Medication?

[pamk5]

What are you taking for headaches and does anything work?  I have tried numerous migraine meds, ultram, afraid to take seizure meds,(since I am not having seizures) had an allergic reaction to nortriptylline which did seem to be working.  I feel like I really need to have this pain managed but I dont think anything will work for it.  Any suggestions?  I am just sick of not feeling well and I dont have a high tolerance for pain.  

[pamk5]

Ok well the doc told me Topamax was out if you had any history of kidney stones?? Which I have and dont ever want again.  My PCP gave me #15 Darvocet yesterday... I know how generous, almost as though he expects in 3-4 days I am gonna wake up "all better".  So I am on a rant with healthcare too.... I had to call the patient satisfaction rep to get my abnormal MRI results today.  Been leaving messages for 3 days with no reply.  That got a call back in a matter of minutes.  It is honestly as though they dont care at all!!

[pamk5]

Pamelor is Nortriptyline right?  I really could tell it was helping when I was on a titrated dosage and when I got to 35mgs at bedtime is when I had a major reaction.  Throat closing up and all that... and yes one more trip to the er!! Seems the things that may help I cant take for one reason or another.

[lu7997]

Headaches seem to always be labled migraines when docs are unsure of why u have them.  


I am wondering if posibly another diaretic such as lasix may help some.  It has a diff target effect than diamox does not real sure though.     We use pamelor a lot with the hospice patients for nerve pain and it works well. Tricyclic antidepresants are crap for depression but work really well for nerve pain that is chronic.    

They often prescribe that as a topical med.  Wonder if it is applied to the neck if it would target better than if ingested orally.....  

My doc is so closed to suggestions I have been affraid to ask him about this stuff. But I have seen it work wonders on our brain tumor patients.     And I would think pain would be similar in cause.   Also we NEVER use narcotics with them other than morphine for respiration control only.  The docs really like alieve, pamalor, nortriptaline combo for pain control. All non narcotics so no brain fog. Which in hospice patients we want them enjoy every moment awake that they can


Not sure how helpful but that is what I know.  Lol. Not too much sorry

[jpurple]

I take lortab, and it helps me to function.  I need compazine so i dont' throw up and then i take the lorab that way it stays down.  my doctor told me to try and just take one a day but that isn't working, bad issue with inflammation and i'm seeing a rheumatologist soon to see if he can help me.  I'm scared because the symptoms are getting worse and i don't like to take the meds as they make me tired, but i can't take the pain, its so bad i have to go to bed and can't d/t i work full time.  neuro said to try topamax but he said that interacts with the compazine and amitriptylline i take omg.  so i haven't tried topamax yet and i'm afraid to.  Waiting to see what rheum does,  i have major inflammation in sinus, bowel and tendons so i'm anxious to see what he says and i pray he will give me a full eval and not just "look" at me quickly and send me on my way.  Don't doctors feel your abdomen and do neuro's etc??? what has happened to healthcare, well thats another rant sorry :)  Good luck to you and i hope you find something that helps.  the lortab works for me but you have to be careful not to take too much and only one doctor should order it for you.  so far my pcp is the only one who has helped me, the local neurosurgical group who saw me in the er ordered it for me when they said they don't do surgery for chiari and pcp kept ordering for me, omg.  

[pamk5]

Well I am allergic sulfa too so the Diamox is out.  They gave me some Ativan when I was having palpitations and you are right that does seem to help.  I think maybe it takes some of the worry and stress away.  I find myself so closely examining every symptom is almost like being obsessive with what this is doing to my body.  
And I have to limit caffeine because of the palpitations seems it makes PVC's worse.  

I also agree that on a bad day nothing helps! The reason I am so nervous about seizure meds is because they have to build a blood level to be effective.  I had that with Nortriptyline and kept having a rebound allergic reaction for a couple days while the  level subsided.  It was pretty scary to start gasping for air with no warning and have to wait on the prednisone and inhaler to kick in.  I dont think I am having migraines but I think the docs dont know what else to call them.  

[pr1nsis]

Hi!!  If you are having migraines (aside from the chiari headaches) you might try the 'seizure' medication.  I take a daily medication (Keppra - 750mg) once a day (at night) to prevent my migraines.  And I have to be honest, since I started taking it - my migraines went from 5 - 6 a month to maybe 1 or 2!!!  When I  DO get them, I take treximet (very expensive - but amazing) - and it usually knocks out a migraine within about 30 minutes!!  

Taking a 'seizure' medication scared me at first too - but after trying it - I was impressed!!!  

Good luck!

[sleepypea]

I take Panlor for the pain, it does seem to help take the edge off, but like others have mentioned it doesn't do much for the really bad days. My problem is I have so much vertigo I can't stand it so I take meds for that and they are so sedative that it makes me like a Zombie!! At night I take Xanax and in all honesty that is when I feel at my best. It really seems to help me all the way around. I guess because it relaxes me so much that I am able to do just that "RELAX" however I can't take it during the day because it also makes me so sleepy that I can't get anything done. By far it is the most effective for me, but a lot of Dr.s don't like to give it because it is highly addictive, but if it works then to me it's worth the risk. I am very careful about not taking more then I am prescribed. I've tried all the antiseizure meds (Lyrica, Neurontin, etc...) that they try and shove on you at pain management and none of them helped. They all made me feel like I was in a cloud. I have bad brain fog anyway and those meds seem to intensify it.
Goodluck, I really hope you are able to find something that helps. I have heard quit a few people talk about the diamox and that it really helps with the pressure. I am planning on asking my Dr. about it next time I go and see how that works.

[lu7997]

I am on diamox which really helps the pressure but the rest of the headache is barely managed

They have me on ultram which barely takes the edge off.   I use ice packs and a dark night mask that I keep cool.  I hate cold but it does help I think it takes my mind off the pain.  

Also I have not found anything that helps on the really bad days.   Other than severe lifestyle changes of not doing anything to make it worse and basically laying around way way more than I want to be.

Good luck and I hope you find something to help

[Jennyfoo]

If it's intracranial pressure HA. Then a diuretic or glaucoma med might possibly help. There's one commonly used for chiari, but I can't think of the name....diamox? I've never used it because it's derived from Sulfa I guess, and I'm allergic to Sulfa.

I've got hefty narcotic meds available due to my arthritis disease and back problems. They only take the edge off on a bad day. A dark room, no noise, an ice pack on the back of my head and neck; all help a little.  

[selmaS]

Hi..sorry, I have no real meds that seem to work, but heat works well for me too...so I start with a warm soak or shower, and I curl up in bed with a heating pad.

Neway I can relax helps.....hope it helps u too : )

"selma"

[n40066]

a hot compress always works best for me, along with some caffine.  but if things get really out of hand, the only thing that has ever taken the edge off has been vicodin.  hope that helps.