Has anyone encountered wicked insomnia problems and had a noticeable increase in migraine attacks? I'm taking 200mg Topamax as a preventative. The last two months, I'm only getting maybe two or three hours of sleep tops, and I'm having at least that many major migraine events per week. Weather is also a big trigger, so between the two, it's killing me. I'm really hard to medicate, as only some narcotics work for me, so getting relief is getting harder and harder to find. I'm working on getting a good neurologist, because my current doctor won't prescribe the right medication to get me straightned out. At this point, I think a couple good weeks of sleep would help immensely. Has anyone else run into this sleep deprivation problem?
Yes, I have been having the sleep problem, too. I was having a terrible time falling asleep. Then when I feel asleep, I'd wake up over and over again all night long. I saw my neurologist this past Tuesday, and she prescribed Neurontin for me. It already seems to be helping with this issue. And getting a good night's sleep definitely helps me reduce the frequency of attacks.
Right now I am having the same problem...I actually go to sleep anywhere from 2-6am....and then I am tired throughout the day, and of course have a migraine that makes me want to bash my head in....and the evening rolls around again, and you would think I am tired....sure I am, but I can't sleep.
I can even take something that I would make me sleepy, but it doesn't put me out. Or I sleep for a bit, but not longer than an hour or two.
I think I just have a lot going on in my head right now...more than the migraine!
It must be something in the air. I was having the same problem and found the solution to be 3 - 3 mg Melatonin and 2 - 300 mg Valerian Root. You can buy them in the Health Food / Vitamin store. I also checked them with my doctor because I was concerned about addictive components. Melatonin is naturally produced by your body and he said was no problem. Valerian Root helps reduce anxiety so is good to relieve a restless sleep. If you just need help sleeping (i.e. no help with restless sleep) then Melatonin is good enough. I like Melatonin because it gives me a good night's sleep and I don't feel groggy in the morning.
Let me know if you try it and how it works. There's lots of information on the internet about it.
Nicky
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha
I have been suffering from insomnia as well as back to back (cluster) migraines for a few months now. I hear your pain. Just be careful when you take narcotics to help with either or both of those problems, just a few days ago my nine year old daughter found me seizuring from an overdose. And apparently after coming out of the seizure I was screaming and violent, the paramedics had a hard time getting me into the ambulance. I don't remember any of it, but I know my husband and 3 kids were very upset by the incident. I'm left unable to take any other medications until I see another neurologist, but still feel groggy and extremely sensitive to light and noise. They told me to go to the ER if I experienced any other migraine like symptoms, and when I did have to go back, they gave me a drug which I happened to be allergic to. LOVELY!!! So now I'm left desperately trying to change anything and everything to stop this chain reaction of migraines. I know the drugs take the pain away, but they just mask what's really going on. Try to find help to prevent them, and please let me know if you come across anything helpful. Take care and God bless.
I have been jsut recently having this problem. I use to be able to go to sleep when head hit the pillow and be knocked out til' noon. But now I wake up at least once a night, and not to use the restroom, I wake up for a second look at the clock realize the time and go back ot sleep. I have never been this way. But as another said I think I have a lot of drama in my life right now as well.
This past Monday I felt a migraine coming on, so I jumped it first with my abortive, Stadol Nasal Spray. I took two sprays, then another two a few minutes later. I know the Stadol will make me sleepy if I have enough in my system. The only way I can get rid of a migraine is to sleep it off under medication, and since I've been so sleep-deprived for months, I figured I'd go a little heavy on the Stadol. Well, I slept for a few hours, took another couple of sprays, slept some more, and kept it up for over 24 hours! Eureka!!! When I woke up, it was the first time in as long as I can remember that I was actually pain-free. No headache at all, and it lasted for over two days! I know this isn't the proper way to fix my insomnia problem, but at least now I feel like there is a little juice in the batteries to keep searching for a solution. I'm seeing my Doctor next week and a new Neurologist in about a month. But geez, those two days were heaven! Will keep you updated!
