What do you take for your Migraines?

[marshallandcartersmo]

DH has migraines a lot. His are based at the top of his neck, bottom of his head.

He takes Excederin every day, probably shouldn't, but I'm convinced he's one of those "rebound headache" people. When he gets a full-blown migraine he'll take an Imetrex (sp), but he hates too. Makes him feel "loopy", and hung over afterwards. He always throws up at the end of his too. Says it makes him feel better......

A friend of mine told me about Botox for her headaches. Said she goes every 6 months for the shots and didn't have a headache until it started wearing off at 6 months. Went for another shot or two---no more headaches. Wonder if it would help DH, the location of his are weird.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Excedrin and come extra caffeine usually works for me. I've never gone and seen a doctor to see about migraine meds. Only reason I am thinking about going to the doctor is because I can't handle the nausea that comes with a migraine. One day I went from fine to puking within 15 minutes and the puking is the part I hate the most!!

I really hate the Migraine "hangover" when your head doesn't hurt anymore, but you still feel "funky".

My MIL vomits (thankfully I don't) and she always got relief from a Compazine suppository... it comes in pill form too but she could never keep anything down. Once the Compazine worked she could take her other oral medication.

I guess I'm lucky my DH's Mom gets them... I don't think someone who wasn't familiar could have ever put up with me this long.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Luckily for me, 2 Excedrin Tension Headache (only Acetaminophen and Caffeine, no Aspirin in the Tension Headache) usually do the trick. Sometimes I need to lie in the dark and take 2 more when I'm allowed if the first 2 don't do it completely.

4 advil will also work for me, usually, but it rips my stomach apart, so I would only take those if I absolutely had to.

I've ended up in the ER once for a migraine. My regular dr. has told me that as long as the OTC work for me, he doesn't want me taking anything stronger yet.

Usually I can tell they are coming on because I get floaters right in the center of my eye....directly where I'm looking or trying to read.

Kimya

 

[Brit17]

I usually take 3 Motrin and put an ice bag on my forehead or behind my neck ... this usually works for me ...

 

[MeggerasMa]

I was taking Topamax last year but had to stop. My blood felt like acid running through my veins and anything with acid like lemonade would burn my mouth and throat so bad that my tongue was peeling. I haven't been on anything since. I have to avoid caffeine b/c I have really bad tachycardia now which landed me in the hospital last week. Not much I can take anymore other than Tylenol and that doesn't help much.

I feel your pain. Topamax did the same to me! I couldn't drink anything carbonated because it burned like fire on my tongue, cheeks and all the way down my throat. I did like the weight loss, but there were just too many awful side effects for me. I felt like I'd been run over by a truck, was exhausted even after a full night of sleep and looked terrible. I've since gone back to my beta blocker (Toprol XL) and have tried Maxalt-MLT. The Maxalt has been successful for me, so far. My doctor said I was the only one who complained about Topamax. Thanks for confirmation that it wasn't in my head.

 

[rcraw45425]

Started out taking Cafergot years ago with no results. Then DR started giving me Tylenol 3 or 4, all it usually did was make me loopy. Married to an MD now, have tried most of the migraine medicines (well, I did years ago, MAxalt Melt worked best for me then.) Two years ago I had one that would not go away. the only thing in the house was an Imitrex tablet. I took it and it put me in the ER, sent my BP through the roof. Now I am on two BP meds, no more Imitrex for me. Most of the time I can knock one out if I catch it son enough with a simple Goody or BC powder. For some reason the caffeine helps. Also had luck with the Excedrin Migraine formula

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

DH has migraines a lot. His are based at the top of his neck, bottom of his head.

He takes Excederin every day, probably shouldn't, but I'm convinced he's one of those "rebound headache" people. When he gets a full-blown migraine he'll take an Imetrex (sp), but he hates too. Makes him feel "loopy", and hung over afterwards. He always throws up at the end of his too. Says it makes him feel better......

I suffer from migraines too and I have to agree with your DH...once I've puked, I know I'll be okay soon. Its the time prior to the puking that'll kill you.

I take Excedrin Migraine, if that doesn't help I go to an Imitrex injection. In the event that fails me (which is maybe every couple of years), I go to the ER and they give me a shot of Demerol and Vistaril and that always solves the problem.

