|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 9, 2022 20:06:02 GMT
If you’ve taken amitryptiline, did you gain weight? Was it just at the beginning, or did you gain the whole time you were on it?
50 mg has turned out to be the magic potion to stop my migraine symptoms. I’m not talking just head pain, I spent years with vertigo, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to light and sound and perfumes, vision and other eye issues, and stomach and digestive problems. And let’s not forget the terrible trip down the stairs.
It seriously has stopped. Chronic symptoms I’ve dealt with for years. But I’ve gained 10 lbs, even though I eat the same.
I can deal with the 10 lbs, although I don’t like it, it would still be a fair trade for getting my life back, but I’m concerned that the weight gain will continue.
The idea of having to start over getting off this and trying to find a different med has no appeal at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by marie on Jul 9, 2022 20:17:00 GMT
I gained 15 pounds on nortriptyline over a 6 month period before it leveled out. My neurologist says weight gain is common with these 2 drugs.
I have chronic vestibular migraine and have tried all kinds of meds. So far I'm doing ok on daily Qulipta. It keeps the symptoms more manageable but I still get days when it flares especially with weather changes.
|
|
lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,172 
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
|
Post by lesley on Jul 9, 2022 20:22:35 GMT
My DD has been on it for about three years, and she doesn’t believe it has affected her weight particularly. She was originally given pregabalin and put on 6lbs in a week. This triggered memories of the eating disorder she suffered in her teens, so her GP swiftly changed her to amitriptyline. She takes it for nerve pain. Although she has put on a little weight over the last couple of years, she attributes that more to the fact that she now uses her wheelchair 95% of the time.
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,408
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Jul 9, 2022 21:20:46 GMT
my GP gave me a prescription for Nortriptyline (daily headaches and anxiety) and I told him I wasn't going to fill it after reading the side effects. I went for acupuncture and after 12 visits/treatments I had no more headaches or anxiety and it took care of a few other issues I was having. That was in winter 2019/2020. Now, 2.5 years later, I'm getting headaches again and along with that anxiety creeping back in. I need to go back but I don't want him to push meds again. There's something else that can be done I hope! Weight gain is a deal breaker for me. I worked hard to lose 10 lbs for the last 4 months, I don't want to find them again.
Good luck OP! Have you tried acupuncture?
|
|
|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 9, 2022 22:13:58 GMT
my GP gave me a prescription for Nortriptyline (daily headaches and anxiety) and I told him I wasn't going to fill it after reading the side effects. I went for acupuncture and after 12 visits/treatments I had no more headaches or anxiety and it took care of a few other issues I was having. That was in winter 2019/2020. Now, 2.5 years later, I'm getting headaches again and along with that anxiety creeping back in. I need to go back but I don't want him to push meds again. There's something else that can be done I hope! Weight gain is a deal breaker for me. I worked hard to lose 10 lbs for the last 4 months, I don't want to find them again. Good luck OP! Have you tried acupuncture? I haven’t tried acupuncture seriously. If I decide to go off or lower the med I think I will. Yes, I feel the same way about the weight I lost a few years ago. My family thinks weight gain isn’t reason enough to stop a med that is helping so much. Easy for them to say. |
|
|
|
Post by Lexica on Jul 9, 2022 22:18:14 GMT
I was put on Nortriptyline to deal with the symptoms I was experiencing from Fibromyalgia, pain and panic attacks. I didn't tie it into being an effect of this drug right away but I started to gain weight right away. I had been taking it for a few weeks. Then one day I started to balloon up while I was at work. My legs were so filled with fluids that I could hardly bend my knees and I was struggling to breathe. The skin on my feet was billowing over the tops of my shoes. If it hadn't been so scary it would have been quite funny.
I shouldn't have done it, but I finished out the work day because I had a project due. When I finally left work I went immediately to the closest Kaiser walk-in facility. The doctor pulled up my list of medications and immediately said it was the Nortriptyline that was causing it. He explained how serious it was and told me that I was accumulating fluid around my heart as well as my lungs. He put me on a diuretic and I peed off all the fluid within a couple of days. I now have it in my chart to never take it again. I've never had such a strong reaction to any medication before.
So be very cautious that what you are gaining is actual weight and not fluid retention like I experienced.
