My Journey with Migraine and Depression

By msalvanou

1 min read

I was first diagnosed with Migraine with aura at 17, suffering from mild aura symptoms from around the age of 12 before experiencing my first debilitating attack on holiday at 17 where without sounding dramatic, I thought I was going to die as I had no idea what was happening to me.

The frustrations of migraine

Thankfully a diagnosis meant at least the start of a very long journey of trying to understand this confusing and often frustrating condition. Throughout the years I have tried a variety of medications but haven’t tried anything preventative for a few years until now. Having been prescribed a month's trial of Topiramate after an attack that lasted consistently for around 4 weeks and my normal triptans failed to help.

Experiencing symptoms of depression

The one thing I’m really concerned about is that recently, in the past 2 years or so, I’ve noticed when I have an attack I also seem to suffer from a real drop in mood, often experiencing suicidal thoughts and really depressive episodes alongside my usual symptoms. I’m worried the topiramate will aggravate this as depression seems to be a common side effect. If anyone has anyone has any experience with the medication please feel free to drop me a reply?

All experiences would be welcomed. For reference, I’m a 26-year-old female. Thanks & be well.

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Melissa Arnold Community Admin
Hi there, mssalvanou. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I can't imagine how frustrated you must feel in trying different treatments with no progress, and now depression. You are not alone in this -- depression can have both physical and mental causes. Have you spoken to the doctor that prescribed your topiramate about your concerns? If you haven't already, it may be a good idea to let your migraine team and your GP know that you are struggling during migraine attacks, so they can monitor you for medication issues and help you improve your mood. It may also be worth it to consider trying therapy. Many people living with chronic illnesses also deal with depression and anxiety ... Seeing a counselor that specializes in helping people with chronic pain could make all the difference for you. Above all, please be kind to yourself and remember that this isn't your fault. Depression is so common and nothing to be ashamed of! We're always here if you have questions or want to vent. Keep us posted. <3
1. msalvanou Member
 Hi there, Thank you so much for your lovey reply. I have been having relative success on the topiramate thankfully, with only mild physical side effects & have started CBT therapy to help combat the depressive episodes. I hope this combination will stand me in good stead going forward. I will report back. Thank you so much for your kind words & support. Take care & be well.
2. Melissa Arnold Community Admin
 Hey there, msalvanou! Good to hear back from you. 😀 I'm so happy to hear you're doing well!!! I'm glad that you're still tolerating your topiramate relatively well, and am proud of you (truly) for starting CBT. It can be a huge, intimidating step for many people, and yet here you are giving yourself the gift of care. My previous therapist once told me that data suggests the clients who have the best outcomes emotionally are those who are doing *both* therapy and medication for their health conditions. I hope you find the same is true for you. Feel free to stop by anytime if you want to vent or just say hello -- it's what we're here for. Have a good weekend! -Melissa, <a href='https://migraine.com' target='_blank'>migraine.com</a> team
pal1 Member
I was put on this and I took myself off. I became a completely different person on this medication, I could barely function and didn't care what happened to me! Never again.
1. msalvanou Member
 Hi, thank you for your reply! I’m so sorry you had this experience & I hope you have found an alternative treatment that has helped with managing your Migraine. I have found some success with the Topiramate, only experiencing mild physical symptoms like pins & needles in my hands and feet and (unfortunately) losing the ability to taste carbonated drinks, but I have heard it can cause really awful side effects in some people. Take care & be well.
glassmind Member
Thank you for sharing and reaching out. You are not alone. I tried that medication as a preventative for Migraine and had to quit after just two doses because of sever eye pain and vision loss. (Thankfully okay now). I also experienced depression before I ever had a migraine attack and also experience depression with migraine attacks. I track it and suicideation as symptoms once I noticed this was occurring with the migraine specifically. Migraine is a complex neurological condition and can effect mood as symptoms and also as having a chronic condition is a mental/emotional challenge as much as a physical one. I also experienced an increase in general depressed mood as a side effect of a medication I take for sleep disorders and so have started an antidepressant to counteract that which has been helpful for me. I encourage you to discuss your mood and its relation to your migraines with your health care providers. It can be helpful to track your symptoms in a journal or on a health app (there are ones for mood and migraine specifically). Keeping track of symptoms can help empower you and your providers to find the most effective therapies. Please do continue to reach out and know you are part of a community that understands the struggles of Migraine. You are not alone. We are here with you. Take care. Hugs.
1. msalvanou Member
 Thank you so much for your lovely reply. Journaling is a great idea and I have been recommended the tracker apps in the past & will certainly give them a try. I have had some relief recently from the depressive episodes after a rather turbulent period. It seems to come in waves, almost like clockwork, with the migraine. I appreciate your kind words so much and the support of this community. Take care & be well.
2. glassmind Member
 I am glad to hear you have had some relief. Even if in waves. May there be more peaks than valleys in your days. Hugs
hitesh-goenka Member
I also get frequent suicidal thoughts. There is so much confusion in my body most of the time that I am incapable of performing even a simple task properly. I feel so helpless most of the time. I tried medication for some time. It never helped me. So, no more medicines for me.
1. msalvanou Member
 Hitesh, have you considered CBT therapy? I have recently taken up frequent therapy sessions and have found the benefits quite amazing. Certainly far beyond anything medication has ever been able to offer me. Take care & be well.