I was put on an Anti-depressant for Migraines?

Question

I went to the neurologist Yesterday afternoon, and I was put on the prescription pill Pamelor, and i have found out it is an anit depressant as well. The thing is, I do not want to be on an anti-depressant. Not because I am a Scientologist or anything. But that one of my very close friends committed suicide while on the SAME medication, claiming she felt nothing anymore.

I am more nervous of being numbed from everything. I appreciate feeling what i need to, and i do not want my migraines causing me to feel numb to emotions. I may sound a little odd. but sense my friend died I have felt very strong about my thoughts.

If anyone knows any other treatments, I will be thankful. i just feel having to take a pill for headaches but that is meant for depression just wont make me feel any better.

Also, it is a migraine preventive treatment.

Answer 1

I also started Pamelor x2 wks for chronic tension/migraine headaches. I am taking 25mg at bedtime....otherwise too sleepy. The normal dosage for Depression is 150 mg or more, so it is a small dosage, I was worried as well. It is working ok, I have a lot of fatigue mid-afternoon and have been taking naps, but have not had a headache til yesterday when I missed a dose......must be doing something. :-)

Answer 2

I was also once put on an anti-depressant for headaches. After only a couple of days, I was feel so inactive and tired. Once I took the first pill I fell asleep for abotu 13 hours. I felt really bad. I stopped immediately and called my doctor. Anti-depressants can sometimes cause depression when given to people that are not depressed. Although, anti-depressants are useful for some people with migraines. Other migraine medications include triptans, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers.

Answer 3

I don't know how serious your migraines are, but the t one medicine for migraines is topamax. Write the name down and save it for future reference in case your migraines get worse. It's a mood stabilizer and it does make you feel numb to your emotions, especially in the first month or two and then those feeling go away along with the rest of the side effects. I've been on it for over a year and a half and I haven't had one migraine while on it. I gave you the link for both topamax and pamelor.

Answer 4

Go to web MD and research migraine treatments and then take it to your doctor. Keep a list of the symptoms that you have prior to getting a migraine. Do you have an aura prior to your migraines? Do bright lights, loud sounds increase the migraine? Do you eat a lot of chocolate? Imetrex is a good drug for migraines and will stop them in their tracks if you take it right when the headache starts. I am a nurse and don't understand the Pamelor prescription. Do some research, get informed and then go back to your doctor and present it to him/her. If he/she is not open to your research and another form of treatment then seek a second opinion.

Answer 5

Do you have migraines or a headache?

When a migraine hits who cares what it is, just make it stop!

People with depression have to take there pills everyday, to two times a day.

He gave you this to take everyday? Even if you do not have a migraine? This just doesn't seam right. Get a second opinion....

Answer 6

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What's the treatment for headache cures?
Appropriate treatment for headaches is highly specialized depending on the type of headache, individual response, and any associated health conditions. Headache treatment is divided into two forms: abortive and prophylactic. Abortive treatment addresses a headache in progress, and prophylactic treatment prevents headache occurrence. Lifestyle
changes may be enough to resolve some headaches. For example, avoiding the foods that are known to trigger migraines may prevent migraine occurrence for certain individuals. In addition, numerous prescription and non-prescription medications are available treat and prevent headaches. Several medications or combinations of medications may have to be tried to find the best treatment.
Over-the-counter pain medications are often effective headache relievers. Try acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) for tension headaches. Migraine headaches may respond to aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), or combination medications such as Excedrin Migraine. Prescription medications used for migraine headaches include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine with caffeine (Cafergot), isometheptene (Midrin), and triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), almotriptan (Axert), andzolmitriptan (Zomig). Sometimes medications to relieve nausea and vomiting are helpful for other migraine symptoms.



What causes headache?
Headaches have a wide variety of causes, ranging from eyestrain to inflammation of the sinus cavities to life-threatening conditions such as encephalitis, brain cancer, and cerebral aneurysms. When the headache occurs in conjunction with a head injury the cause is usually quite evident; however, many causes of headaches are more elusive. The most common
type of headache is a tension headache. Some people experience headaches when they are hungry or dehydrated.
Traditional theories about headaches link tension-type headaches to muscle contraction, and migraine and cluster headaches to blood vessel dilation (swelling). Pain-sensitive structures in the head include blood vessel walls, membranous coverings of the brain, and scalp and neck muscles. Brain tissue itself has no sensitivity to pain. Therefore, headaches may result from contraction of the muscles of the scalp, face or neck; dilation of the blood vessels in the head; or brain swelling that stretches the brain's coverings. Involvement of specific nerves of the face and head may also cause characteristic headaches. Sinus inflammation is a common cause of headache. Keeping a headache diary may help link headaches to stressful occurrences, menstrual phases, food triggers, or medication.

Tension headaches are due to contraction

Answer 7

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