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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Amitriptyline as preventative
        
(Message started by: William_Bellas on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 10:23am)

Title: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by William_Bellas on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 10:23am

I have had been taking Amitriptyline (Elavil) as a preventative. I take 75 mg at bedtime, and do it evey night during the cycle. It has had the effect of completely halting a cycle, to making the headaches I do get in other cycles much less severe and less numerous. It also seems to knock out r.e.m. sleep, and so I wake up dog tired. Has anyone else been prescribed with this medication?

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by maggie_may on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 10:59am

My GP gave me amitriptyline two years ago - though it wasn't used to prevent headaches, instead for a sleeping disorder. Unfortunately, I can't say that it did anything for my headaches, as they still came with the same frequency and strength, but it did allow me to sleep. They stopped working for that reason within 4 months.

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by Bob P on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 11:47am

I took it for 2 nights but woke up so groggy the following mornings that I quit taking it. I've since been told that you adjust to the dopey feeling. I do know a fellow who swears that elavil is the only thing that ever stopped his clusters. He went almost 10 years with no headches before smoking gave him cancer and offed him.

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by amber on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 12:25pm

I've been on different levels of elavil (real name of it) for years. Doesn't seem to do a damn thing. The groggy does not fade away as much at that dosage, and you may find yourself hungry for sweets. I did and it's actually a side effect of the medication. Gained a crapload of weight....

Although I think some of that had to do with being in chronic pain and the possibility of hypothalamus out of whack. It does, after all, tell us when we are full. I just never could get full.

*shrug*

Amber

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by Seiji on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 3:00pm

That was one of the first drugs perscribed for me. Just like you all have said it makes you feel hung over the next day and it also made me constipated. Felt like i was trying to poop rocks.

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by Bob P on Apr 2^nd, 2003, 6:25pm

Quote:

Felt like i was trying to poop rocks

Is that anything like shitting bricks?

Title: Re: Amitriptyline as preventative
Post by Linda T on Apr 3^rd, 2003, 7:48pm

Used elavil for 2 of my cycles and, at the time, I thought it worked. Third cycle it did nothing. I was only taking 50 mg but I was on it for about 3 months.

Good luck. Glad it works for you. ]

Wishing you PFDAN always, Linda T