Name that prescription headache medicine

October 6, 2023 6:02 AM

Do you know of a pill/tablet-form medicine that might be prescribed for tension headaches, that has this specific side effect: making the person sweat far less?

A past doctor (who I don't know how to recontact) told me this medicine might be worth trying if my current medicines weren't working in the future (they aren't). I remember looking this medicine up and thinking it sounded worth trying—but I don't remember the name!

All I remember is that it had the side effect of making you sweat far less, such that you needed to be really careful during exertion/hot temperatures, as you wouldn't notice your body wasn't cooling you down enough.

It is something you take in pill/tablet form (not a shot). It is *not*: gabapentin, elavil, botox shots.

YANMD; I just want to read about this medicine again before I visit a new doctor, so I can ask about it.

Thank you!

posted by rollcredits to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

Best answer: Maybe topiramate? Other sources list it as an off label migraine prophylactic.
posted by Ferreous at 6:46 AM on October 6, 2023

Best answer: Maybe topiramate?
Warning for those considering it, topamax gave me suicidal thoughts as a teen ✌️
posted by phunniemee at 7:10 AM on October 6, 2023

Best answer: From https://www.sweathelp.org/pdf/Anhidrosis.pdf

Drugs/Medications Known to Cause Anhidrosis
Certain prescription and non-prescription medications can cause partial or complete anhidrosis (an absence of
sweating) as a side effect. A list of potentially anhidrotic medications is provided below. Medications are listed
alphabetically by generic name. U.S. brand names are given in parenthesis, if applicable. This list is provided as a
resource and a service. It is not exhaustive and is in no way meant to replace consultation with a medical
professional.Although anhidrosis is a known side effect of the medications listed below, in most cases only a small
percentage of people using the medicines experience decreased sweating.
Acetophenazine
Amlodipine (Norvasc®)
Atropine
Belladonna and Opium (B&O Supprettes®)
Belladonna, Phenobarbital, and Ergotamine (Bel-Tabs®, Bellamine S®)
Benztropine (Cogentin®)
Bepridil (Vascor®)
Clonidine (Catapres®)
Denileukin Diftitox (ONTAK®)
Dicyclomine (Bentyl®)
Diltiazem (Cardizem®,Dilacor®, Tiazac®)
Felodipine (Plendil®)
Glycopyrrolate (Robinul® Forte, Robinul®)
Hyoscyamine,Atropine, Scopolamine, and Phenobarbital (Donnatal Extentabs®,Donnatal®)
Hyoscine (Scopolamine®)
Isradipine (DynaCirc®)
Mepenzolate (Cantil® [DSC])
Mesoridazine (Serentil® [DSC])
Methscopolamine (Pamine® Forte, Pamine®)
Molindone (Moban®)
Nicardipine (Cardene®)
Nifedipine (Adalat®, Procardia®)
Nimodipine (Nimotop®)
Nisoldipine (Sular®)
Oxybutynin (Ditropan® XL,Ditropan®,Oxytrol®)
Procyclidine (Kemadrin®)
Propantheline
Scopolamine Derivatives (Isopto® Hyoscine; Scopace™; Transderm Sc_p®)
Trihexyphenidyl
Verapmil (Verelan®,Calan®, Isoptin®,Covera-HS®)


I know that ergotamine is used to treat migraines as well.
posted by Ferreous at 7:57 AM on October 6, 2023

Best answer: IF we're talking topiramate, I've been on a "high" dose for migraine as a preventative, but a low dose for epilepsy. I never recommend it to others, but it really works for those it works for. Like me. That's all I've all got. I'm not downplaying how the side effects have been for others, but for the those it works for, its awesome. I don't know if that means you should trial it or not.
Re sweating, yes, it makes you sweat less.
posted by atomicstone at 8:29 AM on October 6, 2023

Amitriptyline [brand name Elavi; a tricyclic antidepressant], clonidine [brand name Catapres; an antihypertensive], nortriptyline [brand name Pamelor; a tricyclic antidepressant], venlafaxine [brand name Effexor; an SNRI antidepressant] and zonisamide [brand name Zonegran; an anticonvulsant]. Some research links.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:27 PM on October 6, 2023

Effexor made me sensitive to heat which causes more sweating in hot weather.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:39 PM on October 6, 2023

ellieBOA, the "venlafaxine" link in my answer goes to pubmed: "The hypothesis put forward here attempts to explain how the efficacy of venlafaxine against climacteric symptoms, including sweating, can be reconciled with the fact that this medication is known to cause sweating as an adverse side-effect.... Venlafaxine can counteract sweating at low doses as a result of its serotonergic effect, while it can increase sweating at higher doses with an increasing noradrenergic active component. At daily doses of up to 75 mg venlafaxine, sweating is largely avoided as a concomitant effect." Dosing for headaches is often under that threshold.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:00 PM on October 6, 2023

Topiramate is most commonly prescribed migraine preventative, so it was most likely that. Plenty of other side effects besides decreased sweating though!
posted by basalganglia at 2:38 AM on October 7, 2023

Best answer: Topiramate is full of surprising side effects.

I've been on it for about ten years, with breaks for fertility treatments and pregnancy (it's a Class D medication).

It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that the medicine that made Coca Cola taste like licorice can reduce sweating.
posted by champers at 12:31 PM on October 7, 2023 [1 favorite]