Help Chronic Pain

Question:

I just started on Paxil.  20mg in the morning did nothing, still got HA.  Then 20mg in morn. and 20mg at nite make me sooooooo tired, and hungry, so now I’m taking 30mg in the morning and we’ll see. ANYONE KNOW A GOOD HA DR. IN NYC???

Response:

… Yes.  "Antidepressants" such as Elavil and Pamelor are commonly used to treat headache.  This doesn’t mean that you are depressed.  The drugs don’t know what they are "for

i had a doctor tell me once that the antidepressants work best for migraines for people who are NOT depressed.  could this be so, or was he just another jerk?

Response:

Effexor.  No tiredness

Carole, Thanks for the info–fatigue was one real concern. Who wants to waste any healthy hours being worn out, we get enough of that when the HAs hit. Take care, B’racha

Response:

Hi B’racha, Now this is my personal experience only … it may differ with others.  I prefer Effexor over Elavil for several reasons.  I found that the Effexor did not make me tired, Effexor does not give you a dry mouth, and Effexor does not make you gain weight.  I prefer it over Elavil anyday.  Also, I think the Effexor and Elavil worked about the same for me in the prevention dept. Joan Black Belt in Migraines – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can anyone compare side effects and/or advantages of Effexor to those of Elavil? My Dr. is considering putting me on an anti-depressant as a preventative not because of frequencybyt because of duration (5-8 wks) and total body involvement. I trust my Dr. but you folks have the experience. B’racha

Response:

B’racha, I tried Elavil before Effexor. The Elavil made me tired so I we switched to the Effexor.  No tiredness, plus I take that at night. Carole

Response:

Effexor which is also an antidepressant

Can anyone compare side effects and/or advantages of Effexor to those of Elavil? My Dr. is considering putting me on an anti-depressant as a preventative not because of frequencybyt because of duration (5-8 wks) and total body involvement. I trust my Dr. but you folks have the experience. B’racha

Response:

I use Effexor which is also an antidepressant and it raises my sertonin level. I have migraines that last two to three weeks so I will try about any thing, Carole

Response:

Yes.  "Antidepressants" such as Elavil and Pamelor are commonly used to treat headache.  This doesn’t mean that you are depressed.  The drugs don’t know what they are "for".  Pamelor has been very effective in reducing my head pain.  I doubt that I could sleep without it. -Doug

Response:

Anti-depressants modify your sleep pattern.  Varying degrees of contraction intensities of the muscles of the scalp contract during sleep.  Over time, a "pre-existing condition" of significant muscular fatique of these muscles makes them suseptible to the slightest strain (like sitting at a computer), and they become painful.  So it’s not sitting at the compurter that is painful, but it is an activity that irritates a pre-existing condition… The anti-depressant will shorten the duration and frequency of the nocturnal muscular contractions.  Hopefully, that would be sufficient to reduce the severity of the pre-existing condition.  Unfortunately, the *intensity* of the contractions isn’t decreased much, and that is why some tension-type headache patients don’t respond to anti-D’s… Compare it to going 70 miles an hour in your car… It doesn’t take stomping on the accelerator to keep you going 70…a slight pressure will do.  To *maintain* tension-type headache symptoms, a slight pressure will do. -El Jimno~ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For the last three months I have been troubled with a tightness beginning above my eyes and radiating around to the back of my head!  Generally this phenomenon occurs with exercise and stress.  The more the exercise the more intense the pressure, often turning into dizziness, and at least on two occasions, almost a loss of consciousness. I have sought the advice of seven different physicians, and suffered through various tests, including full heart work up, MRI, CT Scans, GTT tests, and a plethora of blood work.  Tentative diagnosis is hypoglycemia.  However, I have adhered to the diet, stopped smoking, quit drinking (ouch), and would love to go back to exercising, however, the pressure and dizziness makes the experience altogether unpleasant.  The last doctor( a neurologist) suggested Deep Massage, claiming that I had Neuropathic Fibromyalgia! I found a site on Basilar Migraines and read my symptoms in a number of like victims.  Several suggested trying an anti-depressant such as Xanax.  Well, I did that…..I took 1 mg last night before bed, slept like a rock, and felt better than I had in three months!! I was even able to resume my three mile walk with only limited symptoms.  However, as I type this, I notice the pressure returning, as it often does when working on the computer, and yes, I’ve had my eyes checked.  Any comments on my rather verbose observations