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,408
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Jul 9, 2022 22:24:21 GMT
my GP gave me a prescription for Nortriptyline (daily headaches and anxiety) and I told him I wasn't going to fill it after reading the side effects. I went for acupuncture and after 12 visits/treatments I had no more headaches or anxiety and it took care of a few other issues I was having. That was in winter 2019/2020. Now, 2.5 years later, I'm getting headaches again and along with that anxiety creeping back in. I need to go back but I don't want him to push meds again. There's something else that can be done I hope! Weight gain is a deal breaker for me. I worked hard to lose 10 lbs for the last 4 months, I don't want to find them again. Good luck OP! Have you tried acupuncture? I haven’t tried acupuncture seriously. If I decide to go off or lower the med I think I will. Yes, I feel the same way about the weight I lost a few years ago. My family thinks weight gain isn’t reason enough to stop a med that is helping so much. Easy for them to say. My acupuncture doctor was awesome. He was referred for the headaches but every visit, he would ask if anything was bothering me. He took care of a pain i've had under my shoulderblade forever. MAGICAL! |
|
|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 9, 2022 22:28:15 GMT
I gained 15 pounds on nortriptyline over a 6 month period before it leveled out. My neurologist says weight gain is common with these 2 drugs. I have chronic vestibular migraine and have tried all kinds of meds. So far I'm doing ok on daily Qulipta. It keeps the symptoms more manageable but I still get days when it flares especially with weather changes. Have you gone for the crazy vestibular testing? That was wild. The weirdest was being tilted down with those techy goggles on and having first icy water and then hot shot in a stream into my ears. I’m hoping this continues to do the trick and I can manage to lose the 10 and maintain my healthy weight. Otherwise I’ll have to try the other drugs out there. |
|
|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 9, 2022 22:30:28 GMT
I was put on Nortriptyline to deal with the symptoms I was experiencing from Fibromyalgia, pain and panic attacks. I didn't tie it into being an effect of this drug right away but I started to gain weight right away. I had been taking it for a few weeks. Then one day I started to balloon up while I was at work. My legs were so filled with fluids that I could hardly bend my knees and I was struggling to breathe. The skin on my feet was billowing over the tops of my shoes. If it hadn't been so scary it would have been quite funny. I shouldn't have done it, but I finished out the work day because I had a project due. When I finally left work I went immediately to the closest Kaiser walk-in facility. The doctor pulled up my list of medications and immediately said it was the Nortriptyline that was causing it. He explained how serious it was and told me that I was accumulating fluid around my heart as well as my lungs. He put me on a diuretic and I peed off all the fluid within a couple of days. I now have it in my chart to never take it again. I've never had such a strong reaction to any medication before. So be very cautious that what you are gaining is actual weight and not fluid retention like I experienced. Yikes! That is scary. I have wondered if it’s water weight. Although it doesn’t matter, I don’t like it. |
|
|
|
Post by waffles on Jul 9, 2022 22:54:01 GMT
I gained some weight when I started but I don’t care. Better to have 10 extra pounds than a horrendous migraine all day every day.
I actually had a dentist prescribe it. He used to go all around the country explaining how muscle pain migraines are and how to treat them.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 2, 2024 12:17:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 0:03:06 GMT
If you’ve taken amitryptiline, did you gain weight? Was it just at the beginning, or did you gain the whole time you were on it? 50 mg has turned out to be the magic potion to stop my migraine symptoms. I’m not talking just head pain, I spent years with vertigo, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to light and sound and perfumes, vision and other eye issues, and stomach and digestive problems. And let’s not forget the terrible trip down the stairs. It seriously has stopped. Chronic symptoms I’ve dealt with for years. But I’ve gained 10 lbs, even though I eat the same. I can deal with the 10 lbs, although I don’t like it, it would still be a fair trade for getting my life back, but I’m concerned that the weight gain will continue. The idea of having to start over getting off this and trying to find a different med has no appeal at all. I've been on it and also on Nortriptyline. I'm still on the Nortriptyline with current weight loss (eating MUCH less due to grief), but you might be right. I thought I gained a few lbs from being so happy. Actually, I've gone up and down 10 lbs with my weight ever since I've been on it. Also, it doesn't do ANYTHING as a pre-migraine Rx. I have to get off of it. I take Maxalt (brand only, 10 mg) when I feel a migraine coming on and it works quickly. It's old-school, but it pretty much works. Nothing else worked to PREVENT migraines for me.
