hallowedink Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 I made a thread about this before, but it degenerated to a series of accusations of analgesics abuse, so I figured that I'd let that thread be forgotten and make a new one. Here's the situation: I've been suffering from migraines all my life. I've spoken to the doctor about them - they are definitely migraines. I'm not suffering from rebound headaches. I do have a prescription for co-dydramol, but I use it once every blue moon or so... Anyway, I've been taking pizotifen for my migraines, and it worked for a while, but then bam! It just pooped out all of a sudden. Actually, it's not so sudden, because it corresponded with my time of month, but that's over and the pizotifen still isn't working. So, my question is, what should I try next? I have a couple of options, I guess. Should I ask for stronger painkillers? The co-dydramol doesn't actually do anything, which is why I don't take it. Are there any other abortive or preventative meds out there? I can't take triptans - my doctor has warned me off them since I had a pretty severe reaction to Sumatriptan (lost muscle control, couldn't even hold up a pen, and kept falling when I walked, also my concentration went to hell). None of them have done anything for my migraines whatsoever, either. I guess what I'm asking is what has worked for other people? I'd like to have some idea of what to discuss with my doctor next time I go. Also, what do people whose migraines get worse with their menstrual cycle done to counteract this? Thanks for the feedback, N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 I've been suffering from migraines most of my life. At this point in time, this my arsenal, nothing special but all together it helps me stay sane. First and foremost, hardly any meds will work for me if I wait until the migraine is full blown out horror. At that time all I want to do is cut off my head. I have to take some med when the migraine is forming right behind my eyes. If I wait too long then nothing, nothing works. I usually start with Fiorinal. It works well but if it doesn't after a few pills, I never take anymore. By that time I know it will not work. I add lots of advil. (The advil also helped with menstruation issues, though I am past that time in my life.) If the migraine is just starting, I might take 4 or 5 over the counter advil. This will head it off at the pass. Then there is Advil Cold and Sinus, which is pseudo-ephedrine. That recently has been fabulous. Many of my migraines are sinus related I guess. I have to sign my life away for this med now because of the meth labs. But after a fiorinal, some advil, if I add later in the day my Advil C&S pill, it can get rid of the migraine altogether. If the migraine is very minor, maybe just a bad headache, then on rare occasions I use extra strength excedrin. Other tricks unrelated to meds: When it is full blown and horrific, I will stand under a hot shower and turn the shower head to one strong stream and direct it onto my neck, sinuses, head until all the hot water is gone. This seems to calm down my nerves somewhat and allows me to sleep. (Lying in bed with a full migraine is just impossible.) No lights, no noise. No reading. No using my eyes at all. I am avoiding certain foods now which helps - chocolate. red wine. I have a feeling peanuts may trigger me but I am not sure. Are you keeping a log for your migraines? Which time of day they occur, after what foods, which activity? A long day at work editing or a very stressful day, then coming home and reading stuff on the computer, reading books, can make a small headache turn into a big migraine. Gosh, just typing about this is making my head hurt. Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helloheartbreak Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Migranal - dihydroergotamaine. It's a nasal spray and if it's going to work it works fast. It doesn't work 100% of the time for me, but I'd say it knocks out more than half of my migraines. Mine are not menstrually related. For prevention I get Botox injections every 3 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallowedink Posted October 6, 2011 Author Share Posted October 6, 2011 Thank you both for your feedback. @water: I have been keeping a vague migraine diary, but it's not very detailed because it wasn't really necessary whilst the pizotifen was working. I'll make sure to make a more detailed one and watch what food might be triggering it. Apart from that, thabk you for your really detailed list of things to try. I'll make sure to try those next time! @helloheartbreak: Thanks, I'll be sure to bring that up to my doctor next time I see him. Thank you everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 I'm not really familiar with pizotifen, is it a prophylactic, or a treatment for a migraine. There is a lot more prophylaxis you can try to stop the headaches before they start. Topomax is a silver bullet for many people (not me, not everyone, just many). And there are lots of other meds to try. I am on gabapentin again after a 10 year break, but if you look through my signature, you can see a lot of the thing I tried as prophylaxis in the past. I can use sumatriptans, so I have that advantage. But the only triptan that works for me is Imitrex, about 50% of the time, and it has sucky side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted October 8, 2011 Share Posted October 8, 2011 I take fioricet, which has tylenol in it, whereas fiorinol has aspirin. I take 2 at the onset of a migraine, 2 2 hours later if it doesn't work, and then I will go for the imitrex. It works about 50% of the time, and has such side effects as having my arms and legs feeling really heavy and almost able to lift for about an hour. I successfully took topamax for about 2 years until it crapped out on me. Now I take depakote ER for both a mood stabilizer and migraine preventative, and it's working pretty good (minus the crappy side effects, which I will take over migraine city). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallowedink Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Thanks everyone for the feedback. I've been keeping a diary of when I have my migraines, and so far I think one of my triggers might be coke... If stopped drinking it for now. Quick question - does anyone know what exactly in the coke it could be, because that will help me find other things that might be triggering my migraines. Thanks! And thanks for the feeback. I'm speaking to my doctor tomorrow, so hopefully we'll be able to work out a new course of action. N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Quick question - does anyone know what exactly in the coke it could be, sugar - high-fructose corn syrup, bad bad stuff caffeine - made from kola nuts but still caffeine carbonated water? - could be a trigger I guess caramel food coloring? phosphoric acid other flavorings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallowedink Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Yeah, I did read the ingredients list. I was just wondering if there were certain substances that were more likely to trigger migraines... Oh well, I'll enter it into my migraine diary and see if a pattern starts forming between certain ingredients. N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Yeah, I did read the ingredients list. I was just wondering if there were certain substances that were more likely to trigger migraines... Caffeine and sugar. sorry I didn't make that clear. but I think those are the two biggest culprits in coke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallowedink Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 That's alright. Thanks for the feedback. N Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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