Do you get Migraines?

[Goofycampers]

And if you do what do you take? I have been getting them more and more lately and I've been taking relpax and imitrex. I think it's time for me to go on some sort of prevetative.

 

[DisMN]

I get distinct vision disturbances which is my clue to quickly do something. A few years ago I discovered the Advil liquigels taken with a caffeine liquid zaps them within 8 minutes. Sometimes faster. Yes. It's so amazing how quick it works that I've started to time it. LOL

I hope you can find your miracle drug too.....if they ever stop making the liquigels I'm screwed.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I don't but DH does and if he feels one coming on, he'll take a couple Excedrin Migrain, then go lay down.

I know he also carries an Imitrex pen (kind of like an epi-pen, but with liquid Imitrex in it) in case of an emergency.

 

[Goofycampers]

I've not gotten relief from anything otc. Sometimes the imitres isn't that effective either. I woke up this morning with a really bad one so I actually had to stay home from work.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[lulugirl]

How often are you getting migraines? I also take imitrex & relpax (or at least I did before I was pregnant). I'm fortunate that my migraines only occur 2 or 3 times a month, not often enough to warrant a preventative medication.

My MIL had great success taking topamax as a preventive, it does have side effects, but may be worth a try.
Also, have you determined what triggers your migraines....food, weather, hormones?
Here is a link to a website w/ some helpful information
http://www.migraines.org/

 

[OKW93]

Sometimes a cup of coffee helps. My doctor said caffeine in good for headaches.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I'm sorry you're going through this. DH didn't even believe what he had WERE migraines until one day I came home and found him passed out on the floor. DS was not even a year old yet at the time and DH was supposed to be watching him. I totally freaked out and had a neighbor drive him to the emergency room.

He's been on migraine meds ever since.

 

[Goofycampers]

Thanks for the replies. I have figured out some of my triggers. A big one is changes in weather patterns which I think is why I'm having trouble today. I also cannot drink any carbonated drinks-that has been a drag-I love coke. But I have had a really stressful couple of weeks so that is also part of it. The meds are helping but then after I take them I feel really wiped out.

 

[MontanaZoo]

I used to have them but found out for me they were really related to sleep and food. So I keep pretty regular sleep hours and make sure I have breakfast, don't really eat processed meats (like deli turkey etc), have caffeine in the morning.

My scenario for having them was usually overtired, usually OVERslept like slept in that day and skipped any breakfast and was somewhat stressed out. I definitely got visual clues too.

If I have any "sparklies" or tunnel vision, I take advil and slam some caffeine.

 

[Horseshoes]

I just went to my neurologist to try Topamax. I have been having hormonal migraines for the past 14 years, 1-2 migraines a months that last about 3 days long.

I am a little hesitant about taking Topamax because of the side effects but I am sick of overdosing on Motrin and the prescription stuff is so expensive. I dont know how much the Topamax is yet becuase he gave me samples.

I am curious for those that have taken Topamax, any thoughts?

 

[suzimar57]

my DH has been having migraines for over 15 years

he takes Depakote now, twice daily (it's an anti-seizure med, but is also used to prevent migraines, which is why doctor has DH on it)

he also uses Maxalt dissolvable tablets if a migraine begins

Imitrex used to work, we keep some around as back-up

 

[c4a]

Yes. Imitrex (pill) helps if I take it when the symptoms first start. (blurry site, that sharp one side head pain). Usually, after I take it-I'll hop in a steamy hot shower and just sit on the tub floor with the lights out...let the water run over me. When I get them, even my scalp hurts. The individual hairs coming out of it...it's like I feel each one. Wet hair and a relaxed scalp helps.
If I don't take the pill in time- I have been told it is almost as if I were drunk...speech slurs, can't concentrate, etc. Then I have to get someone to take me to the DR. I get both a Phenygran and an Imitrex shot. The Phenygran helps with the nausea and vomiting. The Imitrex takes care of the migrane. Not sure which one makes me drowsy...but I'll sleep for 10-12 hours after I get the shot. Sometimes, I still have a very mild headache when I wake up-couple acetametaphin takes it away. Usually, I just wake up groggy.

To get a prescription-need to go to the office when you have a migrane. Otherwise, they won't give you one. It has to ruling out other possibilities. After that initial visit, I now can just call the DR. office when I start running low on pills. Since there is a history, they just phone it into the pharmacy.

Have you been tested for food sensitivity? An allergy test showed I am allergic/sensitive to nuts (including peanut oil), certian cheeses, chocolate, some preservatives in foods, and sugar substitues (ie. Sweet and Low), sunflower seeds (and oil). As long as I watch what I eat (and some of the stuff I can have in very small amounts with no effects. But who only wants to eat 3 or 4 m&m's or a tootsie roll? Or a handful of potato ships? (Most are now cooked in peanut oil!).

There is a new migrane pill on the market, now. Prescription, also. I think it is spelled Trimetrix. I can't take it because I am allergic to aspirin. May want to talk to your doctor about it. I've been hearing raves about it. But since it is new, not sure if there are more side effects than the company is telling us about.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I've had a doozy of one the past couple of days. I take Maxalt. When that doesn't work I end up giving myself an Imitrex Stat-Injection. I always try over the counter Excedrin Migraine before I use the Rx meds. They are so expensive!
When I take the Maxalt & Excedrin, I find a dark, quiet place, take an ice pack with me, and lie down for an hour or 2.
Now, I've taken so many meds over the last 2 days my stomach is a mess and I came home for lunch and had to take a Tagamet!

TC

 

[Hedy]

I'm on amitriptelene as a preventative measure for my migraines. It makes a world of difference.

 

[zigzagzerr]

I've been getting them about every 10 days or so -- sometimes more, sometimes less -- starting in Feb of this year. Started getting them right after surgery in January, and after talking to doctor and tracking food, etc, I still can't figure what's causing them.

Fortunately, they're not terrible ones. I get the flashies for about 20 minutes, and if I take the Excedrin Migraine right away, it usually has kicked in by the time the headache comes.

So I suppose I should feel fortunate that they aren't worse, but it's very frustrating, especially when I'm at work. (or like last weekend, when I was sitting in a bat mitzvah ceremony).

Hugs for those of you out there with really bad ones.

 

[Goofycampers]

I'm on amitriptelene as a preventative measure for my migraines. It makes a world of difference.

I've read about using amitriptylline for migraines. Did it make you gain weight? I understand that is one of the side effects.

 

[Hedy]

I've read about using amitriptylline for migraines. Did it make you gain weight? I understand that is one of the side effects.

I did notice any weight gain, but I'm on a fairly low dose.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I pretty much wiped mine out when I figured out it was allergies (environmental and food).

It really irks me that doctors just prescribe a ton of medicine without doing some serious research into what causes patients' migranes. Migrane medications are horribly expensive (some of them are $30 or more per pill) and just tend to mask the symptoms...leaving you feeling like a zombie afterward.

If you're suffering from a lot of migranes and can't get to the root of the cause, research your heart out trying to find the cause and you'll feel so much better. Demand that your doctor either help you get to the root of them or refer you to someone who will!

 

[karynnix]

Three Advil Liquigels and a Maxalt usually knock mine out in a matter of minutes. I buy Advil Liquigels by the ton!