Dr Zoe Williams, our resident specialist, is away.
This week, Dr Philippa Kaye, a fellow GP and friend of Dr Zoe, is standing in.
Dr Philippa Kaye, a fellow GP and friend of Dr Zoe, gives you health adviceCredit: TimKavanagh
Q) MY wife suffers from a heavy, fuzzy head and it really affects her walking.
She takes two amitriptyline at night, as prescribed by her doctor, but it looks like she will just have to live with it and not do the things she would like.
A) Her symptoms sound frightening and exhausting so it is understandable to feel as though life has had to shrink around it.
There are several headache conditions that can cause this kind of sensation.
For example, it could be a which can cause pressure in the head, dizziness and sensitivity to light.
Some people develop chronic migraine or vestibular migraine, where unsteadiness and a woolly head are more prominent than pain.
Tension-type headaches can also cause a constant heavy, tight feeling, often caused by stress, jaw-clenching or poor posture.
Daily headaches can also be linked to medication overuse.
Amitriptyline is commonly employed to prevent chronic headaches and can be very effective.
However, it can also cause side-effects such as morning grogginess, dry mouth and balance problems, particularly if the dose is too high.
Sometimes simply adjusting the dose, taking it earlier in the evening or switching to a different treatment can make a big difference.
There are many other options so if your wife is still struggling, please go back to your and discuss it.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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