Migraine preventative, not pain medicine

[donald&daisy]

My mother also tried everything under the sun. Botox is what has helped her the most too. Her's are usually very centralized in an area above her right eye and the Botox helps stabilize everything--at least that's what I gather when I sit in on appointments. They cover it under VA insurance. Her's were so awful for so long, that she was ready to try anything and we were so surprised that this is what helped. I think she has been getting the shots every 3 months for around 2-3 years now.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I try to stay away from any aged cheese, red wine & always stay hydrated.
Not sleeping enough or sleeping to much can also trigger them
MSG is certain to trigger them with me~

Caffeine can help if you catch it early enough, if it's to late it can actually make it worse.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

A very DF of mine that had paralyzing migraines just went through being a famous local Neurologists guinea pig (they don't like to admit how little they really know) and ended up in pretty bad shape due to the unique mix of meds becoming toxic for her. Now she is trying to get all her Dr's on board for a hysterectomy since most women's migraines stop after menopause and she is desperate. What I learned from watching her is to listen to what the Dr's say with a critical ear. There is nothing wrong with saying, "Can I look into that and get back to you". After all, it is your head

I hope you find something that works for you

Never had migraines until my hysterectomy...migraines are horrible.

 

[Denine]

Migraine Formula is a mixture of herbals, one being butterbur. There has been research done by the neurology journals on butter and they found it to be effective.
I hated that my DH had to be on blood pressure medicine when he didn't have high blood pressure. The Imitrex worked, but it made him feel weird.

He also takes just plain butterbur with feverfew added. He is sooo much better now.

 

[Fanoffun]

I have taken Relpax for a few years now and it lasts longer than Imitrex. Also, my gynecologist gave me a patch of hormones - can't recall the name - to wear for a week during the month that helped with prevention.

But the Relpax really works for me!

 

[DebIreland]

I get severe migraines at least once a month, often more. I'm finding them increasingly debilitating. I've been doing a lot of reading up on them lately online and this is what I've discovered:

It seems many migraine sufferers have a magnesium deficiency [other posters have mentioned taking a supplement of magnesium but I hadn't ever heard of the relation between that and migraines until recently].

According to other websites, migraine sufferers are often deficient in riboflavin (aka Vitamin b2).

I've also read that there's often a deficiency in calcium.

Migraines may be linked to infection with a common bug and daily doses of friendly bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus, could help - it's an ingredient found in those yoghurt-type pro-biotic drinks

Migraines might not be an illness in and of itself. They might be a symptom of another problem such as dislocated jaw, very poor shoulder posture or TMJ.

Migraines might be linked to hypoglycemia. I find this very interesting as lately I've been getting shaking hands and dizzy spells a few hours after eating.

I'm definitely going to explore the hypoglycemia avenue along with the TMJ possibility.

These are all just possibilities - things I've read while desperately trying to sort this issue. My last migraine lasted 6 days plus another 3 days of utter exhaustion afterwards.

Good luck in finding solutions OP.

P.S. This website has some interesting theories.

 

[CookieDiva]

I haven't read all of the posts all of the way through, so if this has been mentioned, please forgive me.

For those of you on Topomax, have you been told not to use BC pills with it because it can make them less effective?

TIA.

 

[chell]

For those of you on Topomax, have you been told not to use BC pills with it because it can make them less effective?

TIA.

Nope, I haven't heard that at all. I was just at my doctor this past week for my first follow up since being back on Topomax and after switching my BC to also help reduce my migraines. She never mentioned it.

If you have migraines avoid Seasonique! I just remembered that. That set off the first migraine I ever needed an injection for.

 

[starann]

OP..
The Pamelor has helped decrease the break thru h/a while on the Topamax. The side effects most have are dry mouth (think cotton mouth) and constipation. I have IBS and it helped a little with that (I mean jsut a little). The big side effect for me is tachycardia (fast heart rate, like 100 resting, 140 with activity). I can't take anything to lower it due to low BP (I pass out enough as it is!) but I told my Dr, I would rather deal with the tachycardia than the headaches, but that is me personally. Now that it is getting hot and humid I am really bothered with both the migranes and the tachycardia, but for me this works best.


Good luck!


CookieDiva...
A lot of BCP are made ineffective from anti-seziure meds, but I am not sure if Topamax is one of them. I have had 2 healthy (for the most part) babies while taking Topamax, but it is a high risk med for pregnancy, mainly becuase they don't have enough pregnant women whio have taken it.

Ask the pharmacist if you want to know for sure!

 

[chell]

Migraines might be linked to hypoglycemia. I find this very interesting as lately I've been getting shaking hands and dizzy spells a few hours after eating.

I'm definitely going to explore the hypoglycemia avenue along with the TMJ possibility.

You had lots of great points in your post. I've tried most all of those. I think each person has to find the right combo for their body.

