Anyone with migraines?

[ohiomom28]

I have suffered with migraines for about 15 years although didn't have a prescription until about 8 years ago. I was prescribed Zomig and had horrible side effects, so I stopped taking them. A few years ago, my doctor prescribed Maxalt and while it worked then, I stopped taking them for some reason. Within the last year, I started taking them again and they don't work as well. The migraine goes away, but comes back in a couple hours. This weekend I had the absolute worst one I have ever had. Of course it started after the pharmacy was closed and didn't have any meds. I called the pharmacy as soon as they opened yesterday and took my 1st dose at 10:45am. I was able to roll out of bed an hour later, still loopy but the worst of the pain was gone. I had to take another dose at 5pm and at 4am, I was up taking the last dose. I took 30MG in less than 24 hours...which is the max. Has anyone had experience with the headaches coming back after taking the meds? Also which prescriptions are you taking? My BF thinks I need a second opinion since I have a headache almost daily and my doctor seems to just be pushing meds at me. Any advice?? TIA!!

 

[bookgirl]

I had always had bad headaches that I attributed to sinus. Well about 5 months ago I got a full blown light sensitive/nausea inducing migrane that lasted 4 days. I had one prior bout with non pain migranes (I had visual distortion, and stiffness) that were treated with whatever was popular 15 years ago, but that only lasted a year. I was totally shocked at the migrane. Turns out that I was always having them, but they mimic a sinus headache because of where the pain is, and because I seem to have a high pain tolerance I just took lot's of OTC stuff and toughed them out. After four days I was done being tough and went to the doctor. I am continuing to have headaches 1 or 2 times a month as high as 8 and as low as 5 to start.

I take Dolgic Plus. It's actually a "2nd" round medication. If all the new and great stuff doesn't work they try this. (the PA gave it to me 1st so I haven't tried anything else) It's an older medication, a barbituate and can be habit forming so there are strict rules about how often and how much. The only thing I don't like is often it takes until the second dose, to really get rid of the headache. The first dose kinda drops it from an 8 to a 6, but the second dose will often drop it to a 1 or 0. I rarely have to take a third dose, although this weekend I had one on Friday (a three doser) that rebounded on me Saturday night, but it only took me 1 dose to get rid of.

I have been told that if I have one and I take the medicine for more than 2 or 3 days, that you can get a REBOUND headache from the actual medicine. This is really common with OTC pain relivers which is what I was taking when I got the big headache 5 months ago (the dolgic also rebounds after 2 or 3 days because it contains tylenol and caffenie as well as the barbituate). The longer the headache lasted the more motrin/tylenol I was taking and it was just a vicious circle. Of course a migrane can rebound all on it's own, but overmedicating helps it along.

The only thing I don't like about the meds are that they make me slightly woozy. Not so much that I can't drive or work but enough to be annoying. I tend to be conservative (I know you should try to catch them early) but I'm worried about addiction and over medicating so I often wait until I'm at a 5 or 6 before I break out the good stuff. I can function at 5, at 6 I'm in pain but once I hit 8, I'm miserable and I have to take the meds.

 

[tictac]

I have had them for about 17 years I have been prescribed from what i can remember elavil and now topamax. The topamax I take daily and it keeps them under control ...bad thing is i forget everything look up info on it and people call it dopamax I am looking to get off of it within the upcoming months or trying something diffrent. As for the elivil I took when I was younger, it is an antidepressant I belive but it is also used to control migraines if you take it at a low dose daily. It kept me in a complete daze for 3 days after taking only one dose (no thanks) Now for for my other solution which many might not agree on but it worked for me last year i changed my diet lots (not everything) of organic, home made very little eating out, no refined sugar and I noticed my headaches reduce drastically. I stopped my topamax for a while even. then i went back to regular diet and now here i am again with a headache even with topamax....so my diet changed last week. Hope all goes well with you. do you see a neurologist or just a regular doctor?

 

[MIGrandma]

Have you considered trying a chiropractor?

I had severe migraines years ago, and took a medicine called cafergot for them (it made me nauseous, so half the time I didn't even take it) and once ended up in the ER to get a shot because the pain was so bad.

Then I went to a chiropractor and got a few adjustments to my neck.

This was probably 25-27 years ago. I have not had a migraine since then.

I used to get the "aura", where I saw squiggly lines out of one eye, or could not see out of half of one eye, but even that has not happened now in years.

I would recommend you try a chiropractor, what do you have to lose? Except for the headaches.

