Migraine question

[joschmo922]

I have been having severe migraines for the past year and a half. I've been on 3 different medications including, inderal 10 milligrams which stopped working, inderal 25 milligrams which caused me to black out and get dizzy, and amitriptyline 25 milligrams, which stopped working. I'm concerned because after talking to my doctor he looked at my charts and noted that I relapse with migraines every three months. These migraines are so severe it keeps me from doing my every day activities. I was wondering what I could take on the side for these because since the amitriptyline isn't working my doctor told me to stay on it for a week and it just still isn't working.

[allmymarbles]

I find that if I drink very strong coffee just as a migraine is coming on, I can abort it. Once it really takes hold it is too late for coffee. I also have identified certain triggers, one of which is having alcohol if I am overheated and feeling logy (such as on a hot summer day). Just staying in the hot sun without a hat can sometimes do it too.

[Sandra Y, RPh]

Amitriptyline and Inderal are used to prevent migraines, not to stop a migraine after it occurs. Talk to your doctor about antimigraine medications such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc., that are meant to acute migraine attacks. Until you see your doctor, you have over the counter options such as aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, or Excedrin.