nortriptyline

Sorry Tracy, I haven't heard of it or tried it.

I though you mentioned in another post you were taking Topamax? That might help with your weight loss.

Hey Purplegdaisy,

You problably don't want to hear from me, but I've had experience with several of the things you mentioned.  First,the Nortriptyline.  Do you normally have high blood pressure? If not, be careful standing up or moving too fast.  You can get the room-zooms and pass out easily.  The idea behind Nortriptyline is to keep your blood pressure from spiking when you have a migraine attack. I have very low blood pressure, and it was like my own personal amusement ride everytime I moved around, but then I figured anything that was that fun, couldn't be good for me, so I stopped.  I couldn't every verify it did one bit of good for me when it came to my migraines.  My last trip to the ER, my BP  was 90/64.  So much for spiking duing a migraine.

While food modification can be talked until death, I don't every remember seeing a fat jogger.  You mentioned a gastric bypass, which if you are grossly overweight, is really something to consider, but must take into consideration not just all your health issues, but you lifestyle issues as well.  I can discuss this topic from personal experience as well.  I had a Roux-n-y Bypass four years ago this month.  It can be a miracle or it can be a nightmare, or anywhere in between.  You have to be clear on your expectations, and research as much as humanly possible on the subject, especially the clinics in you area conduction the procedure and whether or not they provide continuing care.  I was initially very successful, losing 140 pounds, plus 180lbs(a husband), but I didn't get any of the built in negative side effects that are supposed to keep you from the wrong foods.  Then I got put on DEPAKOTE, got major, certified eating disorders, and gained eighty pounds back. SO just beware.

I know you hate it when I end up talking about me, but one thing that might help with both the migraines and the physical issues is hydro-therapy.  I have a really bad back, but things get better if I can spend a half hour, two or three days a week doing mild exercises in the family pool at the YMCA.  In case you need swimwear, check out www.junonia.com.

Hope this helps and I didn't piss you off this time.

Leigh Ann

Hi Purpledaisy,
Sounds like your neurologist is somewhat insensitive (if well-meaning.) I started nortriptyline on Halloween (not a difficult appointment to remember) of this year. Prior to being on it I was on (still am on) Topamax. Not sure exactly how your neurologist started you on the Topamax, by the way, but it has to be slowly. There are quite a few side effects, but (at least for me) I found that after I was on it for a while the vast majority of them wore off (except the weight loss, which I was glad of, since I had been on Neurontin before that and gain a ton of weight.) So I would not rule out Topamax entirely, depending on what your previous dosing experience was with it. Anyway, back to nortriptyline. I have been taking 25 mg per night. It actually can increase your blood pressure overall, but when you stand up your blood pressure can go down (orthostatic hypotension is what they call it). But if you stay hydrated it is not usually too noticeable...The dry mouth is a little bothersome. I drink a lot of water and chew sugarless gum - that helps. No black tongue yet. I have gained a couple of pounds but I must admit I have not been exercising the way I should, either. I think Leigh Ann's idea about exercising in the pool is a good one -- that really cuts down on any impact and is a gentle way to get back into exercising. Of course I do not know what your health issues are since your accident, but most injuries do tend to benefit from mobilization. In any case, I have to say that since I started the nortriptyline I have had hardly any migraines. Only one really bad 2-day one when a nasty really LOW low-pressure center went through a few weeks ago. And a couple of milder ones. The dry mouth and 3 or 4 pounds have been worth it for me. And I have not seemed to need more than 25 mg. If I know something bad is coming (like that low-pressure front or a bad hormonal time) I might take 50 mg -- but that is occasional. Another benefit I have had from it is that I was having tingling and pain in my arm from a herniated disc and all that went away, too. Pretty amazing. But it is supposed to be good for neuropathic pain (pain resulting from screwed up nerves, more or less...which happens with migraines when the nerves covering the blood vessels of the scalp become inflamed). Hope it works as well for you. Best of luck.
Laura L.

Hi purplegdaisy,

I recently read an article that said a lot of migraine sufferers don't find relief with treatments because they don't stay on them long enough. The example they provided was Topamax. The article said that most people need to stay on it at least 4 months to see any effects. I had similar side effects to yours but found that once I backed off and increased the dose very slowly the side effects were far less significant. I don't know anything about how long Norytriptiline can take to work but you may want to do some research to find out.

I also find that working out in the pool is really good for my headaches. I find that exercising heats my body up and triggers a migraine. The pool stops me from overheating by constantly cooling me down.

Good luck. You'll find something that works.