When you get these shaking hands and dizzy spells do you eat right away? Do you keep something with protein near by? You should if it is hypoglycemia. I also have it and have to keep it in check. If a spell does hit me and I don't get it taken care of quick enough I will suffer a migraine for not taking care of it in time.

In the rush of life sometimes a bowl of cereal was a good option for dinner. It took a few years but I finally realized that when I did this I woke up with a horrible migraine. Then I realized that was because I wasn't eating enough protein at night to carry me over to the next morning.

That could be something for you to look at if any of you wake up with migraines and ever have hypoglycemia or think you possibly do. I can't eat pizza for dinner either. I have to have some sort of protein that will carry me through. I'm sure I could do some sort of shake but I'm not into that sort of thing. I'll just eat some meat.

 

[Lowillian]

I read somewhere that dark chocolate can help ward off migraines at the first sign that one is coming. I don't get migraines, and I hate chocolate, but DH has tried this, and he says it works. If the migraine is already going strong, he needs something stronger, but he says it works when the migraine is just starting.

It's something to do with one of the chemicals in dark chocolate.

Sorry, OT, but I just had to comment - I've never heard anyone say they hate chocolate. I know people who don't care for it, but never heard anyone say they hate it!

I also get migraines - just missed work this week - so I'm not making light of them!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Forgot to mention in April I had sinus surgery & since my sinus headaches have been better under control post surgery my migraines have also decreased.

Both ENTs agreed (as well as an ER doctor because the pain has been so bad 2x) that a headache of any kind, in my case sinus & sinus infections were triggering migraines. I didn't believe one had anything to do with the other but I'm happy to report I was wrong

 

[Cindy F]

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 awesome! I was able to find some of my triggers and elminate them too. Unfortuntely, my period is one of my triggers, so no amount of therapy is going to help that. Maybe early menapause though...lol

Frova seems to work well for hormonal/menstrual related migraines.

http://www.frova.com/dtp/index.aspx?kwmid=4783299&kmcid=3059690520&match_type=

Imitrex Nasal Spray at the onset of a migraine works well as an abortive, just make sure to put a hard piece of candy in your mouth to avoid any bitter taste from PND.
Treximet is a new abortive combination drug that is promising.
http://www.treximet.com/

Elavil tends to work a bit better than Pamelor for prevention

Good Luck and I hope something in here helps!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

 

[Shmily1]

When my brother was little, he had migraines and took some kind of pill that was all colored spots on the pill. It wasn't like a capsule with the colored spots though.

DH use to have migraines but hasn't had one in a long time. It was all about triggers for him. Most migraines are caused by stomach issues so he now takes stomach medicine (omeprezole or something like that). It's working!!

 

[Inigo]

Sorry, OT, but I just had to comment - I've never heard anyone say they hate chocolate. I know people who don't care for it, but never heard anyone say they hate it!

I also get migraines - just missed work this week - so I'm not making light of them!

I've been told many times that my DD and I are odd because we're the only females in existence who don't eat chocolate. No, not even during that "time of the month."

My secretary at work loves that I don't like chocolate, because I pass on all the chocolate to her.

 

[Jennasis]

Does anyone have a good suggestion for a migraine preventative medicine?

I'm not looking for pain meds, I have those. I'm currently on Topamax and while it's fairly effective, I can no longer tolerate the side effects. The memory loss and it makes me feel like a complete idiot.

My neuro is having me start my taper off the Topamax (not looking forward to this) and I want to be informed when he offers alternatives when I return.

I'd love to hear what works and what doesn't work from any of you migraine sufferers . Thanks!

I feel your pain. Topamax did terrible things to me as well. My nuero took me off it post-haste. Only your Neurologist can really help you on this one. He'll know what would be prudent to try.

In my case, my Godsend was KEPPRA. Ultimately used for people with seizures. But it saved my life...I'm migraine free for almost 3 years. No longer take the Keppra either. Life is good.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Macca1111]

I'm with you, I've eliminated the triggers I can, but there's some I can't do much about...hormones, stress, weather...

That's the one I have going now, weather. It used to be that sleep would totally get rid of my migranes, but after they screwed up my epidural w/ knee surgery I had them for a month solid, and now they are much nastier and harder to get rid of. However, my biggest trigger is tension in my neck/shoulders, so when I tried Imitrex it didn't work, but the muscle relaxer they gave me with it did the trick. I'm out tho, and need to go back in for them to refill it grr. So, I am off to Taco Bell to get a ridiculously sized Baja Blast, which combined with exercise of some sort seems to help me lick it. So, I probably have the least healthy solution for you, but there you have it.

 

[chell]

Do any of you ever want something cold to eat like ice cream or a milkshake when you have a migraine? I usually do. I figure it has to do with my not being able to stand the heat issues.