Migraine

I recently started Namenda for prevention after, like many of you, trying so many other meds with absolutely no success.

I know a few of you have said you've had success with it, so I wondered what dose was the magic number, so to speak, for you. I'm still building up, but I just wondered what a good target might be.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I don't have any personal experience of Namenda, but here is an article describing a study of Namenda for migraine prevention:

Namenda for Migraine and Chronic Headache Prevention

The dosages used in the study are discussed on page 2. However, your own "target dosage" is something to discuss with your doctor. It depends on your individual situation, and that decision needs to be made by a doctor who is able to examine and interview you in person.

Good luck with the Namenda. I hope it works for you.

Diana, I'm glad you started this thread. I too am just starting on namenda. There is some info about it in the NEW INFO folder. A few people posted in there that they tried namenda but it seems that not many have tried it yet. I'm on day 6 of my first week, where are you? I'll keep you posted and you do the same.

The encouraging thing for me is that I'm seeing the doctor who did that study, so I trust that he'll get me to the right level.

I've been on it just over 3 weeks, and I'm taking 15 mg a day right now. I'm just wondering how much higher I need to get before I can expect to see results. Oh well. I should know within the next month or so if it's doing anything, I suppose.

Glad to hear from someone else who's trying it. I'll definitely keep you posted on my progress, too.

You're a couple weeks ahead of me. I have only been on it a week now. I start on 10 mg tomorrow. I'm excited that your doctor is the one that did the study. I'm excited that my doctor keeps informed enough to give it a try. I also wonder how long before we will feel results.

Have you heard of many who have taken it? I can't find many people out there. Take care.

I also just started Namenda 4 days ago. I am glad to see there are others in the same position as me. I will also try to update my results.

Just an update. . . I've been on namenda for 2 weeks now. I am currently on 10 mg daily. I start 15 mg on Tuesday. So far it hasn't done much for my migraines. I haven't noticed a difference in the frequency or the intensity. I hope it helps once I get to a larger dose. We'll see. How is everyone else doing on it?

quote:

Originally posted by Hoopsky:
Just an update. . . I've been on namenda for 2 weeks now. I am currently on 10 mg daily. I start 15 mg on Tuesday. So far it hasn't done much for my migraines. I haven't noticed a difference in the frequency or the intensity. I hope it helps once I get to a larger dose. We'll see. How is everyone else doing on it?

Sounds exactly like me. I too am on 10mg a day now and still getting migraines (not that I expected it to work this fast). There have been no side effects for me which is great. Hope everyone else is hanging in there!

Just an update on namenda. I've been on the recommended dose (20 mg) for 2 weeks now. So far I can't tell anything. I am having the same amount of migraines and they are about the same intensity as they've always been. I am hoping that it gets better as time goes on.

I have noticed a change in my migraine patterns though. I have started to have many more migraines start in the occipital area since starting on namenda. Whether it's related to the namenda or not I don't know. It could be a coincidence. I have an appointment with my migraine specialist on Monday, St. Pat's Day. We'll see what he says.

How's everyone else doing?

Funny I never saw this thread before! I started namenda well over a month ago. I had to start out really low, and add more a bit slower than the normal starter pack. I ended up staying at the 10 mg for several weeks before upping again. Every time I upped it I was having this awful pins and needles electric thing in my arms legs and back.

Other than that it seemed to have no other side effects except making me more tired. I am now at 20 mg, and have been for couple weeks. I think my neuro plans on upping it again after our next visit. She had gone to a seminar about namenda, and was told that up to 40 or 50 mg. can be helpful for migraines, where as with alzhimers, they dont do over 20 mg.

Anyway, pins and needles gone mostly, migraines arent as intense, but still as frequent. We may up my depakote as well. Getting it from constant and severe to milder and not 24/7 is a good start! And the best thing, after at least 8 or 9 different preventatives that I have tried, the namenda and depakote combo does the least ammt. of side effects for me!

I just completed my first week of 20mg/day. I have to say, I didn't have any side effects before now, but this week has been tough. I am really tired/dizzy all day long. It's slowly stating to get better. I am down to 1 migraine a week which is unheard of for me. (I also am on trazodone at night to sleep). Can't complain!

I wanted to come back and update now that I've been on Namenda for three (almost four) months.

I really wasn't seeing any improvement and was ready to give up on it until I went up to 25 then 30 mg a day.

I honestly don't know if it was a coincidence, but the past couple of weeks have been the best time I've had in years. I'm totally waiting for the other shoe to drop, but also trying to stay strictly to my routine and keep everything the same in case something I'm doing is responsible for this wonderful period of decreased pain.

After trying so many medications and never having anything help I honestly thought there might not be any medication that would ever help me. I still feel like pinching myself at the idea that something is probably finally helping me after all this time.

I hope you're all doing well! Hugs!

Diana

Hi Diana,

What wonderful news! Let's hope that shoe doesn't drop. Never say never!!
I think sometimes we may give up on a medication before we give it a fair trial or a dose increase.

Please keep us posted, ok?

I've been on Namenda for 6 weeks. I think that it is helping with the intensity of my migraines. I'm still getting frequent migraines, though. I talked with my neurologist today. I'm also taking Topamax as a daily preventative. My neurologist said to give the Namenda a little bit longer.

Diana and Heather, here's hoping for both of you that the Namenda works for you.