Nortriptyline for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• Thekmom
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2017

"After being diagnosed with vestibular migraines about a year ago, I resisted taking any medications. The dizziness and feeling unwell caused depression as I was afraid to go anywhere and get a major dizzy spell that would make me also have symptoms of a stroke ( numb face and arm and difficulty speaking.) I started taking Nortrypraline and stopped after a few days as I was so tired and felt nauseated. My doctor told me to give it a go for a solid month and I'm so glad that I did. After about three weeks I started feeling so much better. Less episodes and when they came on, they were very mild. I'm only taking 10mg but plan to increase to 20 to see if even more benefits are seen once I get the ok from my doctor."

• gezele
• April 14, 2013

"I have suffered from migraine since I was 3 years old ( I am 58 now), and I only get a few a year. Then in 2002 my migraines went from bad to worse, I average about 4 a week. I have tried so many meds and combination of meds and they made the migraines more tolerable for awhile. I even tried Botox. I saw a new neurologist on April 4/13, and he asked me to try nortriptyline 10mg at bedtime, increasing to 20mg after a week. I have had only 2 migraines since Apr 4, and the pain is mild to moderate. I am hoping for more improvement. So far no side effects at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2012

Pamelor (nortriptyline) "This is month 3 and the headaches I lived many years with have vanished with a 30 mg dose every night. I sleep well. Dry mouth is tolerable and treated with an oral rinse. I never thought I could feel this good!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2019

"My doctor prescribed me a 25mg dose of Nortriptyline after having severe migraines every week since the 8th grade. 7 years later, I am finally able to go to work and not worry about vomiting from my head aches. I’ve been on it about 2 years and I’m not sure if my memory was this terrible before, but I’d say the pros outweigh the cons. Also topamax worked for me as well but caused me to have severe anger issues."

• Bellh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 23, 2013

"Three years ago I started having atypical migraines. It felt like the world was spinning in all directions at once. I would throw up until my stomach was empty and then some. Finally, after hours of this I would pass out, almost coma like. The recovery was long and slow after each attack. I was sent to a neurologist who prescribed Nortriptyline. It was amazing! They did start out with a low dose but it only had marginal effect. They increased it to 75 mg daily and now I only have an atypical migraine every few months. And they are not as severe and recovery is quicker. So thankful for this drug."

• Kathie...
• December 17, 2015

"Have taken 4-5 years now changed my life for the better. A neurologist I saw for over 25 years treated me with 4-5 drugs. The last 15 years prescribed Demerol 100 mg liquid injections. My headaches were 4-5 week. I left that doctor went to my primary who prescribed Nortriptyline 25 Mg 1 pill before going to bed. That has worked so well I don't have but maybe 4-5 headaches a year now!!"

• BHB
• August 26, 2017

"So I woke up one day with the worst headache I've ever experienced. I don't ever remember having migraines, so I didn't know that thats what I was having. I am a "time will heal it" kinda guy. Well after four months of going to sleep and waking up with a migraine all day, every day. I am not stretching this at all. Finally my wife convinced me to see a doc. After two more months of migraines he said he wanted to try the Nortriptyline. I took 5mg every night for a week and then would increase the next week another 5mg until it helped. While at the 30 and 35 mg mark I felt improvements. When I started the 40 mg it was the first day I woke up in over 6 months with no migraine. It brought tears to my eyes. No side effects for me. Lucky I guess."

• KimCh...
• January 25, 2013

"I was getting migraines so badly I couldn't speak, it was happening so often it was affecting my job and life. I also suffered from headaches everyday for three years solid.. My doc gave me a prescription for nortriptyline and I haven't had a headache since, I sleep well, I wake up alert, my life has changed so much because of this medicine. It's cheap and effective and it's given in such a low dose for migraine prevention, that I didn't have to suffer any of the symptoms."

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

"It works for me! I've had chronic daily headaches, migraines, and neck pain for over 18 years. Once diagnosed with migraines about four years ago, I was able to reduce the frequency and severity by avoiding known triggers (see Buchholz's "Heal Your Headache") but recently the headaches recently returned in force. I convinced my doctor to let me try nortriptyline and it works very well with very mild side effects. I had dry mouth which is not very noticeable now, higher incidence of heartburn than normal, firmer stools, and frequent "weird", vivid dreams. Relief started at 25 mg but I now take 75 mg daily. Migraine frequency is down from 20+ days a month to 1-2. I still avoid most triggers to be safe but this has helped tremendously"

• Emily
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2019

"My doctor prescribed me this tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline 25mg at bedtime as our second try at a migraine preventive. My previous prophylaxis was a beta blocker that I stopped due to side effects. Oddly my pulse was high when I started taking it. Luckily that ended up being temporary; it returned to normal in a few weeks. I do have a dry mouth but am fine when I'm drinking enough water and chewing gum. Dry mouth increases risk for cavities so good dental hygiene is now essential. It took a few weeks to work but I haven't had as many bad migraines while on it. I think nortriptyline has mildly helped with anxiety and sleep. My favorite thing is how affordable it is. Not having to use as much expensive sumatriptan also has helped financially."

• Shosh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2014

"My neurologist put me on nortriptyline as my common migraine attacks became more frequent, 10 or more a month. These migraines were almost always accompanied by a stiff neck and often woke me up after 5 hours or so of sleep. Started at 25mg daily, I noticed a change in the pattern. While previously I would have 3 days of migraine in a row, the migraines were mostly limited to one day. After a month or so, the dose was increased to 50mg, and I am largely migraine (and stiff-neck) free. I take it at night, so the only side effect is that I sleep longer than I used to. My understanding is that after some number of months the dose will be reduced and/or I will be taken off of it to see if the migraines return."