 

[breezy1077]

I have ocular migraines and half of my face goes numb when I have one. So, I take 2 advil as soon as my lip goes numb, or I feel the headache - then I take Oxycodon until it goes away.

 

[MichelleVW]

Mine feel like an ice pick is going through my left eye......omg.....seriously is there any pain worse than a migraine?? Because I don't think there is. I have broken my shoulder which hurt like heck, my heel which was no picnic, but that was nothing compared to the pain of a migraine!!

 

[phorsenuf]

My sister suffers from terrible migraines. I have them too but not like hers. Anyway, hers would debilitate her and not much helped. She also has high blood pressure and just happened to switch Drs. He prescribed her a new blood pressure medication and since than she's had no migraines! I can't remember what it is but I'll find out.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

I've been on so many things, but I haven't found anything that really works yet.

Here's a list of just some of the things. I know I'll forget some things, but I have most of these in my medicine cabinet right now.

Topamax, Imitrex, Migranal, Neurontin (talk about a major high), Reglan, Phenergan, Fioricet, Percocet, Methadone, Lortabs, Dilaudid, and Compazine. That's just what I can come up with after looking in my medicine cabinet. I'm sure there's been more. If anyone knows of anything that works really good that I haven't tried yet, please let me know.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I suffer from migraines too and I have to agree with your DH...once I've puked, I know I'll be okay soon. Its the time prior to the puking that'll kill you.

I take Excedrin Migraine, if that doesn't help I go to an Imitrex injection. In the event that fails me (which is maybe every couple of years), I go to the ER and they give me a shot of Demerol and Vistaril and that always solves the problem.

I am the same way but when I start puking I usually can't stop without Phenergan. The headache seems to stop when the puking starts. The migraine that landed me in the ER was different. The pain seemed like it was inside the center of my head and the puking wouldn't stop. The ER gave me a lovely combo of Phenergan and Dilaudid in an IV and kept cranking the dose until I was somewhat out of pain but that knocked me out for the rest of the day.

Mine feel like an ice pick is going through my left eye......omg.....seriously is there any pain worse than a migraine?? Because I don't think there is. I have broken my shoulder which hurt like heck, my heel which was no picnic, but that was nothing compared to the pain of a migraine!!

I would rather give birth than have a bad migraine!

I have a migraine hovering now but the only meds I have are Excedrin Migraine. Ugh. Hope they work this time b/c I am home alone with DS1.

 

[bumbershoot]

In a pinch I can also have a mug of Espresso with lots of sugar, sodas don't work because both the corn syrup and Splenda/Equal are triggers for me

Woah, now THAT is interesting, to have such a reaction to high fructose corn syrup!!!

Isn't coffee an amazing natural medicine?

*****

Hubby used to suffer from migraines; the first one he remembers having was at 3.

He's not the biggest fan of western medicine, so he just dealt with them, unlike most of you with the prescriptions and such. He doesn't trust the medicines, and he'd rather bear it than take them.

BUT since about a year after meeting me, his migraines are few and far between. Why? Chiropractic care. I rare adjust him anymore, but I'm a retired chiropractor, and when I first found him in the middle of the night, crying in the dark b/c it hurt so bad and he didn't want to wake me, I started adjusting him. I used Network Spinal Analysis, which is mainly an extremely gentle grouping of spinal adjustment techniques. During his first spinal adjustment, the migraine slowly disappeared.

And after about a year of being adjusted, he's not a "person who gets migraines" anymore. He'll get the occasional nasty headache, but I've never seen him crying b/c of them since then.

So I highly recommend trying gentle chiropractic, see if it works for you.

Acupuncture, too, by the way.

 

[breezy1077]

Mine feel like an ice pick is going through my left eye......omg.....seriously is there any pain worse than a migraine?? Because I don't think there is. I have broken my shoulder which hurt like heck, my heel which was no picnic, but that was nothing compared to the pain of a migraine!!

Mine's all in my left eye too, and the left side of my face goes numb.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Woah, now THAT is interesting, to have such a reaction to high fructose corn syrup!!!

Isn't coffee an amazing natural medicine?

