Migraines

[Stormystarr]

Does anyone know of anything good to recommend for migraines? I have tried all of the over the counter migraine meds. but nothing seems to work. So a friend gave me one of her prescription pills, and even that didn't work it just dulled the pain. Now it keeps getting worse...help.

 

[Merelan]

It all depends on the cause. What is good for one style can actually be worse for another. You need to see your Dr. And watch what you eat. Record things and you will probably see a trend of certain items, and they also vary from headache types, that make the headache worse. I am sorry to be bearer of bad news. So many things you can try, and it is a trial and error all the way. See a Dr. please.

 

[dusk2dawn]

I agree with Merelan. So many things can cause migraines, from different types of food to changes in the weather. There are also different types of migraines and headaches. For me when I know a migrane is starting I do my best to stop it. Sometimes caffeen works sometimes it doesn't or even a glass of water. If it gets me to the point where I can no longer function (when I can not handle the light, or when I start to get sick) I go to the hospital for a shot of demeral/gravol, but that is when all else fails and that does not happen very often any more.

Your best bet is to talk to you doctor and see what they say, there is new information about what causes migraines so there maybe another alternitive altogher.

Hope this helps.
Dusk

 

[Weird Harold]

One thing that causes migraines for me is Aspartame (Nutrasweet (tm)) saccharine does the same to my daughter.

Merelan is definitely on the right track. A doctor is really the only way to isolate the cuase of a headache.

Are you sure that your headache is a migraine, and not a sinus headache, or a stress headache. Neither of those two types of headaches respond to painkillers alone.

 

[Guest]

I have suffered from migraines since I was a child. At one point in time I was put on perscription drugs for them. Then I was taken off (why, I still don't know!). Right now I take 3 excedrin migraine pills. That seems to do the trick everytime!

~Dr Tiggs~
http://smilecwm.tripod.com/sd3/lise.gif

 

[Cheyenne]

Public Service Bulletin

I also take Excedrin-like medicine when I have bad headaches and it seems to work the best of anything. One thing that is a pet peeve of mine though- check the active ingredients the next time you are in the store. Doesn't matter which box of Excedrin you pick up- extra strength or the Excedrin for Migraines the ingredients are exactly the same. It is just a marketing ploy to get you to pay more for the word "migraine" on the box. I actually don't buy the Excedrin brand, either. Target has their own brand with the exact ingredients as all the Excedrin types for a lot less $.

 

[OUTSIDER]

My little sister used to suffer from horrible migraines until she went too the doctor's and had a food alergy test and now she avoids some food's and almost never has them any more, you should go and have the test it's quick and easy and painless, food can be the cause of many problems and I know of many people who have had their live's bettered by knowing what food too avoid.

hope this is of help and I hope you get well soon.

PS. I just remembered that dehydration can also cause headache's, an easy way to see if your dehydrated is to look at your pee the yellower it is the more dehydrated you are.

[Edited by OUTSIDER on 10-02-2000 at 06:41 PM]

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Public Service Bulletin

It is just a marketing ploy to get you to pay more for the word "migraine" on the box. I actually don't buy the Excedrin brand, either. Target has their own brand with the exact ingredients as all the Excedrin types for a lot less $.

Walmart also has a generic painkiller with Excedrin's (tm) formula under their "equate" store brand. You get two hundred tablets for the same price as one hundred of "Excedrin Extra Strength" and for about two dollars cheaper than one hundred "Excedrin Migraine." All three brands contain 250mg Aspirin, 250mg acetaminaphine, and 65mg caffeine.

Reading the labels can save you a lot of money and trouble. Knowing what each ingredient does (even if you can't pronounce it) can keep you from nasty drug interactions as well.

 

[Skibum]

Have you tried the Imitrix self injected migrane stuff? That is supposed to be effective.

 

[TigerClaw]

 

[CW]

OUCH !!!!

I am prone to a migraine attack every so often,,, yep, guys get them as well,,, and after nearly a year of testing the root cause was finally located quite by accident.

It seems that I have a deep seated vasio spasm in my upper neck that shuts off or severely restricts the blood supply to my right brain and effectively shuts down the left side of my body,,, no feeling ( can't even feel shots ), no control (limp as a noodle ), limited speech, screaming headache,,, and this would last anywhere from 2 to 24 hours,,,

BUT,,, the point that I want to make is that there are any number of different causes ( as has been pointed out ), and w/o the correct cause being identified you are at risk for doing more harm than good with nonprescription medicines,,, the use of Imitrex for an example will possibly kill me dead in just a matter of 30 minutes,,,

The solution that was developed for me was exercise for my neck and upper back, and the last ditch resort use of Esigic,,, 1500mg at a pop along with a trip to the ER ( I hated being on a first names basis with the staff there )for observation and a mega shot of a muscle relaxant.

Thankfully I have not had an episode in over a year now that I have started the exercises.

Check with YOUR doctor and don't take a hap-hazard or sluff-off answer for THE answer to your migraines,,, or get a referal to a neurologist,,, keeping good records of what happened prior to the onset is very important also.

[Edited by CW on 10-02-2000 at 09:21 PM]

 

[dancinvixen]

This is coming from a major migraine sufferer. NEVER TAKE ANYONE ELSE'S MEDICINE. Each person is different. Keep a "diary" or when you have your migraines, how bad, and exactly how long and what you suffer during the attack. You can also try taking 2 aspirin, 2 tylenol, and 2 cups of a caffinated<sp?> drink. You need to talk to your doctor about your migraines. I know that when I get mine, I have them for 3-4 days, I am nauseated by absolutely everything, sights, smells, sounds, everything. Talking to your doctor can really help. But you might want to think long and hard about the medicines he may give you. My drs. gave me nortriptylene. Only problem with it is that if you don't take it, your migraines come back worse than before. Honestly, look on the internet for all information about migraines, and remedies.

 

[Stormystarr]

Thanks to everyone who gave me the advice. It's mostly gone now, after sleeping for a long time. But it's still here, so I took 5 Excedrin and it has dulled it a lot. So I'm feeling a little better.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Stormystarr

I'm married to an occasional migrane sufferer. The pain, for a non-migrane sufferer, is not imaginable. First, commercial stuff will not fix it. Imitrix - by prescription only - (not the injections, pills are available now) will knock a migrane down in about 70% of the time (according to my doctor). Imitrix MUST be taken at the onset...if you wait, it does not work. Imitrix is expensive, but worth the price, according to my spouse. If all else fails, go to the ER. A shot of Demarol will fix it, although you can't do this too often.

I have researched the web as well...and this is the best advice I can offer.

 

[Weird Harold]

so I took 5 Excedrin and it has dulled it a lot.

Please see a doctor about the migraine, before overdosing on Excedrin forces you to see him for a bleeding stomach ulcer.

Pain is the body's way of telling you there is something wrong. treating the symptoms, or just masking the pain is NOT going to make the problem go away.

There are doctors who specialize in headaches, find one of them if your regular doctor doesn't have a clue.

 

[Stormystarr]

Well, I have a little problem with that WH, I live in this little tiny hick town now, and not one of the doctors or hospitals know what causes them. They come and go. I have been given Demoral too many times to count. Even that doesn't seem to help for long. But it's mostly gone now, I've been taking at least 3 to 7 tylenol, excedrin, or whatever else I have in the house for my pain for a long time. I think I've built up a tolerence to them.