Calan worked for me. I took it for two years and when I stopped I more or less no longer had a migraine problem. (I think I've had 4 since then, it was 8 years ago.)
Thanks, I've not heard of Calan, I'll look it up
Imitrex is great. My sister has been on that for years for her terrible migraines. You take it if you start to feel like you are getting one or if you know there are triggers and it takes care of it before it starts. Hope it helps!
A co-worker of mine takes Imitrex and she really likes it too! I'm no good at knowing before a headache strikes though, apparently I'm not in touch with my own body, lol! Thanks!
For me, it was finding the triggers and avoiding them. I couldn't stand Dope-amax either, so I worked really hard to figure out what was giving me migraines. Oddly enough, the chicken at Moe's gives me some of the worst migraines I ever had.
My neurologist at the time recommended I try a vitamin supplement called MigRelief. She had put patients on it and they all had good results.
http://www.migrelief.com/index.htm
I don't know how much it was since my mom bought them for me, but the pills were huge, and you had to take it a couple times a day. I'm not good with remembering to take pills, and so I I kind of gave up after a couple weeks.
Huh, I just noticed on the site that it's been recommended by the NY Headache Center. That's where my doctor was. Maybe that's why she recommended it for me after I couldn't take the topamax.
That's what I call it too, dopamax
Yum...Moe's...haven't had that in a while! I have found some of my triggers and removed them. Unfortunately...my period and stress and two of them and there isn't as much I can do about that
. Thanks, I'll check it out!
I've been taking Inderal LA 80mg for 3 yrs... it's a beta blocker that's written off-label for migraine prevention. It has been working wonderfully for me (couldn't do the generic... they switched me 2 yrs ago to the generic (Propanolol) but my migraines came back full-force... something about only the active ingredients needing to be identical, but not the inactive ingredients) Anyway, I'm trying to wean off it as you can't stop it suddenly. I'm curious to see how I'd be without it... starting going every other day (with MD's permission) and I was dizzy as anything... so I'm doing it every day but dropping to 60 mg... gradually I'll try going every 1.5 days then to 2 days, etc... and see if I'm migraine free after 3 yrs???? I'm anxious to see.....
Good luck to you! It works great for me but I just hate being on meds if I don't have to be......
I know what you mean about generic. They switched me to the generic Topamax and I suffered three weeks straight headaches. It was awful! Good luck with your taper and I hope your are headache free
! I don't like being on meds either, I hate it.
DH has migraines and is currently taking Maxalt - these tablets are taken by placing one under your tongue - they dissolve, don't make you nauseous
no noticeable side effects - he's been taking Maxalt a year now
DH used to take Imitrex (causes inflammation of the joints the next day and makes it hard to walk) - also took Depacote (it cut down the number of migraines, but DH was still having them)
Thanks, I'll google maxalt, I haven't heard of that one either
Migraine formula at iherb.com.
DH doesn't have to take prescription meds anymore and he had migraines several times a week. He has taken this for years. It is an herbal.
I'll take a look at their website. Is it just a mixture of vitamins?
Sorry Topamax didn't work for you...I have been on it for years now (for epilepsy as well as migranes) and it has helped so much. After a few years they also added Pamelor when my h/a got more frequent.
Right now due to the heat and humidity and barometric pressure change I am MISERABLE......going on my 3rd week of a constant headache. Now I'm a steriod taper to see if that doesnt break up the pattern
I had been on Inderal 80mg years and years ago, but it lowered my BP to the point of passing out!
Good luck!
It works, it just makes me stupid! lol Which I could tolerate if I didn't have to work, but I do. The doctor suggested Pamelor to me too. Do you find that effective? I've done some research online and it seems like it's about 50/50 for migraines. I'm sorry about your three week headache. I had one of those recently (whenI was switched from Topamax to generic) and it was miserable. I hope you feel better soon. I already have low BP, so Inderal may not be for me!
I fortunately know my triggers. I've been lucky that I never needed anything prescription. I actually pop a plain old No Doze when I feel one coming on, it usually kills it in about 30 minutes.
I have a friend who was getting Botox for hers. It worked wonders until the insurance stopped covering it.
That's awesome that no doze works! How funny about the botox treatments!
i am on propanolol (i am allergic to -triptan drugs, so that narrows it down), and it seems to work pretty well!
Thanks, I'll look that one up too
I found my trigger - still amazes me I ever figured it out. Mine was chiropratic-related. Just moving my neck to the right side and somewhat downward would be all I needed to trigger a migraine a few hours later. I have no idea why this movement would do it, but I guess some vein or artery gets "kinked" in this movement and disrupt the blood to my head and then causes the migraine (I would get the classic zigzag lines in my vision, followed by a headache above my right eye, plus getting nauseous). I used to live in fear of them.
Nowadays I just be very careful about my posture and neck position. I still get headaches sometimes, but nowhere nears as often.
I never hear of other migraine sufferers who have movement-related migraines, so I assume I am unusual in that area.
Actually, my husbands co-worker is trying to get me to go to her chiropriactor because she is convinced all headaches are caused by misalignment! I've heard that is possible. I'm too much of a chicken though
My trigger now is plain perimenopause. If I can catch a headache right away and take meds, I can usually stop it from turning into a full blown migraine. But the last few months, I
wake up with one. By then, it's too late to stop one. I lost a whole
day last week, because I woke up with a migraine, and it meant back to bed.
That's the worst, waking up with one!
A friend of mine had trouble with the pain meds her doc had her on, too, so he took her off of them 2 months ago and recommended a magnesium supplement; she said since she's started taking it she's only had 2 migraines when before she had them at least weekly.
Mine start with a light show (ocular/opthamalic) before the pain, so I take a Zomig as soon as the flashes start and it heads off the pain.
Thanks! I do take a daily vitamin and I used to take magnesium supplements. Maybe I should start taking them again.
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Thanks everyone so much for responding!
Other than that, I just have the tingling in my hands, not too bad. 