Response:

I found a site on Basilar Migraines and read my symptoms in a number of like victims.  Several suggested trying an anti-depressant such as Xanax

Actually,,Xanax is NOT an anti depressant at all,,but an anti anxiety med…sounds like their use should be the same,,but  it is not.. Antidepressants act on the seratonin system in the brain,,while anti anxietys act directly on the central nervous system…thus why you slept so well!! I don’t know of using Xanax as a headache preventative,,tho. good luck Hawki…the nurse practitioner

Response:

I found a site on Basilar Migraines and read my symptoms in a number of like victims.  Several suggested trying an anti-depressant such as Xanax.  Well, I did that…..I took 1 mg last night before bed, slept like a rock, and felt better than I had in three months!! I was even able to resume my three mile walk with only limited symptoms.  However, as I type this, I notice the pressure returning, as it often does when working on the computer, and yes, I’ve had my eyes checked.  Any comments on my rather verbose observations

Here’s what I understand from my doc and my neuro about antidepressants and migraines. Some anti-depressants used in considerably smaller doses than for treating depression can help prevent migraine headaches in some people. You have to take them for a while before judging if there are any benefits-4 to 6 weeks at least. My dose is 30 mgs of Elavil (amytriptylene) before bed each night. It may or may not be helping-something is helping (although you sure wouldn’t know it this morning) but I’m on 4 different preventative therapies including the Elavil. Oh, and the Elavil does help me sleep. Hope this helps-good luck…. Dana

Response:

For the last three months I have been troubled with a tightness beginning above my eyes and radiating around to the back of my head!  Generally this phenomenon occurs with exercise and stress.  The more the exercise the more intense the pressure, often turning into dizziness, and at least on two occasions, almost a loss of consciousness. I have sought the advice of seven different physicians, and suffered through various tests, including full heart work up, MRI, CT Scans, GTT tests, and a plethora of blood work.  Tentative diagnosis is hypoglycemia.  However, I have adhered to the diet, stopped smoking, quit drinking (ouch), and would love to go back to exercising, however, the pressure and dizziness makes the experience altogether unpleasant.  The last doctor( a neurologist) suggested Deep Massage, claiming that I had Neuropathic Fibromyalgia! I found a site on Basilar Migraines and read my symptoms in a number of like victims.  Several suggested trying an anti-depressant such as Xanax.  Well, I did that…..I took 1 mg last night before bed, slept like a rock, and felt better than I had in three months!! I was even able to resume my three mile walk with only limited symptoms.  However, as I type this, I notice the pressure returning, as it often does when working on the computer, and yes, I’ve had my eyes checked.  Any comments on my rather verbose observations

Response:

Getting a solid nights sleep is a must with any kind of recurrent headache.  XANAX is an anti anxiety agent and can help you sleep better. Stay with it for a few weeks.Most notice a slow but steady improvemnt. Some people are sensitive to the glare or flicker (from the refresh rate) from computer monitors. Buying an anti glare screen that fits over screen  and is attached to the monitor is one option. Some of us, me included. actaully wear moderately dark sun glasses while working at a computer or watching tv for more than a few minutes. You may also want want to fiddle around with the brightness and or contrast controls. If you have the money to spare, you could also try upgrading your monitor. Personally, I have considerable trouble with computer monitors if I’m working for more than a few minutes and or the background color is white. By wearing sunglasses I can spend almost twice as long looking a display with very significantly reduced chances of triggering a headache. ~~~The conventional wisdom and accepted facts are dead wrong!~~~

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