 

[lovin diz]

i have them, along with my epilepsy....i have horrible side effects from prescripts, so i take excedrine migraine, and rest, when i have one.....

 

[ohiomom28]

I usually just see my regular doctor. My gyno was even trying to work with my pills to see if that would help, it just screwed around with my hormones and I switched back to my old pill. I feel over-medicated today, just have a feeling not like myself. My insides even feel like they hurt, could be from being sick yesterday. I don't know what else to do, its coming back slowly today and my doctor is out until tomorrow.

 

[ohiomom28]

Have you considered trying a chiropractor?

I had severe migraines years ago, and took a medicine called cafergot for them (it made me nauseous, so half the time I didn't even take it) and once ended up in the ER to get a shot because the pain was so bad.

Then I went to a chiropractor and got a few adjustments to my neck.

This was probably 25-27 years ago. I have not had a migraine since then.

I used to get the "aura", where I saw squiggly lines out of one eye, or could not see out of half of one eye, but even that has not happened now in years.

I would recommend you try a chiropractor, what do you have to lose? Except for the headaches.

I have back problems too and go several times a year. They feel like sinus headaches. Sometimes even sinus meds get rid of them. It has to be Advil Cold and Sinus though with 2 Excedrin mixed in. I have dealt with this for so long, and I'm sure my body is tired of the meds.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, I take the Maxalt dissolvable tablets. Most of the time they work for me. As a back up I also have the Imotrex Stat injections. Once I give myself an injection I lie down with an icepack for about 1/2 hour and the migraine is gone! The bad part is that when you get the Rx for the injections they only give you 2. With the maxalt tablets I get 9. I have suffered with migraines since about the age of 25, so that means I have had them 31 years. It's great that there are now meds available but after the migraine is gone you are just so wore out afterwards!

TC

 

[bookgirl]

I have back problems too and go several times a year. They feel like sinus headaches. Sometimes even sinus meds get rid of them. It has to be Advil Cold and Sinus though with 2 Excedrin mixed in. I have dealt with this for so long, and I'm sure my body is tired of the meds.

I have an inverted cervical spine, so I have lot's of stiff necks. Maybe that's why the Dolgic works for me....the narcotic in it is used for tension and muscle relaxation.

I'd love to find a chiropractor but every time I meet one they want to go all woo-woo on me. After the last one told me they could cure Mental Retardation and Autism through spinal alignment I gave up. I may have to look into this again since I seem to have passed some milestone and the migranes are continuing.

To the OP, sorry you are still feeling yucky. Is your doctor in a practice, could you see someone else just for today?

 

[ohiomom28]

I have an inverted cervical spine, so I have lot's of stiff necks. Maybe that's why the Dolgic works for me....the narcotic in it is used for tension and muscle relaxation.

I'd love to find a chiropractor but every time I meet one they want to go all woo-woo on me. After the last one told me they could cure Mental Retardation and Autism through spinal alignment I gave up. I may have to look into this again since I seem to have passed some milestone and the migranes are continuing.

To the OP, sorry you are still feeling yucky. Is your doctor in a practice, could you see someone else just for today?

I wonder if we have the same thing....my chiropractor called it Cervical kyphosis. My neck doesn't curve back like most people. It is always forward. I have to really work on keeping from slouching and holding my head down. That isn't the cause of the headaches, but it is the cause of my back/neck & shoulder pain. I have found a few chiropractors that have a long drawn out process, starting with X-Rays and then working into spinal manipulation but not until months down the road. I was going 3 times a week and not once was I adjusted. It was a waste.

 

[tictac]

have you considered going to see a neurologist? They can talk to you about the diffrent types of headaches and also to see what is better for you a daily pill or just one for when you get headaches. That way you can both talk about a goal for pain management. As for me when I get headaches I have two options 1. exedrin tension headache (this has no asprin) 2. Frova for when I get a really bad episode.

 

[ohiomom28]

I have to get a second opinion, I just wasn't sure if I should try another General Dr. or a specialist. My insurance is not the best so I am limited. Which is one reason I stopped the chiro, out of the blue, they are considered a specialist and my co-pay is $60!

 

[tictac]

It might be different with a neuro, our insurance is not really bad but to go see a chiro they say its covered with the copay being $60, but that is what he charges his cash patients anyhow. So maybe it will be diffrent i would try to see a neuro that specializes in migraines. I really hope you find a good one.

 

[KSchwagg86]

Topomax is a miracle drug, but can have some weird side effects.

