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Need help

I am a cronic migraine suffer. I am what is know as a weather head. Zomig is the only drug I take now due to the fact I was on Lortab 10/500 2 3 times a day. I have come off that now. My own doing. I have done every preventive know to man, diet, accpunture, nerve blocks bio feedback, botox you name it I have tried it. I am 10 days off Lortab taking Zomig 1 every day Is my only choice the darn drugs?
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Avatar universal
Hi My name is Ta,mmy. I have severe migraine headaches I am in the bed three or four days a week. I have the bad. I am in and out of the hot shower, sick all night, ihas to dark room, quiet. I have try nearly everything. I am on topmax,beta blocker,hydroco/acetam,lorazpam. It seam like I can not get know relieve. I have gone to the er and they give me iv soulation and tramdol and does not work. I have had two c.t. scan and the  doctors said it did not show anything.  so I went to a neurologist and he said it they are in heired by a family member which my mom had them. I passout with them,anxiety attacks,tingling in my hands and faces and in bed for three or four days. I am so sick of them. I can not go do things with my lovely husband anymore. I just wished i could find something to help me with them. Please help if you have any suggest. Thanks Tammy
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Avatar universal
Hi!  I am taking a drug for prevention that you have not mentioned.  It is called Namenda.  It is acutally a drug to treat Alzheimer's disease.  It is not marketed to treat migraines, but there has been some research that has shown that it works in prevention.  I have had some trouble with insurance due to the fact that it is not marketed to treat migraines.  It costs about $150 a month.  In Canada there is a generic that is much cheaper.  When I first went on it I didn't have any headaches at all for about 3 months.  That was after having some sort of headache  every day for about a year and a half with migraines 2-3X a week.  It is not as effective now, but that could be due to a number of reasons.  I see a headache specialist.  She is a neurologist who only treats headaches.  They are up on all the latest treatments.  They do not prescribe any opiates or narcotics at all.  They focus on prevention.   When I am hospitalized the main treatment is I.V. DHE.  It usually works.  But it has to be given with Benadryl and Reglan to combat side-effects.  I haven't been able to take that lately as I have had a reaction to it.  They also have treated me with high-dose steroids.  That has also helped.  They even gave me I.V. Caffeine.  Now when I get a headache I drink some Mt. Dew.  I use Migranal Nasal Spray and 800mg of Ibuprofen.  If not better in an hour then I take 8mgs of Zanaflex (muscle relaxer) and 50mgs of Benadryl and 25mgs of Phenergan if nauseated.  It knocks me out for quite awhile, but it usually helps.  Good luck!
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Avatar universal
I have found that relaxation routines helped in the early headache stages.  After reaching migraine status, we all have this "point of no return".  The point where a trip the ER is the only way you'll get relief.  I'm 27 years old and was diagnosed with chronic migraines when I was 16.  Over the years, I've tried various therapies from medication to homeopathy to meditation. In the beginning, my migraines were triggered by pressure change and PMS.  Several years ago, I started taking birth control which has pretty much knocked out those migraines related to it.  In addition to the pressure change trigger, I have noticed in the last 3 or 4 years that I've had MANY sinus headaches which seem to blow up into a migraine.  I've spent a lot of time over the years learning how to beat it before it beats me by getting my mind and body into a deep state of relaxation.  Some of the things that help me relax are hot baths, lavander oil, cold compress, massages, soft instrumental music, water fountains, and a few moves I picked up from Yogalates.  If I can't get it down to a dull ache, it's time to medicate.  Unfortunately, it takes a little trial and error with medication to figure out what kind of headache im dealing with.  I can usually treat the sinus headaches with sinus medication and sleep before it gets too bad.  For the other headaches, I try drinking a coke or take a pain reliever with caffiene in it.  From there its lortab and imitrex.  When I get to that "point of no return" and end up in the ER, I already know my winning combination is phenergan and tordol (and fluids if lots of vomiting).  
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768044 tn?1294223436
Have you ever tried oxygen though?

Although for the most part my mom and I have very similar positive and negative reactions to medications and treatments and although some of our medical concerns overlap... we also do have separate allergies, separate health concerns, and we have had very different positive and negative reactions to medications and treatments on occasion. So...I'm thinking that if the oxygen didn't work for your dad, but you haven't tried it yet, might be worth giving it a shot? Especially since you're looking for something that is not a drug and non-habit forming with minimal risks and minimal side-effects involved.

