nortriptyline side effects

I am trying this medication again... it's the only one that's ever had any effect on my migraines. However, the tiredness is making me crazy. I can barely get out of bed in the morning.. I easily sleep 12 hours a night which would be okay if I didn't have to get up for work and function. It's been awhile since I've been on a preventative.. does this side effect eventually go away? Like as my body gets used to the med? Or am I stuck with it. I don't know how much longer I can function this way. I know it's supposedly an anti-depressant, but I feel like it's making me depressed!

Hi Emily,

I personally started amitryptaline back in mid-March, and to be honest I'm not sure exactly how different it is from what you are taking. However, I did experience exactly what you described for the first 3 weeks of taking it. My doctor also informed me it could take 4-6 weeks to start working, which I hoped as you do that the extreme sleepiness would wear off by then.

I can tell you as of about 4 1/2 weeks in that I've had more energy these past few days then I have had in years - almost to a fault. Where I was sleeping 12+ hours a night easily, now I'm sleeping closer to 5-7 hours max. I still have to periodically take fiorinal with caffeine when I feel an attack coming, so that might be part of it. The thing is, nothing would give me more energy those first 3 weeks; fiorinal, strong coffee, etc.. It really was like a tranquilizer shot for awhile, so I understand what you're feeling.

Regarding the effectiveness though, I was still having frequent (approx every two days) migraines as recently as last week so I've been concerned it isn't doing the job. Everyone is different though, and it is starting to feel more effective for me this week. I hope yours continues to be effective and loses the side effects! You might want to call your doctor or pharmacist to see what they know about it. My pharmacy has always been really helpful with those kinds of questions, and of course maybe someone will know more about it here

Good luck to you,
Patrick

I can only speak regarding Amitriptyline but I think it's much the same. I've been on it twice and although the tiredness became less severe, it never went away. I'd take it early in the evening but waking was still like getting through a dense fog every day. After a while, it didn't seem to last so long into the morning. I hated the heavy drugged feeling though and sometimes felt it was contributing to the headaches.

Having said all that, I'm also considering going back on to it! Other preventatives haven't worked and I was definitely a little better while on it - at the moment 'a little better' would be a blessing. It's just weighing up the pros and cons, do I want that drugged feeling every morning for a slight reduction in the migraines? I never found what the effect of a large dose would be as I couldn't get past 15mg.

I don't know how long you've been on it but hopefully it will become easier for you - did it last time you took it? It's that balance isn't it, if the migraines do improve perhaps it's worth putting up with tiredness. I hope things get better soon.
Liz

Emily,

I was on nortriptyline for 4 months. The tiredness, yeah it did get better and was way less worse than the amytriptyline I tried. Once I adjusted to it, I was better - less tired. However, it shot my resting heart rate from 64 to 100 and elevated my bp. Which is the reason I came off of it (that and it wasn't working).

I'd say give it a few weeks and see what happens. You could always try lowering the dose if possible as well.

Becky

Managed 2 months on Nortriptine and 6 weeks on Ami
I was like a zombie and it never improved at all.
Had to come off in the end, but no change to head anyway.

When I was on Elavil,its close cousin, I was like you for the first month. It gradually got better but even a year later I would pass out at 8PM and not wake up until 7AM.

charmed quark wrote:When I was on Elavil,its close cousin, I was like you for the first month. It gradually got better but even a year later I would pass out at 8PM and not wake up until 7AM.

For me it was not waking up until 2pm....

LizzieB wrote:
I don't know how long you've been on it but hopefully it will become easier for you - did it last time you took it? It's that balance isn't it, if the migraines do improve perhaps it's worth putting up with tiredness. I hope things get better soon.
Liz

I remember the tiredness last time, but I couldn't remember how long it lasted. I know I wasn't on the med for long. Plus a part of me was hoping that the tiredness last time just had to do with being a new mom and lack of sleep, etc. Good to know others have had similar effects... I just feel like the biggest slob I can't get out of bed.

Hi Emily,

I personally started amitryptaline back in mid-March, and to be honest I'm not sure exactly how different it is from what you are taking. However, I did experience exactly what you described for the first 3 weeks of taking it. My doctor also informed me it could take 4-6 weeks to start working, which I hoped as you do that the extreme sleepiness would wear off by then.

I can tell you as of about 4 1/2 weeks in that I've had more energy these past few days then I have had in years - almost to a fault. Where I was sleeping 12+ hours a night easily, now I'm sleeping closer to 5-7 hours max. I still have to periodically take fiorinal with caffeine when I feel an attack coming, so that might be part of it. The thing is, nothing would give me more energy those first 3 weeks; fiorinal, strong coffee, etc.. It really was like a tranquilizer shot for awhile, so I understand what you're feeling.

Regarding the effectiveness though, I was still having frequent (approx every two days) migraines as recently as last week so I've been concerned it isn't doing the job. Everyone is different though, and it is starting to feel more effective for me this week. I hope yours continues to be effective and loses the side effects! You might want to call your doctor or pharmacist to see what they know about it. My pharmacy has always been really helpful with those kinds of questions, and of course maybe someone will know more about it here Wink

Good luck to you,
Patrick



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I have been on nortryptiline for over a year now. I dont notice any side effects nor does it make me tired. As a matter of fact, I do have problems sleeping and this medicaton has not helped me one bit, sleep that is.

As far as the M's are concerned I do still get them, but they seem to be less severe while on the med. I have also started the over the counter migralief as well, which has significantly lowered the severity of the migraine, however, now I am experiencing some low grade headaches that are making me naseua. Almost seems like tension headaches that are very annoying.

If i had to absolutely choose, I would stay on the nortryptiline. It seems to reduce my migraines about 30-40%. I was thinking about wheening off in the next month or two and see what happens.