Did any of you guys know that narcotics, such as demerol, cause piggy back migraines? Can you believe that? The thing that is suppose to get rid of them actually increases them? Gee, no wonder the drug companies are rolling in the cash. After an EEG, it seems that the demerol has also been causing me to have Myoclonic seizures (small uncontrollable jerking movements that sometimes happen to people when they are falling asleep, but can happen at any time to a sufferer). And the anti-deppressant I was on, but failed to keep up because of the migraine, caused the grand mal seizure, because of the missed doses. Well, long story short, I feel much better now that I'm off the demerol, it took about a week though. But I'm curious, how many of you out there that suffer from migraines also suffer from insomnia, deppression and ADD? I think there is a link.
I also suffer from Insomnia, which I think is a huge trigger of my migraines. I do take 3mg of Melatonin before I go to bed, and I have no trouble getting to sleep. It is the constant and consistant waking-up throughout the night that is so frustrating. On average, I wake up about 3-4 times during the night and then have trouble falling back asleep. Sometimes I wake up in the morning with eyes so red and puffy you'd think I'd either been doing drugs or crying all night! Throughout the day I'm irritable, and many times with a migraine on the way.
I think you're right. I suffer from depression, insomnia and migraines. I think it's a chicken and the egg question. Does the insomnia trigger my migraines and do my constant headaches cause my depression. My depression is under control and I am able to fall asleep with the melatonin. HK4283 I have the same challenge I wake up several times.
Nicky
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha
well then you can go for alternative treatments for migraine
Abortive treatments stop migraines quickly. Many drugs are now available for immediate treatment of migraine attacks. The goal is rapid and effective relief of headache. The most effective drugs for stopping a migraine are the triptans, which specifically target serotonin receptors. They are all very similar in chemical structure and action. The following is a list of triptans:
I appreciate the information about the Melatonin, Nicky. I've thought about trying that, but I just kept thinking that my sleep problems would get better. Since they haven't, I'm going to speak with my doctor about trying that. It sounds like a good option.
Nicky--thanks for the advice--the combo of the melatonin and valerian root has helped considerably. I only wake up about once or twice during the night as opposed to 4-5 times. I don't feel as cranky now.
We are all very familiar with the triptan family of abortives for migraines. This has no bearing on the insomnia issue, which we are debating in this post. The topic of discussion is if insomnia is responsible for an increase in the number of migraine attacks we are having, or conversely, if the insomnia is a result of an increase in migraine attacks. We are searching for a resolution for the insomnia, not how to relieve our migraines. As individuals, there are a bazillion ways to treat the migraine attacks, but the subject of insomnia is new, so anyone on the bulletin board with a suggestion on dealing with the insomnia is what we are looking for in this post.
More information on my experiences with Valerian Root and Melatonin. I started taking it every night about six weeks ago because sleep is such a trigger for me and took it daily. I have also had a low grade headache for a month. about a week ago I stopped taking both, along with Calcium / Magnesium, and a Multi Vitamin and during the last few days have seen the low grade headache go, though I had a migraine yesterday.
I did some research and found studies that showed both Valerian Root and Melatonin can cause migraines and also found studies that showed melatonin can help migraine sufferers. I found research that suggested that 3 mg is sufficient though the bottle I have says 3 to 9 mg is the prescribed dose. I had a migraine earlier in the week and took 2 valerian root with my medication and it helped tremendously.
So my advice is keep track of how you're feeling and note any changes. Even though my doctor okayed both of these and they didn't trigger migraines I think one or both may have triggered a low grade headache (similar to a rebound). It may also have been the fact I was taking them daily as well rather than occassionally.
I have stopped all of my supplements right now and will be test any future ones one at a time to see if it causes any side effects instead of starting two or more at a time.
Nicky
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha
Eureka!!! When I woke up, it was the first time in as long as I can remember that I was actually pain-free. No headache at all, and it lasted for over two days! I know this isn't the proper way to fix my insomnia problem, but at least now I feel like there is a little juice in the batteries to keep searching for a solution. I'm seeing my Doctor next week and a new Neurologist in about a month. But geez, those two days were heaven! Will keep you updated!