Antidepressants are drugs used for the treatment of depressive disorder, can be effective in preventing migraine headaches. Antidepressants impact the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain since neurotransmitters are associated with migraines it is believed to prevent migraine headaches. People suffering from a migraine do often suffer from depression, thus benefitting with antidepressants from both depression and migraine.
Low doses of antidepressant drugs have been shown to be effective in preventing migraine, so if your doctor prescribes these medicines it does not mean you are depressed or neurotic. Antidepressants for treating migraine are especially useful for people who also suffer from stress, anxiety, epilepsy, sleep problems, tension-type headache or primary stabbing headache. Some doctors combine antidepressants with beta blockers to help prevent migraines.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warning that the use of antidepressants is associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults. Any thoughts of hurting or killing yourself, impulsive behavior, anxiety, restlessness, worry, agitation, panic attacks, changes in sleep or aggressive behavior should be noted and reported to the doctor immediately.
There are four major types of antidepressants available: Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs), and Serotonin Norepinephrine Re-uptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). The most commonly used antidepressants are TCAs and SSRIs.
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TRICYCLICS (Amitriptyline or Nortriptyline)
Generally, these medicines are prescribed in much lower dosages in preventing migraines than used for depression and other mood disorders. People who sleep poorly often benefit from these medicines.These medicines do not have FDA signal for migraine treatment but still it is used commonly for preventing them. Dosages normally range from 10-25 mg to as high as 150-200 mg in some chronic migraine patients. Common side effects include dry mouth or eyes, weight gain and sleepiness. These medicines are not suggested for children, during pregnancy, nursing and people with recent heart attack, use carefully if you have a history of seizures, difficulty urinating, glaucoma or increased intraocular pressure.
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SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR (Lexapro or Celexa or Effexor)
SSRI medicines are also antidepressants and pain relievers used for preventing migraines migraine-related balance disorders. These are not as effective as amitriptyline or nortriptyline. Antidepressants take 3-10 days to be effective and should be decreased after 6 months. Be careful driving or operating machinery when first using this medicine and avoid during pregnancy & nursing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about taking SSRIs or SNRIs (used for depression, anxiety, pain, migraine) with Triptans. Taking these medicines together can cause a very rare but serious condition called Serotonin Syndrome.
Some side effects of antidepressants are:
- Disturbances in heart rhythm
- Increased sensitivity to the sunlight
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Painful urination
- Sexual dysfunction
- Weight gain
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness