Too many meds...

[tanya91]

I have been taking relpax about twice a week for re-current migraine headaches. My mum suffered the same problem at my age. In the last three weeks I have had to take 80gm of Relpax everyday to clear the headache. I only need one 80gm tablet a day, but it;s every day! i have tried preventors but they don't seem to help. Analgesics only seem to dull the headache - not take it away. Am I Addicted to Relpax? What should I do?

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thanks for the updates. Indeed, you are in the right path in managing your symptoms. It is good that you are covering all the possibilities and this will also help your attending physicians rule out other differentials and identify the underlying cause. Do keep us posted how it goes. Best regards.

[tanya91]

Thankyou for your replies. After alot of reading across internet sites, I stopped taking Relpax for 5 days and used a little codine and then paracetamol, and sleep to become headache free in three days. Since then I have gone onto another preventer Deseril and it seems to be working at preventing the headaches. I now take paracetamol at the first sign of a headache and that seemed to be working, until I needed a relpax last night after working a 20hour straight shift. Today I will go back to using the paracetamol. I think there is a problem using Deseril 24hours after a Relpax which is making things a bit difficult. I have made an appointment with another doctor to get a second opinion tomorrow and some more info about the meds I am on.  

In the last few days, I have removed chocolate and aspartame from my diet. I don't think it has made much of a difference but I will give it a couple of weeks just to see. I am running a large business 6 days a week with two active boys under 10, and I often play in a band on the weekend. I think my trigger is stress (although I enjoy all aspects of my work and family life). Most of the migraines come after I relax, when the stress is gone.

I have also made an appointment with an osteopath to check that my back and neck pain isn't a factor as well. I guess if I cover all possibilities, I will be better informed on how to manage this. I am grateful that the Relpax actually works when I do get a migraine, and it allows me to stay at work or looking after my boys, rather than is bed in a darkened room or in the emergency ward on morphine. My challenge is just to balance everything better.

Thanks again for the replies, it has helped to conform that I am on the right path.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? I agree with achilles that rebound headaches are common side effect of some medications. It is best that you inform your doctor for proper management.A change of dosage or medication may be indicated.It is also important that you identify the possible triggers of your migraines. A headache journal or the headache tracker in this forum may help you avoid these triggers. Take care and do keep us posted.

[achilles2]

Sorry that you are suffering with migraines. Did they instruct you that if you take too many Relpax in a week that you can have migraine rebound? I too have Relpax and my script says no more than 2/day and 3/week because if I do it could cause migraine rebound.

I hope you get the answers you need,
achilles2