Treatments

Diseases & Conditions Migraine Headache
1
Has anyone found a treatment that is specifically for headaches?  When I look at my options under tension-type headaches all I find are NSAIDs, Antidepressants -- Tricyclics (sedating & non-sedating), Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, and a few others.  None of them are specific for pain in the head and most of them say a side effect is headaches.  I've tried one or more from each group and found that they make me drowsy, give me dry mouth, and make me jittery.  These are my options?  Now that's depressing!  sad

~ Christi

2

Christi~

what are you looking for preventatives that you take daily to keep from getting headaches/migraines or abortives that you take to relieve a headache you already have???

If you let me know a little more details I may have some suggestions on treatments that you could look in to.

Thanks...

Sara

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3
I haven't found anything I can take as a preventive yet. I take the Excedrin, depending on my mood, either right when I start feeling the headache or wait until my head feels like it will explode. I always hope that a little stretching will take care of it and I won't need to take the Excedrin. Sometimes it holds it off a little longer but it never keeps them from coming on. I've tried taking Feverfew and Magnesium for two months straight but I didn't notice any fewer headaches with that so I stopped. Any suggestions are welcome.

~ Christi

4
Christi~
Do you have a doctor that you are seeing for your headaches?

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5
My regular doctor referred me to the neurologist because she doesn't know much about headaches. The neurologist just kept having me take different medications that made me drowsy, gave me dry mouth, and made me jittery but didn't relieve or prevent my headaches. The specialist I want to see is Dr. Sheena Aurora at Swedish hospitals headache pain center. She specializes in these chronic daily headaches. I'm going to school now though so I don't have insurance from a full-time job anymore.

~ Christi

6

Boy don't I know that feeling. I have been without insurance for a few months now...and I have had insurance all my life, so this is definitely an adjustment.

I will list a few things I have tried and you may ask the doctor about some of these or do a little internet research on your own.

Anti-depressants/SSRI: Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Amitriptyline (Elavil), Noritriptyline (Pamelor), Norpramin, Sinequan, Tofranil, Paxil, Effexor

Anti-Seizure: Topamax, Neurontin, Depakote

Beta Blockers: Atenolol, Metoprolol/Lopressor, Nadolol/Corgard, Propranolol/Inderal, Blocadren
 
Calcium Channel Blockers: Cardizem, Cardene, Procardia, Nimotop, Verapamil/Calan

Triptans: Amerge, Axert, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Zomig

Ergots: Ergotamine, DHE Dihydroergotamie, Migranal
 
Others: Midrin, Duradrin
 
 
 
Ok, well that is a list I have put together. There are literally hundreds of combinations-and they all work differently for different people. Maybe you could take this list to your doctor and see what they suggest. I always do research on meds before seeing my doc. so I have an idea of what is available and possible side effects.
 
 
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7
Thank you for the list Sara.  I've tried many of them without any relief.  I suppose I should stick with it and try others but I have to take a break from time to time.  The side effects can be very frustrating to deal with when I'm not getting any relief from the headaches.  What are your thoughts on nerve blocks and steroid injections?  I've been reading about occipital neuralgia since my headaches always start from just under my occiput in the back of my head.  I also have tinnitus in my left ear and I have to wonder if it's related.

~ Christi

8
Christi:

Stick with the journey. "Although I have daily headaches now and am on everything with little releif, (x35 yrs), I once had a 3 month break with only "regular" migraines while on Coragard. It is sooooo worth the work if you can find something to help in the end. For some stupid reason it just stopped working after that and even several tries after breaking off it for awhile it still won't work again. Best of Luck to you. Kathy
9

Kk~

Do you find that after you take a medication for a while it quits working as well? I have run into that a few times. For example, when I was on Topamax it did really well at first but then stopped working to my satisfaction. I stopped for a while and when I started back I could tell a difference in fequence and severity?

Just wondering if others run into that scenerio.

Have a good day!

Sara

 
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10
All~ I don't remember where I read this, but yesterday I was doing some research and found that they have a new migraine drug that is still in the testing phase...currently it is IV only but they are working on a pill form. Any new info I find out, I will definitely share.
 
 
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11
I haven't taken anything yet that worked so I don't know about anything working for awhile and then not working anymore. It makes sense to me that your body would try and compensate for the action the medication is taking though. It's amazing to me how our bodies are equiped to maintain/heal themselves. That's the problem I have with my neurologist handing me this pill and that pill. I want to find out what is going on in my body and why and try to correct it from the source rather than just covering up the symptoms (headache). I want to know that when I get rid of these darn headaches they won't be back.
~ Christi

~ Christi

12

Well, there can be many things that cause head pain, but looking at it from another point of view there might not be anything CAUSING it...Migraines are a neurological disease that come one way or another (although you may have specific triggers that helps put them in motion.) It took a long time for me to understand that this is a NEUROLOGICAL disease...for example epilepsy...it's not that I'm doing something to cause them, or that there is an underlying organic cause (brain tumor, aneurysm etc), but that they happen and I just have to figure out how to 1)keep them from coming (avoiding triggers, keep regular sleep patterns, take preventative medicines and/or herbal and vitamins) and 2) When them come learn how to cope and treat them as best as I can.

I understand doctors throwing medicine down your throat, and you not wanting that but wanting to get to the root of the problem, I just don't know that in our case there is much they can do without medication or other treatments. Like with a tumor, they go in...remove it and you're on your way to feeling better (slight exaggeration,  but you get the idea)

I pray for each and every one of us daily...because I know our lives would be much different with this horrible head pain.
 
 
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13
I know you could be right.  I've just got to find the right thing that works.  I hate the idea of popping a pill but I hate the migraines worse. :-) I was at home yesterday in bed in a dark room all day with a migraine.  I tried everything including hot packs, cold packs, peppermint oil, massage, stretching, lavendar oil bath.  Nothing would make it feel the least bit better.  I feel better today although I'm aware it's not gone.  I just have to take it easy and wait it out.

~ Christi

14

Sweetie~

I hope you get to feeling better soon!

Sara

 
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15
Thank you Sara.

~ Christi

16

Any time Christi!!!

I am so glad everyone is here....

 
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