Nortriptyline Compared to Alternatives

For Migraine Prevention: 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.

For Migraine Prevention: 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.

For Migraine Prevention: I took Topamax as much as 300mg/day for 15 years and my last dose was 150mg at night. I recently changed to Lyrica which is also an anti-convulsant and am taking 100mg/day and find it more effective than Topamax without the memory and lost word problems. I discontinued Topamax because it slowly got to the point where I could not remember something for an hour. Topamax also was causing erectile dysfunction problems for the last 3 years. I do not have this problem with Lyrica. In the end I was getting 5 or more migraines a week and now get 2 or 3 a week and expect to increase Lyrica to 300mg/day.

For Migraine Prevention: I had migraines that lasted up to nine days. My neurologist started me on 25mg Topamax and the frequency dropped off immediately. I actually loved the way I felt on Topamax. I had boundless energy, no appetite, and was always in a good mood. After two years, I decided to stop taking it because my skin was breaking out and I think I felt a little too confident in myself. I drove a little faster, said really odd things to people (no filter) and seemed to be turning into a show off about how skinny I was. Not my best personality! I stopped taking it and didn't gain any weight, but the headaches are back. Once my dermatologist gets my skin cleared up, I might go back on it, but will be very mindful of the side effects.

For Migraine Prevention: I have been taking this medication 50 mg. Since Jan 7 ,2019. At first after reading all of the side effects and reviews I really just wanted to tell the doc forget it try something else. I guess the side effects are really just person to person. I have had the tingling in my hands and feet, and maybe some mental fog but nothing worse than my mommy brain farts. I have lost a few pounds so far like 3-4. Like I said I didn't want to take it, but I didn't want it to be that one med that worked that I passed up.

For Migraine Prevention: I have been on Topiramate for over 4 years for migraine prevention, and in the very beginning was great. Went from 20+ migraines a month on a 50 mg dose to less than 5 with very few side effects (coke tasted bad, I drank water) no big deal. Now I’m up to 300mg a day and since then I’ve had kidney stones, major tingling in hands/feet, severe back pain, dry eyes, and migraines at least 4 days a week on top of other side effects. I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping it’s just the medicine doing this.