Is Sertraline related to migraines?

[lisa46]

I have been on Sertraline for 1 1/2 years.  It has helped my mood swings profoundly.  I have had migraines for the past 20 years, normally I experience 3 or 4 migraines a year but since I have been taking Sertraline I have had many more than usual.  I am sure that it is the Sertraline because I normally take it before bed and have woke up several mornings with the leftover pain from the migraine I had while sleeping ( before Sertraline I have never had a migraine during the night ).  The other evening I missed taking it and took it first thing in the morning by lunch time I had a migraine.  Is this something that my system will get used to eventually or can I expect the migraines to continue indefinitely?

[Suri123]

Hi Lisa, How are you doing? Hope you are feeling better. Migraine headaches are commonly triggered with so many factors like foods, habits, environmental factors - change in temperature, light, sound, drugs and stress etc. It could be worse and abrupt sometimes making life miserable. You have been prescribed Sertraline for mood swings and also it is working well for you, your correlation of using Sertraline and getting migraines might be ok, but it is always better to discuss with the doctor who prescribed the drug about its possible side effects and a substitute thereon. You might consult a migraine specialist also to get an evaluation and update on drug use. Try relaxation techniques to decrease stress. Keep posting your views. Take care.

[joannela]

I would talk to your prescriber about it.  After 1.5 years on it you should be adapted to it by now, so if that's what 's causing it I doubt it'll go away at this point.  There are lots of SSRI's out there and it often takes trial and error to find just the right one to treat symptoms without difficult side effects.  Your doctor can guide you about trying another.