Yesterday evening I decided to start taking nortriptyline-Aventyl. This is considered an antidepressant drug to treat severe depression. I have had the medicine for a long time, staring at me in my cabinet. I have always been afraid to take any type of antidepressant. I have had family members that became addicted to these types of medicines or their mood had significantly changed. Yesterday something clicked after being out of work for 4 days straight with barely any reduction in pain. I have been taking medicines such as Imitrex and Topamax, regularly but I am still in pain. I decided to add this drug and see if it helps out any. When a bad day strikes it continues for a long time with little or no relief. However, when I have a good day, you can tell. I am a totally different person.
During my research I have found that by taking Aventyl, migraines can be significantly reduced after a 3 month period of time. The main side effects I read of are dry mouth, drowsiness, and weight gain.
It has now been 24 hours since I took my first dose. No dry mouth of as of yet. I allotted myself 8.5 hours to sleep. I could barely get out of bed in the morning. Even though I felt well rested, I could barely function. The morning shower and routine seemed to take longer than usual. I felt like an ADD patient.I seemed to be frolicking around my apartment looking for my purse, clothes, and water (even though I know exactly where they are). My work day went by quickly but I was just as sleepy as when I awoke until around 4 pm, 9 hours later. I still did not feel like myself. I cannot find the words to describe it other than feeling disconnected from ME. As for the weight gain. It is too soon to tell. My appetite had severely decreased. I did not feel like eating at all. I only ate something throughout the day because I knew I would feel it later if I didn't. Not eating right is one of my little known "triggers".
My main focus and accomplishment of today is that I did not have a migraine. Not even a low grade migraine or a slight headache. If I can get used to the effects and I can function while being unbelievably sleepy, this may work. Only if it means I will not feel the pain of a migraine anymore. I refuse to believe what my first neurologist said " Once a migraine sufferer, always a migraine sufferer. You will be in this pain for the rest of your life. "
This is a journey. I intend on finding a reasonable resolution.
-Alicia
MigraineCopia
