Shown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kelty on March 19, 2002, at 1:47:00
I am looking for some advice about changing my meds. I am a middle aged woman, I have been treated for depression for approximately the last 12 years. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain, I have a history of migraines and anxiety. After initially trying many different drugs including a variety of tricyclics, SSRI's and an MAO inhibitor, most of which I was unable to tolerate, I have been taking nortriptyline for the last five years. Nortrip has kept me out of hospital for the most part, helps somewhat with sleep and has reduced the frequency of migraines. However, it has also helped me to gain about 100 pounds which is putting my health at risk. I am on an exercise program, and eat a healthy diet for the most part, but nortrip seems to cause massive sugar cravings which are a real problem. I am going to ask to be switched to a different drug and am open to suggestions. Anything that helps with chronic pain would be a bonus and while I am not looking for a drug that makes me lose weight, one that does not keep me from losing it would be ideal. As anxiety is also an issue, I would have to keep this in mind when choosing, or add a med that would deal with it. I cannot tolerate Prozac or Zoloft and the only MAO inhibitor I tried caused serious insomnia.
In addition to all the above information, I have been reading about Bipolar II and realize there is a strong possiblity that this could be the true nature of my disorder. In any case, no treatment at all puts me in the psyche ward and my current treatment is leaving me open to heart disease and other unacceptable health risks.
If anyone has had good results in treating similar problems, or has a suggestion about what I could try, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Posted by TSA West on March 19, 2002, at 2:22:50
In reply to Need to change meds, would like suggestions, posted by Kelty on March 19, 2002, at 1:47:00
Gabapentin is good for bipolar II, fibromyalgia, and migraine prophylaxis:
"Prophylactic gabapentin is effective in reducing the frequency of headache in patients with migraine, according to results of a multicentre study conducted in the US.
This study involved 145 patients with migraine (with or without aura) who were randomised to receive oral gabapentin (titrated to 2400 mg/day; n = 99) or placebo, for 12 weeks.* 56 and 31 patients in the respective treatment groups were evaluable in modified intent-to-treat analyses.
The primary outcome measure was the migraine rate during weeks 8-12 (stabilisation period 2) in gabapentin recipients who received a stable dose of 2400 mg/day and placebo recipients. During this period, the median migraine rate in patients receiving such maintenance doses was 2.7 and 3.5/month in the gabapentin and placebo groups, respectively; the between-group difference was significant.
In addition, significantly more gabapentin, compared with placebo, recipients had a >= 50% reduction in the 4-week migraine rate (46.4 vs 16.1% of patients).
The researchers conclude that gabapentin 'should be considered an important addition in the management of patients who are candidates for migraine prophylaxis'.
* Gabapentin recipients received dosages of 300-2400 mg/day during the initial 4-week titration phase followed by 1800 or 2400 mg/day during the 8-week stable-dosing phase (comprising two 4-week stabilisation periods)."
--Mathew NT, Rapoport A, Saper J, Magnus L, Klapper J, et al. Efficacy of gabapentin in migraine prophylaxis. Headache 41: 119-128, Feb 2001
Posted by Kelty on March 21, 2002, at 0:17:43
In reply to Re: Need to change meds, would like suggestions » Kelty, posted by TSA West on March 19, 2002, at 2:22:50
Thanks a lot for your post. I will keep it in mind when I go to the doc.
This is the end of the thread.
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