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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fitzgerald on August 18, 2002, at 7:43:26
I was first on elavil.. toooooo sedative..
now my doctorhas switched me to desipramine.. I am using this to combat migraines..
I canbarley sleep now, I feel as if my heart is racing alot and i am thirsty..
I cant sleep more than 5 hours a night it seems and i wake so early..
Has anyone else exprienced this?
elavil.. too sleepy almost groggy..
The pain from migraine is exacerbating. so I will try anything..
Incedently. 2 members of my family have been diagnosed as bipolar..
which does not surprise me
I need help!
also.. I have had alot of itchiness with desipramine..
ANy input will be appreciated
Posted by katekite on August 18, 2002, at 21:10:06
In reply to desipramine side effects, posted by fitzgerald on August 18, 2002, at 7:43:26
Gosh well stop taking it: it makes the migraines worse and sleep deprivation won't help.
Desipramine is the most stimulating tricyclic. It is sometimes used an an alternate medication for attention deficit disorder due to the stimulating effect.
Have you tried Neurontin? I don't know if it specifically used for migraine but it is certainly used in lots of chronic pain type conditions: can be sedating but know in a few days if can tolerate an effective dose.
Kate
Posted by may-b on August 19, 2002, at 10:20:41
In reply to desipramine side effects, posted by fitzgerald on August 18, 2002, at 7:43:26
> I was first on elavil.. toooooo sedative..
> now my doctorhas switched me to desipramine.. I am using this to combat migraines..
When I was first on imiprimine/trimiprimine, I had a whole year of no migraines. Imiprimine made me feel "jaggy" and trimiprimine made me sedated, so balancing the two worked, after a fashion.> I canbarley sleep now, I feel as if my heart is racing alot and i am thirsty..
The anticholinergic effects of TCAs are hard to take. It sounds like desiprimine is too activating for you?
> I cant sleep more than 5 hours a night it seems and i wake so early..
> Has anyone else exprienced this?Yes. When I was on TCAs, sleep was fractured; fell asleep early and woke in the wee hours to lie there for 2 or 3 hours then fall asleep soundly just before having to get up and go to work.
Please mention all side effects to your doctor, if you have not already. In my case, I wanted to stop the TCA's immediately because of side effects. My pdoc insisted I press on. There were *some* benefits from sticking with them -- the big one was no migraines -- but I think nowadays, there are other choices for meds out there.
Best wishes,
may-b
Posted by Basil on August 19, 2002, at 20:19:51
In reply to desipramine side effects, posted by fitzgerald on August 18, 2002, at 7:43:26
That's interesting. I've been taking the nongeneric brand of desipramine (norpramin) for several months (200mg/daily) with great results. I have never slept better; first started taking desipramine but experienced side affects. I take 100mg before bed and 50mg twice during the day.
Posted by fitzgerald on August 19, 2002, at 20:55:16
In reply to Re: desipramine side effects, posted by Basil on August 19, 2002, at 20:19:51
What where your side effects with desipramine.. I was taking the generic brand..
I have talked to my doc today.. said he never had heard of any side effects like that , however when i looked up on line.. some of what I experienced has happened to others..
I have now been funneled on to a headache clinic to help me.. said zoloft or prozac would not give any results like the tricyclics.
thanks for your reply..
really thanks to all of you.. I felt like such an ass.. but hey its my body..
Posted by mashogr8 on August 19, 2002, at 21:57:08
In reply to Re: desipramine side effects, posted by fitzgerald on August 19, 2002, at 20:55:16
I took des. for a very short time. I had vision problems -- focusing on print, blurred vision, etc.
As soon as I notified my doctor he told me to stop taking it. Definitely contact your doctor.MA
Posted by Lia Mason on August 19, 2002, at 23:19:31
In reply to Re: desipramine side effects, posted by mashogr8 on August 19, 2002, at 21:57:08
I couldn't take desipramine at night. I'd wake up at 5 or 6... I took it during the day and was fine in terms of energy and sleep but it did not help my pain which is why I took it. My pain is better served by imipramine. And the imipramine can be taken at night. It neither sedates nor revs me.
By the way, my headache doc (I have tension headache, not migraine) says imipramine works better than desipramine for headaches.
Has anyone suggested topamax as a migraine preventative?
Good Luck!
Lia
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