• bwilla
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2017

"I posted about 2 months ago when I first started taking Nortriptyline, 25mg, once a day. I had a continuous headache day in and out. After taking multiple drugs, Imitrex, Prodrin, Midrin, not much relief. After about 2 weeks on Nortriptyline my continuous headache had diminished, "almost" entirely. I did notice though many afternoons my headache return and I had to take other meds to help reduce the discomfort. I talked to my doctor and he agreed maybe 2x a day would be best. 25mg in the morning and again at night. That was about 3 weeks ago and now, very rarely do I have any headaches, at any time of day. I hope this continues. What a relief. To me, this has been a true wonder drug for my 24 hour headache! No side effects."

• Larou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

"I commented when I first started taking the medicine for migraines. 25 mg at night, most side effects are gone and so are the migraines. If I get a headache it is mild and goes away quickly with a coffee and a couple of ibuprofen. My heart rate is still a bit higher than before but not too bad. I feel more confident, I can go on business trips and not worry about migraines. I’ve even had a beer and a glass of wine without problems. Try it if you’re getting lots of headaches, minor side effects are worth it. My doctor says that most people do very well on it."

• khwb
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2014

"Three months ago I started the Nortriptyline 10mg daily to help with very disabling migraine with aura. So far so good. I haven't had a migraine, and I would normally have had one or two in that time. For a couple of years I have been taking 400mg daily vitamin B2, but I was still getting sick. So I've added the Nortriptyline. I also, now, am very careful to not become constipated, and that may be making a difference. But, it looks like the Nortriptyline has been good for me. My migraines started at about 13; I'm 61 now."

• Shelbz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2014

"Very effective for migraine prevention. I was having one every other day and on this medicine. I've gone a week without having a migraine. However it makes my ears ring. The ringing in my ears is driving me insane to the point I can't take it, so I think unfortunately this medicine is not for me!"

• gmo
• February 2, 2016

"I've had chronic headaches for 4-5 years and was treating symptoms with OTC meds which eventually became ineffective. Started having severe migraines about once a week for which I finally sought a more permanent treatment. Had some undesirable side effects to a few of the initial prescriptions. Hair loss, nausea, insomnia, etc. I had a rough start with Nortriptyline. As I increased the dosage I experienced prolonged drowsiness and some constipation. After a few weeks the symptoms decreased and my head aches stopped being a daily occurrence. I have had a few migraines since starting but these have also become less frequent. Maybe from once a week to once a month now. Hoping this works for me long-term and doesn't become ineffective."

• Happy
• February 12, 2018

"Miracle drug. After I started exercising almost every day, I got a migraine that lasted four/five months. I had a migraine every day with dizziness, trouble speaking, reading, writing, thinking. I thought I was going on disability. I tried topamax, but it didn't make any difference. I started on nortript and on the third day I noticed an improvement. Three months later, I have zero symptoms. Now my current dosage of 20mg is making me drowsy. So I think I am going back to 10mg. I have stopped exercising completely. I wish I could go back to running and weight lifting."

• Prinnie
• February 27, 2017

"About 25 years ago I suffered from debilitating headaches that lasted for days on end with varying intensity, but never quite gone. Upon visiting a neurologist I was told I suffer from Cluster headaches and he prescribed Nortriptyline. I have been taking 50 mg daily at bedtime for the 25 years since. I very rarely suffer from any headache at all as long as I remember to take my pill at bedtime and yes, I do sleep great. Nortriptyine was a godsend for me!"

• Kazsm...
• October 9, 2015

"I have suffered from migraines for the last 22 years, have tried lots of things that do little to nothing. I started taking nortriptyline 10mg nightly as I was getting them daily, they slightly reduced to maybe a gap of 3 days. Still not good when your working so I got the dosage increased to 2 x 10mg at night. It has made a huge difference but I'm going through my script too quick so I've asked to have it increased to 1 x 25 mg as they only come in 10mg & 25mg. I feel so much better as I can now go over a week without a migraine which is like heaven having a normal life once again. Good luck everyone I fully recommend this medication"

• camior
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2016

"I've struggled with migraines since I was a child and have manged 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."

• 92ross
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2018

"I have had daily headaches for around 4 years. The headaches are never severe but always pop up at the right front of my head on a daily basis and are more annoying than anything else. On a scale of 1-10 for pain I would rate them a 3-4. My doctor started me on 10mg Nortriptyline once at night before bed. I noticed a rapid improvement with my headaches immediately. I took the pills for around 6 months and have now stopped taking them completely. I would have stopped around 2 weeks ago and my headaches have not yet returned. I have 3 months supply of the tablets still but so far haven't needed to start them again."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2012

Pamelor (nortriptyline) "I have been on Pamelor for the past 6 months or so and I suffer from severe headaches and migraines. After being prescribed 25mg I have felt I'm in control of my life going from 15 headaches and multiple migraines a month to a manageable 3-4 headaches and a couple migraines a month. My doctor and I are now trying to drop these numbers even lower by doubling my dose. The side effects I have experienced is dry mouth and odd vivid dreams which are very manageable compared to before."

• Rsb
• January 17, 2018

"I have vestibular migraines and this dug has been amazing for it. I've suffered from vestibular issues for over 10 years before it being nailed down as migraine and was started on nortripyline. After years of these vestibular attacks, lasting several days and occurring several times a month, I'm now down to maybe an attack or two every few months and a few during times of high stress. Side effects are minimal. Dry mouth. Was told it would help me sleep, kinda doesn't, but so worth it for the incredibly mild side effects and the huge quality of life increase."

• Mojo
• 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. 40mg 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."

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

"I'm on week three, taking 100mg 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 5lbs. 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."