Antidepressants for Migraine Prevention
I've been taking zoloft, an antidepressent in the Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitor category, for the past eight months for prevention of chronic
migraine. Note that I am NOT being treated for depression. For many
years I have tried all different types of abortive medications, many of
which worked for a while and then stopped working... i.e. I needed more
and more. Since being on the preventive medication, I've been
essentially migraine-free. The few headaches I have had were mild and
responded to aspirin. I consider this a semi-miracle!
Question: My doctor has given me the choice of slowly weaning off of the
medication to "see what happens", or to stay on it forever. I have mixed
feelings... On one hand, it bothers me to think of taking meds for the
rest of my life, long-term side-effects, etc. Also, will this medication
eventually stop working and I'll need more and more?
On the other hand, if I wean off the meds, I am very afraid of going back
to the way things were... i.e. headaches lasting days and days that made
it hard to function.
Has anyone else had experience with this? Any long-term antidepressent
users with comments pro or con long-term use? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks.
--
Arlene Boumel
