Chronic/worsening headaches, just wondering about my prescription

dentonmyphone

I'm not looking for medical advice or anything of the sort, I'm just interested in hearing what others have to say.

I went to A&E with a bad headache yesterday, they've been going on for nearly 2 months, almost everyday, worse in the morning and at night, they come and go in severity but they're constant.
OTC pain relief does not work.

I was moved straight to the Acute Medical Unit.

I was given a prescription for:
Ibuprofen (have taken it, did not help),
Amitriptyline - A tricyclic Antidepressant, 3 months prescription,
Tramadol - 1 Week prescription.

I've read some bad things online about possible side effects, and they're not recommended to be taken at the same time.
But I was given it by a Neurology consultant, surely he knows best?
The nursing practitioner was in the room too, she didn't say anything.

I was told I could have an enlarged heart, or just athletes heart but I told them I'm not very active, I'm also not overweight however..

They can apparently cause heart problems, serotonin syndrome, and a number of other issues.

Is it worth saying something to my GP?

I haven't taken the tramadol yet but the headaches aren't letting up at all.

My mother had the amitriptyline at home for sleep issues.. it's only 10mg once a day, she had the same dosage and had to stop taking it after 5 days because the side effects were so bad.

I've more tests coming up, an MRI for my head, Ultra sound for my heart, and an appointment with a headache specialist awhile after taking the amitri.. to see if it works.


Again - I'm not looking for a diagnosis (I was told severe tension headaches or possible Cluster headaches)..

I'm just wondering if others have taken either of these meds, or ideally both..
Just to hear about the side effects of each individually because I hear they are both bad on their own.
And if it's worth speaking to my GP about it, even though he did not prescribe them.

In my mind surely the doctor knows what he's doing, he was very nice, friendly and didn't just send me home with pills to keep me numb.. but I'm half wondering if he was overestimating the pain it causes me..
It's bad enough that I went into hospital but not suicide headaches like cluster headaches are known to be..
Panadol and Ibuprofen haven't helped.
I think the Ibuprofen played up my asthma too, not an attack but I was feeling chesty afterwards.. they asked if I had taken it before, which I had (Neurofen cold and flu) but this time it had an affect on me.
Is tramadol just the next step up?

Appreciate any help,
Please don't recommend any treatments, be it homeopathic or otherwise, I'm just wondering what the side effects have been like for others and if there's any warrant in seeing my GP about it.
Thanks.

Graces7

dentonmyphone wrote: »

I'm not looking for medical advice or anything of the sort, I'm just interested in hearing what others have to say.

I went to A&E with a bad headache yesterday, they've been going on for nearly 2 months, almost everyday, worse in the morning and at night, they come and go in severity but they're constant.
OTC pain relief does not work.

I was moved straight to the Acute Medical Unit.

I was given a prescription for:
Ibuprofen (have taken it, did not help),
Amitriptyline - A tricyclic Antidepressant, 3 months prescription,
Tramadol - 1 Week prescription.

I've read some bad things online about possible side effects, and they're not recommended to be taken at the same time.
But I was given it by a Neurology consultant, surely he knows best?
The nursing practitioner was in the room too, she didn't say anything.

I was told I could have an enlarged heart, or just athletes heart but I told them I'm not very active, I'm also not overweight however..

They can apparently cause heart problems, serotonin syndrome, and a number of other issues.

Is it worth saying something to my GP?

I haven't taken the tramadol yet but the headaches aren't letting up at all.

My mother had the amitriptyline at home for sleep issues.. it's only 10mg once a day, she had the same dosage and had to stop taking it after 5 days because the side effects were so bad.

I've more tests coming up, an MRI for my head, Ultra sound for my heart, and an appointment with a headache specialist awhile after taking the amitri.. to see if it works.


Again - I'm not looking for a diagnosis (I was told severe tension headaches or possible Cluster headaches)..

I'm just wondering if others have taken either of these meds, or ideally both..
Just to hear about the side effects of each individually because I hear they are both bad on their own.
And if it's worth speaking to my GP about it, even though he did not prescribe them.

