Demrol for headache treatment

[ROGER2]

Hello, My question is not for myself but for my wife. She has suffered form migraine headaches since she was 19.  She has been through all the standard med's and none have helped.  My concern is the only med that takes the headache away seems to be Demral injection.  She started receiving 50 mg now shes up to 100 mg. She can have as many 1-3 headaches a week with the final treatment always the same. I have asked her doctors about becoming addicated to this and they just blow me off.  Should I be concerned or is it nothing to worry about?

ROGER2

[Sarah P]

Hello my sister has the same thing, your wife is addicted.  I have mirgaines myself and they go away without demeraol.  My sister is addicted and  some people refuse to see it, I dont kow what to do for her.  She is runing her life and her kids life, even though she doesnt intend to.  She dr. shops and has called every single person we know for some type of pain killer until her next fix of demoral, your wife needs help, she will thank you in the long run, I wish I could take my own advice and get my sister help, she has been doing this for so long that she is in denial and I know if I confornted her she would just cut me out of her life.  Good luck Roger

[kell737]

Welcome to the forum!   Demoral is very addictive!  Don't let the doctors blow you off.  If thats the only thing that works for her then you (and her) are in a tough position.  Does she  give these injections herself at home?   I've never had to deal with that drug but I know it's very addicting.  Let the doctor know your concearned,  and MAKE THEM LISTEN TO YOU!   If there blowing you off,  tell then to shut up, sit down and listen to you, thats what you pay them for.   Good luck and I wish you both the best.  

~Kell

[mrmichael67]

I know her use of demerol is somewhat limited right now, but demerol is not a good drug to use for chronic conditions.  As long as her use stays the way it is, then ok.  But, she doesn't want to use demerol every day.  It has a metabolite called normeperedine and it accumulates in the body.  This metabolite causes seizures in many people, so it is strongly contra-indicated for chronic use.

[never to far from fiorinal]

I have also suffered from Migraines for 30 years. The doctors tried every new medication on the market. I liked the fiorinal way to much. By the time I had a headache they would be gone.
I was in the emergency room with a headache 2-3 times a year.
I would get the demerol shot then.
The imitex really works for me.

[winter68]

my dr used to give me demerol for ear aches when I was a teen-ager, which started the whole downward sprial of my addiction. I knew that something in the medicine cabinet made me feel real good so I would take 1 pill out of every bottle try to find it. I'm lucky I didn't kill myself then. anyways after that I was looking for every high I started doing every drug I could get my hads on till I found herion, then thats all I wanted I did it for 5 years and now have been on methadone for 2 1/2 years and have been struggling to get off of it. Opiates are evil, she'll get to the point where she'll get headaches when she doesn't have it, along with some other disgusting withdrawal symptoms. She needs to find something thats not a opiate or she's in for some real suffering. I wish you the best of luck

[peaz]

Hi--I don't get migraines and  those of us who don't get them don't really understand how excruciating the pain must be.  Bless you for being so concerned about your wife.  I am a certified pharmacy tech, and three of the most common migraine medicines we dispense are: Imitrex, Maxalt, and Zomig.  You might suggest any or all of those to her MD.  Fiorinal was also mentioned by someone--there is a med w/ butalbital, aspirin. and caffeine, and also a fiorinal w/ those ingredients plus codeine phosphate. They work, too.  

[CASEY]

I have had migraines my whole life and tried everything. Demoral injections are the only thing that works for me but I limit them to once a month because I am afraid of addiction. I also have them add Inderol to the injection which is a form of ibuprofen. It really helps. If she can use a suppository of Phenargan at the first sign of headache and go to bed, she might manage to abort a few of them. Do try the Imitrix. It is great for some people.  My heart goes out to her. Migraines are an underestimated hell. Gina

[JSmith02]

peaz made some very good suggestions.

It is important to have her headaches properly diagnosed before the right med can be determined. Many people get headaches that, for the most part, mimic the symptoms of real migraines. But the true migraine condition will almost certainly respond to a migraine-specific drug such as Imitrex. If she doesn't have real migraines, the whole direction of her treatment may change.

Demerol is a heavy duty narcotic. It is most useful for limited duration pain. It is not surprising that your wife has doubled her dose since she needs it 3 out of every 7 days. Demerol is one of those narcotics that must be stepped up rapidly when used frequently. And, yes, there is a very real risk of addiction, both psychological and physical, with Demerol.

If you have the insurance for it, you might consider a headache specialist. The field is larger than you might expect. Good luck.

Thomas

[Devodownunder]

Hi my names Deb, i just read your post and i looked up Demerol, also known as Meperidene.  It says "this drug can cause Psychological and physical dependence". Effects of over dose are Marked drowsiness, confusion, tremors, convulsions, stupor leading to coma. It also says " this drug can impair mental alertness, judgement, reaction time and physical coordination, Avoid hazardous activities. Please check this out with your Dr Roger. It dosent sound very goog, but used to presciption doss maybe its the only thing that will work for your wife. But id explore other options, Ones that arent habit forming. Take care. Deb.

[The Golden Slipper]

I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was a teenager.  (20 or more years ago).  I have been on every medication there is and finally ended up being on fiorinal (a combination aspirin and barbituate).  This medication worked for a few years but unfortunately I became very addicted to it.  It no longer works for my migraines and has now become my worst enemy.

I was never given demerol for my migraines. I'm sure I would have become addicted to it very quickly because I am an addict.  Your wife may have no trouble with this medication and if it works for her that is great.  I was wondering, however, if she has tried Imitrex.  That is the medication I use now and it has been a lifesaver it is non-addicting and works well for my almost daily migraine headaches.

I truly can empathize with you wife.  Migraines are horrible and the pain can be truly debilitating.  I know you said your wife has tried everything so she probably has tried the Imitrex. Just thought I would mention it in case she hasn't. Demerol is addicting so she will need to be careful.  Although, unlike me she may not have an addictive personality.


Best of luck to you and your wife.

[hippy]

welcome rodger, i think your wife is lucky, to have someone who cares. also she has found something that works .
most people suffer for years and get the run a round from dr to dr.and in the end it is all for naught.
so count your blessings.
i had a close freind who suffered from migranes, nothing seemed to work ,here tried laying on the floor, tried to 10 different meds.
he was a member of aa and had 12 years sober, the headachs
got so severe he decided to get some steet drug herion, well
during his 12years  sober he did not know that the srendth of herion went from 10% to 90 % so he wound up doing some but it took him out.
his name was franny snyder and he was a good guy.

so im glad your wife has found a solution.
as far as her getting addicted , that would have to do with her
pesonalty. does she have an addictive personalty.
how long has she been getting the meds and the headachs.

look into demral , learn all you can about it,
goog day

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!