Hi all
Does anyone know if taking the mini pill can cause a migraine exacerbation? I have been gradually coming out of a relapse and started the mini pill a week ago yesterday. For the last 3 days my migraine has been awful again and significantly flared up. Iām wondering whether to stop this for the time being?
I read it can lower serotonin in the brain and my Amitriptyline is trying to raise this in order to combat migraine?
Any ideas?
Thanks
I take amitriptyline and the mini pill and have never had a problem, but everyoneās reaction to medication is different. I always have a flare-up when I start a new medication, it usually lasts a few days to a week, then settles. Iād maybe give it a week or 2, then contact your doctor if itās still bad
Hi Louise
Thank you for your reply. Iām in two minds now because I started the mini pill and Elvanse (ADHD) medication a week ago together, my Neuro wanted me to start it even though Iāve told her it starts off my migraine again as itās happened before. So I guess Iāll have to wait it out again now! Iām just so fed up of this.
What mg of Amitriptyline do you take?
It does sound like itās probably the Elvanse, since you had a bad reaction to it last time. I take 75mg of amitriptyline a day xx
Hey Louise
Yes me too as of 6 weeks ago going from 60mg Amitriptyline. It definitely started working but now this set back since the Elvanse 
I did send my Neuro an email explaining but. I donāt know, Iām frustrated right now because last Sunday I was out having Sunday lunch without any issues and now my hearing is so sensitive and full Iām wearing ear plugs around the house! Probably take a while to get back to normal again now xx
Thatās so frustrating for you 
If youāre in the UK I hope the heat hasnāt made you worse on top of everything. Iāve been hibernating all weekend to avoid a flare-up.
Itās so demoralising when youāre in the middle of a flare-up but youāll be back out for Sunday lunch soon enough 
xx
Hey Louise
Oh I know, yes I am in West Yorkshire, very warm here today indeed. Iām sorry youāre feeling delicate too! This disease can be so life altering for sure. I read so many success stories and often wonder if that will ever be for me? Iāve had so many ups and downs. I thought the mini pill might help but Iām staying off those for the time being. I need to get back to how I was last week and I know it will take time. I hope youāre feeling a little better and the heat hasnāt hindered your head? Xx
Elvanse has lots of side effects. Headaches are āvery commonā and dizziness is ācommonā.
Here is a link: Elvanse Adult 30mg Hard Capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc)
You need to scroll to the middle of the document to see the side effects.
Hi Katharina
Thank you for that. Yes it appears to have flared my migraine up again for sure. Thing is itās not just a normal migraine that some people might get as you know, itās daily symptoms yet again until it decides to settle down. I hate being a guinea pig trialling meds, especially when it flared me up before and I told the Neuro this
Hi Kirsty, I so totally get what you mean about success stories. I tend to think more and more that as women our āsuccess storiesā are more nuanced and complex. Iām actually wondering what made you want to go on the mini pill (if reasons beyond contraception alone)? I cant comment on the ADHD meds, but I have been thinking a lot about hormones. Im currently on day 72 of my cycle, having had a 13 day cycle before this. For the last week, my MAV symptoms have been much worse, as I think my period has attempted to get going a couple of times. I also cant tell what the overlap with PMS is. I have wondered whether the pill could help. And this bloody heat is making everything so much worse!!! 
That is so true. It seems that we need to be very prepared when we go to a doctor, sometimes with peer-reviewed evidence, and we need to stand up for ourselves. It should not be like this.
Hey Springer
Thank you for replying 
I think our bodies are just so complex and so is the MAV. I went on the pill because a private neurologist who suggested it to me and last week I was feeling much better than I had been so though it was a good time, even though I wasnāt 100% and was told to start the Elvanse immediately. Never again will I do this! Iāve sent her an email my neurologist Iām not willing to trial something thatās making me this Iāll again. Honestly can believe Iām back to this! 
Hey Katharina
You are so right! She was absolutely positive that it wasnāt the Elvanse because it caused a certain ātype of headacheā! Nope it starts a migraine attack off for me! After only a week being on it. I wish Iād have told her I wasnāt willing to trial it again, but she insisted so I kind of had to try it again. Iām disappointed 
Iām in Yorkshire too! Todayās weather has been brutal hasnāt it! Iāve avoided a flare-up so far thanks, just taking it easy, but today Iāve felt dizzy after standing for a few minutes so Iāve had to rest inside all day. How are you coping?
I totally get what you mean about success stories, people mean well but everyoneās experience is completely different so they can be demoralising sometimes. I just checked a post I wrote a few weeks ago which was categorised as a success story but it was more āhereās some general tips Iāve learnt over the last 6 yearsā and realised you were the only person who commented on it! 
Did you get your shower stool? Xx
Hey Louise!
Oh wow really? So are you south? North?
Oh the heat! Itās killing me off today!
Iām glad you managed to keep a flare up at bay! Hopefully it continues for you
Iām pretty much the sameā¦ my ears feel like theyāre going to burst! Today though I managed to drive to the local post office. Donāt ask me how?! Felt shocking but managed and rested ever since 
brave or stupidā¦ you decide 
Iām sorry nobody else replied to your post! I thought it was great, yes I did buy a shower stool 
itās fab! Amazon stealā¦ great for this last relapse although Iām trying not to use it as of the last week. Great tip! If youāre quite close we should grab a coffee sometime! MAV permitting, of course. 
xx
Iām in North Yorkshire You did really well to drive, itās really good for your recovery to keep doing usual activities xx
Hey, how are you getting on? With the new meds and the pill? Actually the pill was suggested to me a couple of days ago by my GP. Something to think about 
hope youāre feeling a bit better and coping ok with this insufferable heat! 
Hey Springer! 
How are you doing?
Thank you for your message!
I know the heat is absolutely melting isnāt it? Well I am doing a lot better thankfully since my bad relapse. I went to the Gp Friday as my ears were so full and I was a little deaf (I thought it was migraine) anyway it turns out I actually have Eustacian tube dysfunction! This will be the second time Iāve had this. So Iām on some nasal steroids for that. I must say though that Iām glad as usually they canāt find anything wrong with my ears! So Iām hoping these steroids will work for me. Not much in terms of migraine thankfully. Just some low level dizziness when walking around the supermarket earlier but Iām back to doing everything normally now. Which seems so bizarre as only a matter of weeks ago I was so poorly.
I really appreciate your message 
Ahhh thats excellent news!! So happy for you. Long may it continue
Thank you! I am still mavvy but not to that degree 
This heat however is testingā¦