Seems like giving oxygen therapy a shot wouldn't hurt at this point... as long as it was first attempted under the supervision of a physician... and if it did work for you, then you could maybe/hopefully get a prescription (it seems like in your case, since you have tried everything else already and you have been suffering for this for so long, a doctor would give you an off-label prescription in your situation, i couldn't imagine a doctor with-holding a successful treatment in your situation just because it was off-label use of the treatment).  And as long as a physician trained you how to use the oxygen properly, I do believe that with proper usage, there is no risk of side-effects and it is a completely safe therapy... I believe that it is only when oxygen is used for prolonged periods of time or improperly or by someone untrained that there are serious risks involved.
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Avatar universal
Dad tried it. Intresting about the magnets. Maybe I glue one to both sides of my head :)
Funny I can still laugh at the pain. So today is day 12 of no op's. and its going to rain. YIPPY Can you guess where I will be going???? You got to bed. Big box of Zomig came today. I worked out how to beat the sysytem. I get a script for the pills and the spray and the insurance dosen't see as the same drug! HA!

Botox (the first time) was over my right eye in 2 places. 2nd time was in the neck as well as over the rt eye. Not going to stick needles in my face anymore. It didn't even get rid of my wrinkles or my ha's Yes on all the b's. Sorry can't see anymore. Oh yes always over the right eye. Thanks so much for your help. You are truly wonderful!

Terry
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768044 tn?1294223436
Oops. Also... an obvious typo in the last sentence there!! it was supposed to say "who do NOT respond to other treatment" ...

i am very curious about the oxygen. did you find that it had absolutely no effect when you tried it? or just not a strong enough effect that you considered it worth the hassle (i totally understand that an oxygen prescription can be a hassle if it isn't providing a suitable amount of relief)?
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768044 tn?1294223436
Weird. It censored the phrase non drug therapy when i put a dash between the words!! haha.
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768044 tn?1294223436
Also, I am sure you have tried these... since most of them are common... but, just in case since they weren't mentioned specifically by name so far:

- Coenzyme Q10 @ 100mg per day
- Now that you're not on any medications... what about herbal drugs? I never suggest herbal drugs usually because they can have such serious interactions with common migraine medications... but: Feverfew, as both a preventative and abortive treatment; Butterbur @ 75mg a day... drugs are drugs though, make sure to talk these treatments over with your doctor as they can be just as dangerous as any other type of medication.
- Melatonin before bedtime.

You mentioned you were taking B vitamins. Just wanted to make sure it was B2 @ 400mg a day. Also, B12 at whatever daily dose it comes recommended in on the label on the bottle per day. And... same goes for B6. But, I just wanted to make sure that they were specifically those B vitamins. I know they probably were... of course they were. I just wanted to check, just in case... dosages are important with the B2, 'cause it isn't effective under 400mg a day.

You mentioned that botox didn't work... did your doctor do them on the back of your head or on your face? The spot above your eyebrow is an important one. Also... they've recently found that doing more in the back of the neck is more helpful than focusing on the original trigger sites that they focused on.

There is always surgery too... but usually this is only done if the botox works. So... probably not helpful in your case. Although, do you have the type of migraine that is always on just ONE side of your head, and never the other? Because, if this is the case, I think they sometimes can remove the trigeminal nerve... a pretty extreme surgery, but my great uncle had this done because he suffered from debilitating migraines... although this surgery can only be done if the migraines are only ever on the same side, I believe. I don't know if it's still done much for severe migraines... now that they are doing slightly different types of surgeries with less complications and focusing on different nerves and muscles... but, they might still do this. I know they still do it for other conditions.

There are also spinal cord stimulators, these are implanted, and are used for chronic severe migraine patients who do respond to other treatments (like yourself). It is a non-**************.
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768044 tn?1294223436
another non-drug therapy... it's off-label and I have no experience with it... I actually just posted a new thread about it to see if anyone has any experience with it so you can see if anyone replies to that if you're interested...

but, TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)... it is usually used to treat severe depression, but it has shown to have positive results with reducing migraine frequency if used as a preventative treatment and it has also been shown to stop migraines as well as triptans do as an acute therapy. it is not an approved therapy, it is extremely expensive and since it is not an approved therapy, it is rarely covered by health plans.

it's a non-invasive procedure where the neurons in the brain are excited using weak electrical currents produced by strong magnets.