I'd try to check over your diet, maybe include more water? I did find that I was more thirsty with many meds. If it's working for you, I wouldn't give it up just yet, IMO.
Everything you said (except for vertigo) is what I get almost daily right before I get a migraine. Sucks. Sorry you experience it too. I missed the stairs situation. Scary!!
ETA: My profile pic was 3 years ago, pre-terminal cancer for DH. Happy times. I was at a low weight, so I think that the triptyline meds do even out over time. I'm more concerned about my thyroid messing up my weight/sleep, etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by picotjo on Jul 10, 2022 1:04:22 GMT
I've been on 100 of amitryptiline for 4 yrs. I did not gain weight. I am on it for headaches. I have lost almost 35lbs while on it.
|
|
|
|
Post by leannec on Jul 10, 2022 1:40:58 GMT
I have been taking Topomax for years to prevent my migraines ... it actually caused some weight loss in the beginning ... have you already tried it?
|
|
|
|
Post by marie on Jul 10, 2022 1:59:02 GMT
I gained 15 pounds on nortriptyline over a 6 month period before it leveled out. My neurologist says weight gain is common with these 2 drugs. I have chronic vestibular migraine and have tried all kinds of meds. So far I'm doing ok on daily Qulipta. It keeps the symptoms more manageable but I still get days when it flares especially with weather changes. Have you gone for the crazy vestibular testing? That was wild. The weirdest was being tilted down with those techy goggles on and having first icy water and then hot shot in a stream into my ears. I’m hoping this continues to do the trick and I can manage to lose the 10 and maintain my healthy weight. Otherwise I’ll have to try the other drugs out there. Yes, the vestibular tests were horrible, esp the water in the ear. Ugh. I think I've had migraines for years and didn't know it. They kept telling me it was so us until I woke up one day so dizzy I couldn't stand. Hope this medicine works for you! |
|
wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,760
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
|
Post by wellway on Jul 10, 2022 12:50:10 GMT
Bookmarking ty
|
|
|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 10, 2022 20:22:13 GMT
I have been taking Topomax for years to prevent my migraines ... it actually caused some weight loss in the beginning ... have you already tried it? I haven’t. I’ll keep this in mind in case I have to look for a new med. |
|
|
|
Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 10, 2022 20:24:11 GMT
I gained some weight when I started but I don’t care. Better to have 10 extra pounds than a horrendous migraine all day every day. I actually had a dentist prescribe it. He used to go all around the country explaining how muscle pain migraines are and how to treat them. That’s interesting. It was my ENT that helped me the most. First person to see the whole picture. |
|
froggyscraps
Full Member
Posts: 171
Jun 26, 2014 0:43:39 GMT
|
Post by froggyscraps on Jul 24, 2022 4:00:49 GMT
Emgality monthly shots have been a real game changer for my migraines. I didn't gain weight on amitriptyline but it also did absolutely nothing for me. Best of luck and hope you continue to be free of symptoms.
|
|
|
|
Post by floridagirl on Jul 26, 2022 19:20:09 GMT
I blew up (35 lbs) when I took this. I decided to look for another way to deal with migraines, because I couldn't stand the additional weight gain.
Good luck with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by gizzy on Jul 26, 2022 20:49:12 GMT
I've been taking it for almost a year for IBS and have gone up a size. I thought it was due to perimenopause but now I'm wondering if it was this. While I hate the weight gain, it really is helping with the IBS so I hate to go off of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jen in NCal on Jul 27, 2022 5:36:31 GMT
I've taken it with other drugs for years. If it did cause weight gain at the time it did not continue. I have been able to lose those pounds without gaining them back.
My psychiatrist put me on Wellbutrin not too long after we finally go my migraines under control. The interaction caused horrible hand tremors. My psychiatrist said I should find different migraine meds. I found a different psychiatrist instead.
|
|
paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
|
Post by paigepea on Jul 27, 2022 8:15:01 GMT
I take almotriptin for migraines and have had no weight gain. If I take it first thing in the morning it makes me drugged / droopy / sleepy. If I take it later in the day I get no side effects.
I took celebs for anxiety years ago and gained about 15 lbs over the course of a few years. As soon as I went off the meds it went away.
|
|
