Antidepressants in the treatment of migraine headache

Abstract

Antidepressants, particularly tricyclic antidepressants, have been a mainstay in the prophylactic therapy of migraine. The tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and doxepin have been the major agents for prophylactic treatment of migraine. These cause significant side effects in some patients. The high-affinity selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other newer antidepressants have been disappointing and much less effective in the treatment of migraine. In patients who are depressed with severe migraine, a tricyclic antidepressant may treat both conditions; however, the addition of a newer atypical antidepressant may be needed.