In my mind surely the doctor knows what he's doing, he was very nice, friendly and didn't just send me home with pills to keep me numb.. but I'm half wondering if he was overestimating the pain it causes me..
It's bad enough that I went into hospital but not suicide headaches like cluster headaches are known to be..
Panadol and Ibuprofen haven't helped.
I think the Ibuprofen played up my asthma too, not an attack but I was feeling chesty afterwards.. they asked if I had taken it before, which I had (Neurofen cold and flu) but this time it had an affect on me.
Is tramadol just the next step up?

Appreciate any help,
Please don't recommend any treatments, be it homeopathic or otherwise, I'm just wondering what the side effects have been like for others and if there's any warrant in seeing my GP about it.
Thanks.

So sorry you are feeling so bad and in pain.
Maybe you need to ask your GP or at the hospital if they did not give you instructions on how and when to take the meds?

wexie

dentonmyphone wrote: »

I'm just wondering if others have taken either of these meds, or ideally both..
Just to hear about the side effects of each individually because I hear they are both bad on their own.
And if it's worth speaking to my GP about it, even though he did not prescribe them.

Of course if you have any concerns it's worth speaking to your GP (even just for some peace of mind, but in my experience they don't normally second guess consultants/specialists. (as mine put it : I'm just a GP).

I've taken Tramadol before without any major side effects (it's kinda hard on the stomach though so make sure to eat) and found it very useful (back pain for me).

No experience with the amitryptaline though.

(oh, and I've certainly seen and experienced medications that are contra-indicated on the likes of WebMD prescribed together. I don't think that's necessarily something to worry about. Way I see it as that sites like that have to give pretty generic (and safe) advice whereas a consultant who has seen and examined you can be a bit more specific and tailored)

If it were me I think I'd have some toast (or whatever) take the Tramadol and go bed.

Good luck

dentonmyphone

Graces7 wrote: »

So sorry you are feeling so bad and in pain.
Maybe you need to ask your GP or at the hospital if they did not give you instructions on how and when to take the meds?

The instructions (from the pharmacy) just say to take one tablet 3 times a day leaving 8 hours between each dose (or something like that)..
The Amitriptyline is once a day at night because it can make you very drowsy.

I'm not feeling any positive or negative effects.
I took it last night, I woke up in the middle of the night with a headache feeling dizzy and just a bit 'out of it', but I went back to sleep and I was fine.

I woke up with a headache again, took it again and I don't feel anything, no side effects, no pain relief, nothing... but as my parents were saying I should take it for awhile so I can say to my GP I've taken it x number of days.

I think the next step up is increasing my dosage but I don't know if they'll do that with the other medication..

I also don't want to be completely out of it either..

dentonmyphone

wexie wrote: »

Of course if you have any concerns it's worth speaking to your GP (even just for some peace of mind, but in my experience they don't normally second guess consultants/specialists. (as mine put it : I'm just a GP).

I've taken Tramadol before without any major side effects (it's kinda hard on the stomach though so make sure to eat) and found it very useful (back pain for me).

No experience with the amitryptaline though.

(oh, and I've certainly seen and experienced medications that are contra-indicated on the likes of WebMD prescribed together. I don't think that's necessarily something to worry about. Way I see it as that sites like that have to give pretty generic (and safe) advice whereas a consultant who has seen and examined you can be a bit more specific and tailored)

If it were me I think I'd have some toast (or whatever) take the Tramadol and go bed.

Good luck

I've a feeling my GP will just shuttle me off to the hospital again.

I haven't found any help from the tramadol, and it's too soon for the other thing to have worked.

I took both last night and woke up in the middle of the night feeling out of it, just dizzy and dazed, I just went back to sleep and woke up again with the headache.
I took the Tramadol again this morning and it hasn't helped at all, my stomach feels fine and I'm not drowsy.

