrible migraine that never went away. Every day, all day. It was killing me. I haven't ever had a headache like this. Definitely never had one that lasted the entire day. So after four doctor visits, three blood tests, and six months of non-stop migraines, I was prescribed nortriptyline. Only after two weeks I was waking up without a headache. By the time I got up to 40 milligrams, I was headache-free. I'm so happy and relieved. The only side effects I am experiencing are dry mouth and trouble with sleepiness in the morning."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2012

"I had been experiencing daily migraines for a couple of years. I had tried many things, and then my rheumatologist put me on nortriptyline. Within about 4 weeks, the headaches were completely gone, and I had my life back. I have been taking it for over 6 months now and haven't had one headache. Nortriptyline saved my sanity and made me think clearer than I had for years. I will not be stopping this any time soon."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 14, 2015

"I've had migraines my entire life. From when I was 4 years old. They got really bad when I was about 11. They became daily. They absolutely controlled my life. When I found this medication, it saved me. I went from having them daily to having them on average 5 times a month. That might seem like a lot, but it's incredibly good for me. Sometimes, as low as twice a month. I've been on this medication now for years. It gave me my life back. The main symptom for me is exhaustion. I feel so tired all the time, especially during the early afternoon. Also, blurry vision and occasionally heartburn (when I don't drink enough water in the day). I'll take these side effects instead of being in horrible pain every day! This medication helped me a LOT."

• Agg...
• October 2, 2016

"This drug has changed my life. I used to get at least one headache per week, often up to three or four, with nausea and extreme fatigue. I have been on the 10 mg about three months now, and it has seriously given me my life back. I still get headaches (maybe twice per month), but they are very mild and usually really late at night. I had side effects (pretty annoying constipation and mood swings), but this has subsided almost completely. I haven't felt this good in years, and I highly recommend trying this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 3, 2015

"Started suffering with severe migraines 2 years ago, presented with sensitivity to light, extreme sickness, and impaired cognitive function. Started off on 10 mg nortriptyline, increased to 25 mg and now 50 mg, and now I only get migraines once a month, been on it for a year and seen an incredible improvement."

• Fee...
• October 13, 2016

"Have had migraines for the past 20 years, but they were usually around my time of the month. Recently, the migraines were daily and on a pain scale of 7 to 8 out of 10. My GP prescribed Nortriptyline as a preventative treatment. I've been on it for almost a month. After a week of 10 mg before bed, the migraines lessened from multiple times per day to every other day and the pain scale dropped down to 1 from 7 - 8. I'm now 9 days migraine-free. No blurred vision, but really bad dry mouth in the morning. I'm hoping the dry mouth will eventually subside. Not overly concerned. The treatment plan is to titrate off the medication after 6 to 12 months. In the meantime, it's nice to be migraine-free."