it is another fairly radical suggestion... much more radical than any of my other suggestions... but, it is a non-drug therapy, it is a new'ish therapy that hasn't even been approved for use in migraines and was only recently approved in for use in severe depression so i'm throwing it out there because there is a good chance you haven't tried it yet (and the hand-held home-use devices only exist if you're part of clinic trials i think), and it has shown excellent results in acute migraine therapy in all the trials and depending on what clinical trial you're looking at, it has shown some (enough that it's not just a placebo effect) effect at preventing migraines.

i am almost positive you'd have to get into a clinical trail to get your hands on one of the hand-held home-use devices... now, i could be wrong, but that was true at least a few years ago, which was the last time i checked... but, you can get the preventative treatment done at any private clinic that offers the service.
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768044 tn?1294223436
Yeah, I know that ketamine is used as an animal tranq and it's also used as a street drug. But, it's also used in medicine to treat severe chronic pain. Medicines are used as all sorts of things. But, anyway... you tried it too and didn't find it had any effect? Hmm, well, that was my pretty much my reaction to it too.

And you've tried oxygen? Because it does work, off label, for migraines too. I've never tried oxygen, but every one I know who has managed to get an off label prescription for it has said that it has worked for their migraines... the only hard part is getting the off label prescription. And, it's not an opiate or a drug. But... you've tried it and it didn't provide any relief?
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Avatar universal
I use to be like you. Ever hopeful. No they are not clusters. Do you know what ketamine is used for?  We used it to put a cat to sleep for surgery. Really have been through all you have suggested . You are sooo cute and I thank you.

I don't want to take op's anymore. There just has to be a better way. Move to AZ lol!!


Terry
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768044 tn?1294223436
Hi again

Okay, you've been down the preventative road already... and you've tried all three categories of medications for preventative treatments: antidepressants, anti-seizure medications and beta-blockers? Have you tried at least two of each type? If so, then I would say that yes... I completely understand your frustration there... I too have tried multiple preventative medications and I also still suffer from chronic migraines. It is very frustrating. But... currently, I have only tried a few anti-depressants and two anti-seizure drugs... so, in my case, there are dozens of preventative medications for me to try. Now, if you have tried all of the more common preventative medications (almost of the anti-depressants used to treat migraines, a number of the common anti-seizure medications and some of the safer beta-blockers) and none of them have worked... well, then there are some preventative medications that aren't prescribed as often due to their high risk of side-effects or due to a low risk of extremely serious side-effects... BUT, in some cases, if you have not responded to any other medications, and the migraines are debilitating then there comes a time when it is appropriate to begin discussing some of these treatments with your doctor.

Also, drug-trials are another option to consider if you have not responded to all current (safe and appropriate) treatments currently available. Drug trials are an excellent option for those who have not responded to medications in the past and who are crippled by their migraines.

You mentioned that there is a history of cluster headaches in your family? Do you suffer from cluster headaches as well? Have you tried oxygen therapy in the hospital before? It is rare for this to be done outside of a hospital setting unless a patient suffers from chronic cluster headaches... but, if you do suffer from cluster headaches as opposed to migraines, then you might want to discuss trying oxygen with your doctors... it is the first line of treatment with cluster headaches and although it is not normally a treatment or an approved treatment for migraines, those who can get a prescription BECAUSE they have cluster headaches or another unrelated illness that requires oxygen find that using the oxygen helps stop their migraines. But... it is not an approved treatment... but, I just thought I'd mention it since you mentioned the family history of cluster headaches. So... if you ever get cluster headaches... I don't know, if you can get a doctor to let you try oxygen (under medical supervision first!!!) and it helps... maybe that could be an answer?

Also, I don't find it much more helpful than morphine IMO... and I don't like the fact that it's a psychoactive drug... but, have you tried ketamine for your migraines? That's another pain killer option to discuss with your doctor. It's a pretty extreme option... and again, do NOT just get a prescription for this (if your doctor will even give you one), but have it administered BY a doctor under medical supervision. If you find that it doesn't make you crazy (after you've taken it under medical supervision... that's why I am suggesting you only have it administered under medical supervision because it might make you hallucinate... although it's not supposed to at medical doses) and it doesn't make you extremely ill and it helps your migraines, then in that case, if it's a legal medication in your country, then you could either get treatments at your hospital/pain clinic or get a prescription... however it's done in your country. Like I said, I don't think it helps much more than morphine does... but apparently some people find it to be a very strong and effective pain killer, much more than other pain killers. I don't know though... it's a pretty extreme suggestion. But, your situation sounds extreme, since it sounds like you've tried everything... so it's worth at least discussing with your doctor.

