I was prescribed medications that are apparently dangerous together?

TheBiz

Long story short I went to the hospital with persistent headaches, 3 months at the time, almost daily.. and then a stabbing pain at the top of my head.

CT came back fine, Bloods fine, ECG showed irregular heart beat; cardiology said it's not an issue.
Chest x-ray, possible/slight enlarged heart, they put it down to me being young, relatively fit (despite not being physically active) normal weight etc.. so athletes heart.

They think it could be cluster headaches, I don't think they're that severe (aka not suicide headache levels) but enough to stop me from focusing, getting work done or generally not feeling normal.

I'm scheduled for an MRI of my head, ultrasound of my heart and an appointment with a headache clinic/specialist.


--Here's the issue--
I was prescribed 3 months of 10mg Amitriptyline (an SSRI) as it apparently helps chronic pain/nerve pain.
and Tramadol for a week, as I need it.

I took it for a short while, didn't feel it helped and I woke up at night confused as to where I was for a couple of seconds, dazed, sweating and feeling completely out of it but with a headache.

I stopped and just took Codeine based painkillers as I knew they're okay (plus I checked out the drug interactions online, asked on forums etc.)

Apparently SSRIs and Tramadol are known to cause Serotonin Syndrome which can be deadly.

I was asking on drug forums, doctors forums and all of that craic I was told 'don't take those together, that will kill you'

I just think it's weird a Neurologist prescribed me those two specifically, and a nursing practitioner was there too.

The amitriptyline was in a very low dose and tramadol was a regular dose so I'd imagine that it's fine.

Should I be bringing it up with them? Or when I go in for my MRI, ultrasound or consult?

I'm also wondering if maybe there was a reason that those two drugs were chosen, I've been taking the codeine based painkiller and that's done next to nothing..

I'm not looking for medical advice I don't want to know about some herbal remedy or how you'd recommend I ask for x, y or e.
I just want opinions on the situation, is there a need to bring it up or should I just continue as I was?

(Apologises if this is in the wrong place, I wasn't sure where it fits)

Esel

The following is not medical advice.

Amitriptyline is not an SSRI, it is a TCA.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitriptyline

TheBiz

Esel wrote: »

The following is not medical advice.

Amitriptyline is not an SSRI, it is a TCA.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitriptyline

Oh, apologies my mistake.

But they are apparently harmful when taken together.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8611/amitriptyline-oral/details/list-interaction-details/dmid-1205/dmtitle-tricyclic-compounds-carbamazepine-tapentadol-tramadol/intrtype-drug

Edit - The 'What Might Happen' part is the most relevant for TCA and Tramadol.

(For once WebMD isn't saying I have a week to live)

Esel

You could ask your pharmacist about your concerns, and your doctor if you are still worried,

wiggle16

TheBiz wrote: »

I'm not looking for medical advice I don't want to know about some herbal remedy or how you'd recommend I ask for x, y or e.
I just want opinions on the situation, is there a need to bring it up or should I just continue as I was?

I do know what you mean, but telling you what and what not bring up with your doctors does fall under the zany umbrella of medical advice, so I'm afraid this thread can't be let continue.

If you are concerned about the pharmacological contraindications of anything you've been prescribed, you should bring it up with your neurologist (and considering how infrequent most neurology appointments are, for peace of mind in the short term I would speak to a pharmacist too).

Best of luck and I hope you get to the bottom of the headaches soon.