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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
        
(Message started by: Laurie_R. on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 7:16pm)

Title: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by Laurie_R. on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 7:16pm

I'm new to CM.com (thank goodness there are others who understand!), but not new to CH's, which I've endured on and off for 20 years. I've been headache-free for 2 years, but a new cycle cropped up three weeks ago. I've already had one trip to the ER where the docs gave me compozine, oxygen and demoral (no relief), and then finally morphine. After the third dose of morphine I pretty much passed out. For the past 2 weeks, my doctor has me taking Elavil and Amerge each night, and then I have an assortment of triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, Axert, etc) to take when I get the attacks. She's had me on Celexa as well, which I thought was helping to prevent the CH's, but maybe not. I'm now taking 40 mg daily. The combo seems to be working OK - the CH's have been more in the 2-4 Kip range this last week, but I'm constantly feeling out of it - difficulty concentrating, exhaustion, dizziness and sometimes blurred vision. I tried cutting back on the Elavil last night, and ended up with a CH (about a 4) this afternoon so I guess I'll be upping the dosage again. Being this zombie sure beats the pain I was in last week, but I'm wondering about these side effects. I feel like a walking drug store. I was on a Depakote/Nortriptalyne combo during my last attack so I'm familiar with being zoned out, but this seems worse for some reason. So I'm writing for 2 reasons - one to get other's thoughts/experiences with this or similar combos, and two - to share the combo with others since it seems to be working well (and relatively quickly), except for the zombiness. But it's definitely the lesser of two evils.

Title: Re: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by pubgirl on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 7:59pm

Laurie

PLEASE READ THIS!

This is one helluva combination of drugs and I am very confused by what your doctor is doing (my polite way of saying it looks very suspect)

You are doubling up here. PLEASE BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL AS YOU ARE MIXING TRIPTANS! MIXING TRIPTANS OR TAKING TOO MUCH CAN KILL YOU.

You must only have two doses of Triptans in 24 hours, and Amerge is a triptan. That means you can only take one further dose of ANY of those Triptans you mention to deal with an attack in the 24 hour period.
You are also doubling anti-depressants as well so this might explain the "zombiness".

You are not being given some of the normal first line abortives and preventives recommended for CH (although the Triptans are). There may be a reason for this relating to your medical history, but this is certainly a most unusual combination strategy

Wendy

Title: Re: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by Roxy on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 8:02pm

You beat me to it Wendy. I didn't like the sound of all those triptans.

Title: Re: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by Roxy on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 8:29pm

Since you have so many triptans on hand, just make sure that you don't mix two different kinds in a 24 hr. period. If you take two a day....they really, really need to be the same triptan. Then wait 24 hrs. before you take a different kind.

Trust me....I have the medical bills to prove that you really don't want to mix them.

Title: Re: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 10:53pm

On top of the Triptan issue there is a lot of other meds you are taking and I am not a medical doctor, but if this doctor has you mixing Triptans, I wouldn't be surprised if other drug interactions may be happening and no wonder you feel out of it. You better talk to your doctor, or better yet, a different doctor.

-Scott

Title: Re: Elavil, Amerge, Celexa and Triptan combo
Post by Karla on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 2:56pm

I would definetly be seeing a different dr. This one is putting your life on the line. He obviously doesn't know what he is doing. Please be very carefull. Have you tried oxygen yet. That works great for aborting clusters. There are links for how to use it on the message board. Verapamil, predisone, lithium, are just some of the common best prevenatives around. Your dr is wasting your time and money. I would find a neuro who specializes in headaches.