Posted by Judi Mosley (207.175.140.215) on September 28, 1999 at 23:01:46:
In Reply to: Antidepressants for Cluster posted by Jackie on September 28, 1999 at 22:31:24:
Hi Jackie......I've just busted my last cycle with Amitripytaline, once again. I hesitate to use it because I become a sleeping zombie for 3 months. Verapamil, oxygen, prednisone, Lithium etc, haven't worked for me. Elavil (Amatrip)starts off low (25mgs) building up over 7/8 days to 100mgs. You eventually begin to tolerate it, and the side effects lessen. I take Imitrex shots for breakthrough headaches (one every few days, as opposed to 4 or 5 a day!!). I thought I'd try and outsmart the Cycle, and was put on prozac some time before I expected the headaches. Didn't work, and they came crashing back into my life as usual. Elavil is really the only thing that has worked for me. My cycle this time was a real Jekyll & Hyde, and really messed me around. Has some of my worst headaches triggered by MSG...then nothing worked. I'm a big advocate of Elavil....but I had Topomax waiting, as I was beginning to get desperate. A couple of weeks ago they just stopped, after 3 months. I really don't know if Elavil breaks the cycle, or just battles it...haven't figured that one out yet. Judi