severe migrains

[blissopifree 2]

My sister is prescribed propanel  for migraines/cluster headaches, I know they are a beta blocker but she says they help her imensly.I suppose it's one of those meds that have more than one use?.

But as they are prescribed quite easily and can be got in generic form they may well be worth trying.....

Peace 

Bliss.....

 

[bud]

Nothing totally works for me.  OC will take the edge off.  No doc ever wanted to prescribe me a s2 except a female doc who suffered herself from migraines, she would give hyd.

 

[Klady]

Ive had cluster migraines for 30+ years, tried every painkiller on the lists in the U/K/ then tried the triptans when they came along. SUmatriptan didn't work for me but zolmitriptan/zomig can make the pain go away and sometimes even stop the migraine developing if I take one early enough. I've also tried topiramate as a preventative but although I still take a small dose, I also still get the migraines, not as many as I used to but the only thing that really works for me is zomig and I get the version which dissolve in your mouth so you don't need to swallow a pill then throw up. 

 

[KittyPurffect]

I have been given Fior as well. I ran out and went to the ER. They gave me IV Reglan or whatever the spelling. O M G that drug gave me the worst hour long trip I have ever taken. I literally was 1. Paralyzed. 2. Incoherent and 3. Thought death had come. Never again.......EVER

 

[ElectroNymph]

When I regularly experienced migraines I took Ibuprofen and lay in a cool, dark room. Seemed to work mostly.

 

[DollyParton]

Another migraineur  (?). Began with me when a child too. Definitely a hormonal link there - entering puberty. Always sick as a dog at school  and never proper medication. In mid 20s eased up. Not as often - few a year compared to same weekly. Late 40s back with a vengeance and going strong. I get sumatriptan and propranolol. It is a beta blocker and does help when you adjust to it. She started me on higher dose and heart near stopped. Makes you slow down - sluggish and serious vivid nightmares. Always nightmares. I'd take cocodamol in past. But codeine makes headaches worse apparently and of course addiction in itself. Anti inflammatory help a too. Naproxen. I take ginger for nausea. Better than valoid. Tubes of crushed ginger from Tescos. The weather a major trigger for me and with weather in UK as changeable as it is - my head - left side like a yoyo. My niece gets now too. Her dad said the neurologist said it comes in childhood/teen years. Might get a break. Then returns mid life. Perhaps another break and back in old age.  Reassuring. I am only learning this time how all the mood swings are linked to migraine. I get fits of rage and I mean rage. Goes again after headache passed. If effects digestive tract and serotonin levels - absorbed through gut. So those lows and complete drain of energy after are linked there. Triptans can keep serotonin levels up which helps counter dip into depression. Anti depressants given for migraine too. But have to be careful if on Triptans too. Serotonin syndrome. Hunger and being tired or stress will bring on. Magnesium supplements. Different strokes as someone said.  I am thinking to try for PIP. Migraine is classed number 19 of most debilitating illnesses in world according to World Health Org. And it does affect your ability to perform certain tasks of daily life during attack. Effects mental health too.  Not a headache. Neurological disorder with many effects. I doubt I'll succeed but gonna try. If severe enough it meets the criteria for disability. Just need to prove it using the legal jargon. Essay done. ?

 

[Wednesday G]

I also get migraines. Horrible! I take 300 mg of B2, 500 mg magnesium and 2100 mg gabapentin. I recently was diagnosed with cancer and for whatever reason, I've had only two headaches in the nine months of treatment,

 

[Azalea13]

I have been a Migraine suffer since I was a child. Tried all the medications most of you have mentioned and have been to the Diamond Headache clinic for a week's stay. Nothing ever seemed to work for prevention medication. 3 years ago I got approved for Botox. What a miracle drug, took my headache days down to once a week and sometimes not at all. Always still get a migraine during cycle time and that's the only time I have to use an abortive medication. You can only get the injections once every three months and they do not hurt at all. I know it's very expensive but if your insurance will cover it, I highly recommend it. It works!!!!!  :9_innocent:

 

[Agrodge]

Botox has worked wonders for my migraines, too.  If you're a chronic sufferer and your insurance will allow it, I strongly recommend trying them.  However, they are really expensive AND check your doctor out beforehand to make sure he/she has given them lots of times before.  The last thing you want is an inexperienced doctor paralyzing half your face for 3 or 4 months.

BUT, the botox did nothing for my Cluster "headaches" (yeah, I'm a neurological mess).  The only partial relief I get from them is a combination of sumatriptan shots (self injectable) and Stadol/butorphanol tartrate.  I have a wonderful neurologist who completely understands the horrors of Clusters and has helped me for 3 years.  Unfortunately, nothing really seems to work for me (including the much touted oxygen therapy).  And with our wonderful Congress wanting people to suffer, she is considering retiring.  if she does, I'll be forced to order RCs and such online in a search for something similar to the Stadol.  sigh   thanks, politicians.

 

[Verwary]

I am a migraine sufferer as well 2-3 per week. I ended up in er after my usual meds and sitting in dark didn't help and found out the pressure in my eye was 52! It should be 12 at the most. After seeing many optomologists I found out it was a genetic issue with my eyes which led to glaucoma at the age of 42!

now that my eyes are under control the migraines have decreased to 3-5 a month, problem is now that I have glaucoma, most of the regular meds given for migraines I can't take!!!  I had a doc put me on hydros which helped but now that I also have problems with my knees I am super tolerant to pks even Ocs are like tic tacs.  

Basically my advice is to have your eyes checked by a specialist not just an optometrist and be careful with op8s!

 

[Agrodge]

I'm sorry for your pain and thanks for the concern.  But, the whole op8s concern has been blown WAY out of proportion by the media and politicians.  Sure, some people get addicted to them easily.  But the actual number is a lot less than the number of people with legitimate needs who now can't get the medicine they need; hence, great sites like this one! (Woohoo!  I worked in the word hence!)

 

[DeniseMarie]

It would be so great to find a vendor who carries butalbital again!  It very unnerving to have a headache for days at a time, and no way to stop it.  I am on a quest.

 

[Agrodge]

Butalbital....thats the caffeine/barbiturate pill, right?  I had a prescription several years ago.  It worked great for migraines, worthless for clusters.  But yeah, I'd like to find a place selling it, too!  Keep, us posted DM.

 

[US Army Veteran]

Anyone here try Fiorcet? I got a lot of the shit

 

[Fark]

I have been taking Zolmitriptan for years now with success. It's a selective serotonin receptor agonist. The idea is that I'm supposed to take it ASAP, once I feel a migraine on its way. There are a number of drugs in this class. My physician generously gave me a handful of different brands to try, A - Z, and the "Z" was the one that worked the best (the fastest). I recommend that people who haven't tried triptans give them a try. They're not narcotics, so you can pop one and go off to work. I prefer to take one, lie down for about 20 minutes, then start my routine. This drug has been a life changer for me. I've been getting migraines my entire life, and I'm nearly 60 (gah!) They haven't slowed down, so miracle meds like this one are appreciated. I don't know if it makes any difference, but my migraines appear to be triggered by the barometer, and I seldom get auras.

 

[BenzoNicky]

Does anyone know where to find generic MAXALT (Rizatriptan)?  It is the only medicine that has ever helped my migraines. I haven't seen it since DDS went down a few years ago.