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Amitriptyline In Headache Treatment
Has anyone been prescribed amitriptyline for chronic
headaches and migraines? If so, how did it go? I’ve just been
prescribed it but want to know more before taking it. Did
anyone get any side effects? –Facebook visitor
“Since 1962, amitriptyline has been prescribed for
chronic headache. It is the most frequently prescribed
generic drug for this purpose.
The stimulus that prompted my career in headache
medicine was my original work with amitriptyline.
I conducted a study on the relationship between
depression and other bodily complaints, such as
arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc. The results
demonstrated that amitriptyline has superior efficacy
in treating these various complaints.
At the 1963 convention of the American Medical
Association (AMA), I presented my findings in a
scientific exhibit. A physician asked me a question
about the relationship between depression and
headache. The question intrigued me and I then
started an investigation on the use of amitriptyline in
headache – and my keen interest in the subject was
born.
Extensive studies on the efficacy of amitriptyline
in headache were not conducted in the pursuit for
approval from the Food and Drug Administration for
this indication. The expense of such investigations
precluded their undertaking. The side effects of
amitriptyline include dry mouth, constipation, and
blurred vision. These side effects are usually transient.
Dosage of the drug should be gradually increased for
its efficacy and to minimize the side effects.”
Seymour Diamond, MD
Executive Chairman and Founder
National Headache Foundation
Chicago, IL
12
HeadW ise ®
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Volume 4, Issue 4 • 2015
Aura Symptoms Without Headache
I have been a migraine sufferer for 8 years (visual, sensory,
and neurological auras increasing progressively but rarely get
headaches). A neurologist insists I have ‘pain in my head’ as I
have what I would describe as an increasing tightness in my
scalp. It feels like I want to pull off my scalp and scratch my
brain, a fuzzy feeling is unbearable. I also have neck pain but
never need pain killers. I have been treated for chronic daily
headache.
Along with the symptoms above, I have developed pulsating
tinnitis on the same side of head that has been affected for
the last 16 months. Auras are persistent from morning to
night and unrelentless, dizziness, pins and needles, visual
disturbances, difficulty getting words out, chills, thirst, runny
nose, nerve pain in face, nausea, tripping over my feet.
Despite prophylactic meds, (topiramate, neurontin, numerous
blocks, and inpatient treatment – nothing has worked and
out of frustration I fell out with my neurologist 6 months
ago. Currently, I am [