 

[ohiomom28]

The amount of headaches I get and how long I have had them makes me feel like I should have tests run or something instead of just using meds. It scares me being my head and all. I don't know what I should do. If it truly is just headaches, I am thinking about talking to my doctor about the Topamax. What were the weird side effects?

 

[bookgirl]

I wonder if we have the same thing....my chiropractor called it Cervical kyphosis. My neck doesn't curve back like most people. It is always forward. I have to really work on keeping from slouching and holding my head down. That isn't the cause of the headaches, but it is the cause of my back/neck & shoulder pain. I have found a few chiropractors that have a long drawn out process, starting with X-Rays and then working into spinal manipulation but not until months down the road. I was going 3 times a week and not once was I adjusted. It was a waste.

Sounds like it's the same. Pain in my right shoulder, arm and fingertips. Always tight on the right side of my neck and shoulder which is what pulls my neck bones back the opposite way. It does contribute to some headaches but it is not the precurser to my migraines, but when I get a really bad headache I usually do have a stiff neck at some point which compounds the headache. When I hurt it (at 12 and then again as a teenager) they said it's like having a permanant whiplash.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I have had migraines for about 15 yrs now.

I have tried a few of the drugs over the years and now am currently using Relpax and Midrin.
I have used Midrin for YEARS, its old school but it works for when I am starting a headache or have a "light" migraine w/o nausea and sight/smell sensitivity. It does make you a bit drowsy but will knock the headache out and I don't have to go to bed.

but...if its going to be a full blown nausea and excrutiating head pain like I had last week...I take the Relpax at the first onset of symptoms. I have found that the Replax enhances the symptoms before they get better (awful). and I need to sleep during/after taking it. I also noticed that the headaches tend to come back a day or so later...so I link Relpax with rebounding headaces too.

I also take my pill non-stop. no periods...period. have for 4 yrs now. That is a huge help as I had menstrual migraines every month for years. My GYN is happy with my health and sees no reason to stop this for the time being. I am 43...so can't be forever.

I also take Atenelol for heart palpitations and this supposedly helps migraines...but I see no link.

diet: I am very intrgued to hear diet success...as it is really hard to figure out if a food triggered it. I do NOT eat a lot of chocolate, nuts, or especially cheese. these all trigger for me.

biggest triggers for me: SMELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!! smells can give me an instant migraine. perfumes and cleaning chemicals are the worst.

I would love to hear what others have found to help with theirs.

 

[chell]

Topamax can make you forget words. I'll be in the middle of a sentence and forget the next word. I'll know the word but it won't come out. BUT it has been wonderful to not have to take 9 Frova in 3 weeks. That is what I was doing before I went back on Topamax back in April.

I agree with the others and think you should see a neurologist. They can help pinpoint why you are having the migraines. Do you know what your triggers are? Like Disney-Kim smells are a huge trigger for me.

Just last week I was diagnosed with something that can cause migraines so I'm going to talk to my doctor about coming off of the Topamax to see if there is a change. I hope that the changes I have to do because of my new diagnosis makes a difference in the frequency of my migraines.

I am limited in the use of some migraine meds because of my allergy to Sulfa drugs. I can use the Maxalt MLT and Frova. But when the headaches are really bad, when I wake up with them I just go to urgent care for an injection. Those things are wonderful! They knock the headache out in no time.

 

[ohiomom28]

I called the doctor yesterday because I am still having a bit of a headache everyday since Sunday when I had the big one. They left me a VM today saying they were calling in a preventative med called Corgard to take before I go to bed..anyone taken this?? What I read its mainly used to treat Angina and High Blood Pressure. She also called in Phenergan. The side effects of the Corgard aren't the best and I hate Phenergan! It makes me soooooo loopy! I take a rediculous amount of OTC meds because of the daily headaches and she adds in 2 more for me.

 

[bookgirl]

I called the doctor yesterday because I am still having a bit of a headache everyday since Sunday when I had the big one. They left me a VM today saying they were calling in a preventative med called Corgard to take before I go to bed..anyone taken this?? What I read its mainly used to treat Angina and High Blood Pressure. She also called in Phenergan. The side effects of the Corgard aren't the best and I hate Phenergan! It makes me soooooo loopy! I take a rediculous amount of OTC meds because of the daily headaches and she adds in 2 more for me.

Well with the rx you should probably stop the OTC stuff. That would cut down some on the amount of pills.

However, do you have hypertension? Does your blood pressure shoot up during a miagrain....if not I'm not real sure why she prescribed it. I think I'd have a talk with the pharmacy. Yikes!

Of course you never know I"m taking a anti tension drug for mine....