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better today... any little bit helps.

And I do understand about being tired of fighting the fight. I am always analytically hopeful because I have done so much research on migraines and treatments and I know that analytically there are so many treatments out there that it would take an entire life-time for me to try them all... but, I do understand how emotionally tiring it is and I get extremely sad/depressed/frustrated at times. But... keep fighting, I know just as many people who have suffered severe chronic migraines in the past and who are migraine free 100% of the time now as I do who currently suffer from severe migraines at the moment... so, even though there are so many of us chronic migraine sufferers out there, there are just as many people out there who have suffered and then found their answer and gotten over this. And... I subscribe to tons of scientific and medical journals and read all the latest articles about migraines... and you wouldn't believe all the new information that's come out about migraines in just the last few years. They have made major breakthroughs in understanding the physiology of a migraine in the last decade... and unbelievable huge breakthroughs in the last 5 years... it's pretty amazing stuff. The more they understand the physiology... the better the treatments will get... and that means that even if you really have tried every single migraine medication out there and NONE of them work and there ISN'T a medication that exists today that can dramatically decrease the number of migraines you get or acutely stop your migraines... there WILL be VERY VERY soon.
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Avatar universal
Thank to all who anwsered . Yes I have been down the preventive road. All of them.
I do take advil as well and a serious of b and mags. Have had a number of MRI'S
My father had clusters Bad. His right eye would swell. He did a study at John Hopkins once. They could start them but not stop them. I am 50 now. My grandmother had them as well. I used to use Imtrex but got kindney stones from that.

Feeling weak yesterday better today. Just tired of fighting the fight.

Terry
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768044 tn?1294223436
Hi, I take zomig too.

What other medications have you tried in the past other than zomig and Lortab? What were your reasons for stopping the Lortab?

How many migraines days do you get per month? On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the pain of your average migraine... or if you are used to a different scale, such as a 1-5 scale or a 1-3 scale, feel free to answer using that scale as well, just let me know what you're using. Also, on average, how many severe migraines do you have per month (3 on a 1-3 scale, 4/5 on a 1-5 scale, 8/9/10 on a 1-10 scale).

With answers to these questions, I can suggest many other types of medications that might be suitable for you to discuss with your doctor.

But, the short answer is, don't worry, there is an absolute wealth of different medications, both for preventative and acute treatment, that are available for you to try on the advice of your doctor. But, I'll need some more information about the frequency and severity of your migraines before I can suggest anything to you.

As for myself... I am currently taking topamax 125mg and B2 400mg for preventative treatment, zomig nasal spray (it's important to use the nasal spray, it's much more effective than the tablets) for acute treatment, naproxen and gravol for supplemental acute treatment and hydromorphone for severe acute treatment. in emergency treatment i am usually given IV fluids, IV metoclopramide, IV morphine or hydromorphone and once I was given ketamine... of course those are only in emergency treatment under constant medical supervision. In the past I have taken amitriptyline as a preventative treatment and valproic acid as a preventative treatment (not at the same time of course), I was responsive to neither medication... but I've had friends who have been responsive to both of these medications. I have also tried the following triptans for acute treatments: maxlat (worked for years, then stopped. friends swear by it.) and axert (worked extremely well for a time but I developed serotonin-related side-effects and had to switch to zomig). I have tried mega-doses of advil (prescribed) but that caused rebound headaches... I stopped taking advil for a long time and have recently begun taking naproxen (a different type of NSAID) only when there is related neck/shoulder/back pain and the zomig is not providing the relief that I need or I have already taken the maximum 2 doses of zomig for the day. I also will take gravol if I have taken all other medications and the headache is not at a "morphine" level yet... as, even without stomach symptoms, gravol seems to often help... although I don't do this a lot because one can develop a dependency on gravol just like one can develop a dependency on opiates...  but still, it's better to try first if the headache isn't severe IMO and it appears to help the migraine medication or NSAIDS work better.

Anyway... let me know about your situation and I'll see if I can suggest anything that might be helpful.
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Avatar universal
Hi,

Magnesium supplements and B complex supplements may be an option if you have not tried them already because they have shown a very good response in preventing the migraine attacks.

Hope this helps!
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620923 tn?1452915648
Hi...I am also a weather head or walking barometer.

May I ask..were u tested to see if the migraines are the result of something else?
Did u have ne MRI's?

I pray u find ur answers and ask u share them here.

"selma"
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