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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Amitrytilyne is helping me!
        
(Message started by: laguner on Oct 1^st, 2006, 9:58am)

Title: Amitrytilyne is helping me!
Post by laguner on Oct 1^st, 2006, 9:58am

Hi everyone,

This is my first post. I have had cluster headaches for four years now and have been a human test dummy for the last three. I have used many types of blood pressure medications, muscle relaxers, magnesium and food elimination. I would get my headaches at night but mostly while sleeping. I would wake and be in pain for at least 1/2 hour. I was taking Imitrex almost every day and YES, I know I am not supposed to but it was the only thing that made life bearable. I started taking Amiltiptylene about three months ago and noticed an immediate improvement. I have only had one cluster headache in the last three months. If you've tried everything, this may help you, as it has me.

Title: Re: Amitrytilyne is helping me!
Post by kcopelin on Oct 1^st, 2006, 11:30am

Welcome to clusterville!
Are you on any other abortives-O2 comes to mind first and foremost. Also, if you're getting hit primarily at night many people have had success with melatonin (9-12mg 30 minutes before bed) and some combine that with benadryl. Awhile back my doc prescribed amytriptyline (Elavil) for me to be taken at bedtime. It didn't do much, until I added the melatonin and benadryl. Then I stopped the Elavil and found that just the melatonin worked fine. So far this has worked for me-and keeping my sleep schedule very consistent. I don't stay up late-or sleep in-or nap-unless I want a CH. And I never take the melatonin during the day. The idea is to help regulate the circadian rythms, and sleeping during the daytime screws that up.
You are in the right place for information and support from fellow CHers.
Wishing you PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: Amitrytilyne is helping me!
Post by Karla on Oct 1^st, 2006, 3:46pm

If you do a search on Amitrytilyne or Elavil both are the same drug just different name you will find that people have had sucess with this medicine. There was a study done on it and I don't remember the exact numbers but I do remember that almost everyone that tried it responded sucessfully.

Modified to add:
I tried this medicine and it didn't work for me and it also caused me to have seizures.

Title: Re: Amitrytilyne is helping me!
Post by jon019 on Oct 1^st, 2006, 4:43pm

on 10/01/06 at 15:46:51, Karla wrote:

There was a study done on it and I don't remember the exact numbers but I do remember that almost everyone that tried it responded sucessfully.

Modified to add:
I tried this medicine and it didn't work for me and it also caused me to have seizures.

Yikes Karla, Careful now. Studies are great. We all pray for more. You, me and a bunch of others here would dispute that elavil was successful "on almost everyone who tried it".

Doesn't mean DON'T try it. By all means do, and give it a loooong chance too. Just be prepared to move on if it doesn't work.

Regards

Jon

Title: Re: Amitrytilyne is helping me!
Post by Carl_D on Oct 1^st, 2006, 6:21pm

on 10/01/06 at 15:46:51, Karla wrote:

Same here Karla. I was on Amitriptyline off and on over the years, mostly for insomnia. This time last year the insomnia was hella-wicked (kind of like um, now? ) but I was taking 300mg a night of the Ami and when I didn't sleep... spent weeks feeling worse than death - warmed - over. Had 3 seizures that I know of for certain, and towards the end of the years went off of most of my meds in a desperate attempt at some relief.

I'm glad it is working for you Laguner. If the CH's ramp up again, check into getting some o2 for relief.

Peace,
Carl