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Depression prodrome

Anyone else get a severe depressive espisode during their prodrome? Every time ... mood collapses, exhaustion overwhelming and can't handle anything - then the next day BAM the migraine. I do have clinical severe depression that 50mg of citalopram and 35mg of amptripyline keep in check the rest of the time. But nothing seems to work on the episodes before my migraines (which is 2-3 times a week with constant 5/10 day the rest of the time). I can't go up on the meds because of severe weight gain from the amp and above maximum for citalopram. (Cymbalta - didn't work and Wellbutrin had severe side effects). I really need help to handle these .... most of the time I don't remember it's from the migraine and have a really bad day and bad thoughts that are getting harder to control. I don't have money to do psychologist appointments on my own and thus only get one hour once a month that is covered by Alberta health (too busy and can't book more than that).

Please give me any tricks or tips you have used to combat this .... thanks.

  1. Hi Tamara,

    Thank you for reaching out to us. Let me see what information I can give you that may help.

    The symptoms you describe, along with many others, can absolutely be part of prodrome and difficult to deal with. I'm fairly cranky before a migraine attack, but have a hard time remembering they are connected. But I find by keeping a migraine, practicing yoga (I'm not very good at it although I do enjoy it) and meditating, I seem to handle prodrome better. Yoga helps me learn to listen to my body which admittedly I'm not very good at, but does help recognizing when things don't feel right. This article has information about prodrome I hope helps,
    https://migraine.com/blog/depression-as-a-prodrome-symptom/.

    Let me know what you think,
    Nancy

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