*****

Hubby used to suffer from migraines; the first one he remembers having was at 3.

He's not the biggest fan of western medicine, so he just dealt with them, unlike most of you with the prescriptions and such. He doesn't trust the medicines, and he'd rather bear it than take them.

BUT since about a year after meeting me, his migraines are few and far between. Why? Chiropractic care. I rare adjust him anymore, but I'm a retired chiropractor, and when I first found him in the middle of the night, crying in the dark b/c it hurt so bad and he didn't want to wake me, I started adjusting him. I used Network Spinal Analysis, which is mainly an extremely gentle grouping of spinal adjustment techniques. During his first spinal adjustment, the migraine slowly disappeared.

And after about a year of being adjusted, he's not a "person who gets migraines" anymore. He'll get the occasional nasty headache, but I've never seen him crying b/c of them since then.

So I highly recommend trying gentle chiropractic, see if it works for you.

Acupuncture, too, by the way.

Artificial sweeteners are a huge trigger for me but I have never noticed HFCS to be one. My one vise is a Pepsi a day.

I have tried Chiropractic care in the past and didn't notice any difference. What is "gentle" chiropractic and how do you find a chiropractor that uses this method? I'm willing to try anything at this point!

I have tried Acupuncture for hyperemesis but never thought about it for migraines. Do you have to have a treatment during a migraine or is it a type of preventative treatment?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Mine's all in my left eye too, and the left side of my face goes numb.

Wow. Weird. Mine can be on either side - they usually actually switch sides each time. I have at least 3 a month that are hormonal and lately several a week that I have no clue what is triggering them.

What are everyone's triggers?

My known triggers are: too much or too little sleep, too much or too little caffeine, artificial sweeteners, strong odors (especially cigarette smoke), bright lights, loud noises, dark chocolate, wine, aged cheeses (especially melted cheddar!), artifical coloring (like in orange soda), nuts in any form, stress, and a drop in blood sugar from not eating soon enough.

Years ago my Neurologist had suggested putting me on a daily anti-seizure medicine (Neurontin I believe) but I was still nursing my middle child at the time and couldn't take it.

Actually DS just weaned himself a few weeks ago so that may be an explanation for my recent migraines - the hormone levels may be wacky right now.

 

[Disneylover79]

Well I have had a constant headache since JANUARY... Dr says it is not diagnosed as a migraine, but I do have all the signs ans symptoms of a migraine, instead I have occipital neuralgia, I don't like it at all. I take Soma (muscle relaxer) and Percocet, but I have been taking the percocet for so long that it is no longer working for me. I too have what feels like an ice pic is going right through my right eye, and I also have a constant feeling of someone has slugged me in the back of my head at the base of my skull with a baseball bat. I would never wish this on anyone.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Be careful if you decide to take Neurontin. I can't take as much as they prescribed me. I did take my prescribed dose last week, and I couldn't even drive. I was all over the road and had to pull off to take about an hour nap.

My main trigger is low blood sugar. Lack of sleep is always a biggie, too. Caffiene isn't too bad, but some drinks seem to be worse than others as far as that goes. Alcohol is a major trigger for me, so I pretty much just stay away from it. Oh, yeah, kids and husbands, too.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Mine can be on either side - they usually actually switch sides each time.

What are everyone's triggers?

Mine switch sides too. My migraines are equal opportunity offenders.

My trigger is 99% lack of eating, which I've gotten better about so my headaches aren't the weekly thing they once were in my teens. I'd credit stress for the other 1% of the time.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Well I have had a constant headache since JANUARY... Dr says it is not diagnosed as a migraine, but I do have all the signs ans symptoms of a migraine, instead I have occipital neuralgia, I don't like it at all. I take Soma (muscle relaxer) and Percocet, but I have been taking the percocet for so long that it is no longer working for me. I too have what feels like an ice pic is going right through my right eye, and I also have a constant feeling of someone has slugged me in the back of my head at the base of my skull with a baseball bat. I would never wish this on anyone.

OMG, honey, I'm so sorry. I totally know that feeling, as I was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension last year and had to have six surgeries for it. I honestly hope they can come up with something to give you some relief. Have they done an MRI or a spinal tap on you?