I don't know if they would just up my dose, but then again with the other meds they might not.
I don't fancy spending another full day in hospital.

I can function normally, I'm not at much though so that consists of laptop, cup of tea and maybe playing the Xbox..
I don't want to be out of it with pain meds either but I feel they should be helping somewhat..

my3cents

Amitriptyline isn't really an antidepressant its one of a group of chemicals that used as antidepressants but it was discovered that it wasn't any good and was further developed as a muscle relaxant.

My wife is on it for back pain, it isn't a painkiller and it seems it takes at least a week to work (hence your 3 months prescription) and evidently you should wait about 6 weeks before judging if its any help.

dentonmyphone

my3cents wrote: »

Amitriptyline isn't really an antidepressant its one of a group of chemicals that used as antidepressants but it was discovered that it wasn't any good and was further developed as a muscle relaxant.

My wife is on it for back pain, it isn't a painkiller and it seems it takes at least a week to work (hence your 3 months prescription) and evidently you should wait about 6 weeks before judging if its any help.

I was told alright that it take 4-6 weeks before it takes full effect..

I'm not expecting that to have any effect yet but I thought Tramadol should have helped at least somewhat by now..

Graces7

dentonmyphone wrote: »

I was told alright that it take 4-6 weeks before it takes full effect..

I'm not expecting that to have any effect yet but I thought Tramadol should have helped at least somewhat by now..

tramadol is a synthetic opioid. It is a stronger painkiller than brufen. Not all meds help everyone sadly. Try it again when the pain is bad? by itself?

Can you keep a journal of what you are taking when and what effect to show the hospital?

agree re contraindications. The drug info is all online ?

I was given amitryp for pain after a broken wrist. after 3 days of sleeping nearly 24/7 I gave up.... log it in a journal though? Keep track especially when you are in so much pain as things slip the mind..

back later...

MissTheDome

dentonmyphone wrote: »

I was told alright that it take 4-6 weeks before it takes full effect..

I'm not expecting that to have any effect yet but I thought Tramadol should have helped at least somewhat by now..

In my case i couldn’t take the Tramadol- I think it was too strong, it made me sick.
I suffered really badly for years with headaches and migraines and was at “I’m as well shoving it up my ... point, when the consultant finally gave me the drug that worked for me.
He told me to take it for three months and see, I was not optimistic - but six weeks in, it was like someone started pulling the curtains and left them open.
It’s a lottery finding the right medicine.
Not everyone responds the same but you have to try everything they give you for whatever amount of time they tell you.
I’m on Topamax for what it’s worth.
As for Amtriptaline (shocking spelling ðŸ˜) with surgery on my ankle, taken with paracetamol; I find it amazing. I wouldn’t be able to sleep without it.

I understand how constant pain can destroy you, but there is always hope that this will pass as strangely as it started. Take care of yourself.

byhookorbycrook

I use Amitrtiptyline at night for neuropathic pain. Took a few days to sort out the right time to take it so that I'm not sleepy the next day but I find it excellent.

The Bishop Basher

I feel like i've been put on every drug known to man for Neuropathic pain..

Same as yourself OP, headaches 247..

I took Amitriptyline for about 36 hours. I couldn't handle the indigestion.

I live on a combination of Lyrica and Codeine now which are the only things that work and i'm hoping it settles down eventually.

I had a front tooth break off 6 months ago while going through a period of sheer agony. Turns out it was a tooth all along. The tooth is gone, as has the intense nerve pain, for the most part, but I've been left with chronic daily headache.

I've had days that have been somewhat painfree so still hoping.

Keep at it, try the drugs but do the research and hopefully you'll find something that helps.

Don't be slow to go back to your GP if something isn't helping. If it's not working there's lots of other stuff to try.

Bottom line is they haven't a rashers about nerves. It's all trial and error and you'll need to drive it..

They don't even know how or why the medication works

Good luck

byhookorbycrook

Neuro pain- 900 x 3 gabapentin, 50 mg of amitriptyline, blunts but doesn't kill it.