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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Morgana on March 29, 2002, at 0:22:40
Hi All,
I'm new to the group and found my way here while researching MAOI's.
I'll try to be brief, but tend to be long-winded, so bear with me. :)
I've just started Nardil this past week. In addition to being bi-polar II (ultra-rapid cycler) I suffer from severe, and unfortunately frequent migraines.
I have been taking 200 mg of Lamictal 2x daily which acts as both a mood stabilizer and migraine preventative, but my migraines were continuing to get worse and not better.
I am sensitive to anything and everything that is high in tyramine and have been adhering to the MAOI diet to keep migraines from being triggered, but it hasn't been enough.
I went to my Neurologist with a theory.
If I am so sensitive to a particular amino acid that it triggers migraines, there must be an imbalance. Okay, so you might be saying "duh!" because of course there is an imbalance in my brain chemistry... :) But my theory was my starting place.
If there is this specific imbalance, there must be a way to counteract it. Tyramine falls under Tyrosine...which is a precursor to neurotransmitters epinephrine, nor-epinephrine and dopamine. Could there be too much activity happening with these neurotransmitters? I also happened to be taking Welbutrin at the time, a nor-epinephrine re-uptake inhibitor.
My suggestion was to stop the Welbutrin, but he was concerned about whether or not the Welbutrin was the med helping with the depression (my mood has been stable for over a year now <whew!>) and what would happen if we just took it away. Perhaps increasing activity of another neurotransmitter would create some balance.
So we tried Celexa, an SSRI (to increase seratonin activity). And it worked. On the constant migraines. But <sigh> the side effects were not acceptable. Being a person who has a hard time sleeping, almost falling asleep at the wheel was *very* scary! Not to mention the total inorgasmia. Blech. So, back I went to the Neurologist.
He had done some research himself, back through my files, etc. and come up with Nardil as a possible solution. I was already adhering to the diet, which is the difficult part of taking an MAOI, and the side effect profile is a heck of a lot shorter than most meds. So I was definitely up for it. We are hoping that the increased levels of seratonin and dopamine (increased in a more 'natural' fashion, rather than being forcibly recepted) will have a positive affect on both mood and migraines.
So far I haven't really noticed any side effects. I tend to respond right away to meds and I may be experiencing a lessening of the constant headache. But that could be wishful thinking on my part. I so desperately want to be free of pain.Whew! That was long-winded wasn't it?
I hate to break it into pieces, cus then it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I'm not even sure it makes sense all in one piece...
So. If any of you have any thoughts/experiences re MAOI's, Migraines, Nardil, Lamictal, becoming a biochemist (only half joking)...I'd love to hear them.
Morgana
Posted by JohnX2 on March 30, 2002, at 7:33:43
In reply to MOAI's, Migraines, Lamictal - New to the Group, posted by Morgana on March 29, 2002, at 0:22:40
At some point you may want to try adding some topamax (seen gobs of good headache stories on that med; I take it for a facial neuralgia and am bipolar II). I had similar sensitivities to medicines.John
> Hi All,
>
> I'm new to the group and found my way here while researching MAOI's.
>
> I'll try to be brief, but tend to be long-winded, so bear with me. :)
>
> I've just started Nardil this past week. In addition to being bi-polar II (ultra-rapid cycler) I suffer from severe, and unfortunately frequent migraines.
>
> I have been taking 200 mg of Lamictal 2x daily which acts as both a mood stabilizer and migraine preventative, but my migraines were continuing to get worse and not better.
>
> I am sensitive to anything and everything that is high in tyramine and have been adhering to the MAOI diet to keep migraines from being triggered, but it hasn't been enough.
>
> I went to my Neurologist with a theory.
>
> If I am so sensitive to a particular amino acid that it triggers migraines, there must be an imbalance. Okay, so you might be saying "duh!" because of course there is an imbalance in my brain chemistry... :) But my theory was my starting place.
>
> If there is this specific imbalance, there must be a way to counteract it. Tyramine falls under Tyrosine...which is a precursor to neurotransmitters epinephrine, nor-epinephrine and dopamine. Could there be too much activity happening with these neurotransmitters? I also happened to be taking Welbutrin at the time, a nor-epinephrine re-uptake inhibitor.
>
> My suggestion was to stop the Welbutrin, but he was concerned about whether or not the Welbutrin was the med helping with the depression (my mood has been stable for over a year now <whew!>) and what would happen if we just took it away. Perhaps increasing activity of another neurotransmitter would create some balance.
>
> So we tried Celexa, an SSRI (to increase seratonin activity). And it worked. On the constant migraines. But <sigh> the side effects were not acceptable. Being a person who has a hard time sleeping, almost falling asleep at the wheel was *very* scary! Not to mention the total inorgasmia. Blech. So, back I went to the Neurologist.
>
> He had done some research himself, back through my files, etc. and come up with Nardil as a possible solution. I was already adhering to the diet, which is the difficult part of taking an MAOI, and the side effect profile is a heck of a lot shorter than most meds. So I was definitely up for it. We are hoping that the increased levels of seratonin and dopamine (increased in a more 'natural' fashion, rather than being forcibly recepted) will have a positive affect on both mood and migraines.
>
>
> So far I haven't really noticed any side effects. I tend to respond right away to meds and I may be experiencing a lessening of the constant headache. But that could be wishful thinking on my part. I so desperately want to be free of pain.
>
> Whew! That was long-winded wasn't it?
>
> I hate to break it into pieces, cus then it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I'm not even sure it makes sense all in one piece...
>
> So. If any of you have any thoughts/experiences re MAOI's, Migraines, Nardil, Lamictal, becoming a biochemist (only half joking)...I'd love to hear them.
>
> Morgana
Posted by Morgana on March 30, 2002, at 12:09:14
In reply to Re: MOAI's, Migraines, Lamictal - New to the Group » Morgana, posted by JohnX2 on March 30, 2002, at 7:33:43
Thanks John!
I hadn't heard that topomax helped with headaches, although it seems most anti-seizure meds do, or can at least.
I had heard that topomax caused a bit of dopey-ness. Those I know personally keep the topomax, even though they feel foggy, because of the weight loss side-effect. As much as that is nice, as opposed to a side effect of gaining weight, it isn't worth it to me to be foggy. I feel foggy enough already. I swear I've lost years of memories...
Thanks for replying. I've been lurking, reading lots of posts and have been impressed with all the 'posters'. Such a supportive group!
Morgana
P.S. I fixed the header. I was a little too sleepy when I submitted my first post. :)
This is the end of the thread.
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