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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Headache and birth control pills
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Headache and birth control pills
by Malinda, Oct 14, 2000 12:00AM
For the past couple of years, I have been getting a headache in the left "corner" of my temple during the week that I am off the pills and having my period. This originally happened about every other month and didn't start until the 3rd day or so. Lately it has been happening immediately every month and even happens when I forget to take the birth control pills for a day, or am an hour or two late in taking them.
I have been on various birth control pills almost continually for 22 years. I am 43. I was off the pills for two pregnancies when I was 26 and 31. My mother went through menopause when she was in her mid-40's and I'm worried about what I will do then when I'm no longer on the pills at all. The birth control pill that I'm on now is Necon 1/35.
Right now the only thing that eliminates the pain during that week that I'm off the pills is 2 tylenol, 2 advil, and 2 sudafed all at one time. I take these every 4 hours during most of the week. My doctor said "Well, if you've found something that works keep doing it" but I'm worried about that dosage, and it makes me very lethargic and lazy that week.
Any advice?
I have been on various birth control pills almost continually for 22 years. I am 43. I was off the pills for two pregnancies when I was 26 and 31. My mother went through menopause when she was in her mid-40's and I'm worried about what I will do then when I'm no longer on the pills at all. The birth control pill that I'm on now is Necon 1/35.
Right now the only thing that eliminates the pain during that week that I'm off the pills is 2 tylenol, 2 advil, and 2 sudafed all at one time. I take these every 4 hours during most of the week. My doctor said "Well, if you've found something that works keep doing it" but I'm worried about that dosage, and it makes me very lethargic and lazy that week.
Any advice?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Oct 14, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Malinda:
Sorry to hear about your headaches. It is difficult to tell you what may also help as I do not know what you have tried to relieve your headaches, what birth control pills you have tried, and what your general medical history is. Do you have these headaches off birth control pills (maybe try a different form of birth control)? What did your neurologist say about prophylatic treatment for the headaches? Things like elavil? Maybe fine tuning the treatment just prior to the time of headache onset, such as a larger dose of NSAID the day prior to onser. You could also think about altering the medications during the headache, increasing the dosing or type of the NSAID for instance. I would try and modify things as best you can, but maybe the first thing is whether BCPs can be changed or stopped and see if the headaches go away. But, you and your neurologist need to see what works best for you.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your headaches. It is difficult to tell you what may also help as I do not know what you have tried to relieve your headaches, what birth control pills you have tried, and what your general medical history is. Do you have these headaches off birth control pills (maybe try a different form of birth control)? What did your neurologist say about prophylatic treatment for the headaches? Things like elavil? Maybe fine tuning the treatment just prior to the time of headache onset, such as a larger dose of NSAID the day prior to onser. You could also think about altering the medications during the headache, increasing the dosing or type of the NSAID for instance. I would try and modify things as best you can, but maybe the first thing is whether BCPs can be changed or stopped and see if the headaches go away. But, you and your neurologist need to see what works best for you.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
