any suggestions for constant headachesbesides tylenol,it dont help

[PRINCESS5121]

i am almost on week 3 of treatment.24 weeks of peg injections and ribavirin.i have given my self 3 shots so far and for the last 3 days i have had bad headaches all through the day and bad at night,keeping me awake.anyne reccomed a prescription drug i could ask my dr for ? i just cant take anything with caffeine,due to a heart problem.anyone know of a good med to ask for ? i getting discouraged and will be doing my 4th shot monday......have to trest for 24 weeks.genotype 2.i guess i should be happy for just 24 weeks, but after the chills,joint pains,muscle aches,i feel so beat up,i want to stop treatment,but im trying to hang in there.thanks for anyone who gives me any suggestions.happy holidays all...........

[jmjm530]

Ala: I'm a little surprised that docs would be telling people with liver issues to take tylenol and ibuprofen?
-----------------------------
Hi Ala,

Haven't seen you around lately and hopefully you've been feeling better.

Tylenol is what many leading hepatologists prefer for those on treatment.

In fact, many liver specialists, including mine,  do not not allowed aspirin or other NSAIDs (Advil, Alleve) I assume  because of the low platelet counts many of us have during treatment.

As to morphine, etc, -- one thing to keep in mind is liver toxicity although not sure how compares with other drugs. The other is that many who treat have had substance abuse problems in the past. And lastly, this study suggests that morphine may play a part in HCV viral replication and should not be used on treatment:
http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/102260194.html

I think going to a pain clinic is a good idea for those who cannot get relief otherwise, but I also think all drugs should be run by an experienced liver specialist for anyone with HCV, especially on treatment.

Personally, I think less pain killers is better on treatment to give the liver all the rest possible just about all pain meds have some liver toxicity. Start simple with low doses of Tylenol and only move up after discussing with an experienced liver specialist.

Happy New Year everyone!

-- Jim

[alagirl]

I take topamax for my migraines as well.  200 mg a day.  When I first started taking it, the first four or five years, I think it worked better for me than it does now.  Sometimes I get something that works well, but becomes less effective over time.  Still though, I wanted to see if it was still advantageous to take the topamax, so I went off of it, and suddenly had many more migraines.  I immediately went back on the medication.  So at least I know its worthwhile to continue with the prescription.  It does help.  

[alagirl]

You guys are kidding me.  You called your docs and said, hey doc, I'm having excruciating bone pain from my CHEMOTHERAPY and this mind-numbing amount of PROCRIT I must take every week such that I can barely move, and the guy said, "Take a tylenol, and call me in the morning, at which point I'll advise you to take some ibuprofen?"  

I asked my doctor for a referral to a good pain management physician before I began treatment.  I already have migraines, and had been toying with the idea of going to a pain management physician anyway, but either right before or right after tx, I decided to ask for help.  We have a couple of disreputable places that are pretty much "pain mills" in our county, so I made sure to get recommendations from a few physicians as to a reputable physician in this area with a pain management practice, and every single one of them gave me the name of the same guy.  I really like him, and he does the best he can for me, really only my legs bother me that much anymore, nothing seems to help there - but hey! you have to have something to complain about ;)

I'm a little surprised that docs would be telling people with liver issues to take tylenol and ibuprofen?  Is that normal?  At any rate, I have 15mg morphine pills I can take for bone pain, and if I have a migraine, and I haven't had many lately, I have demerol pills.  I take a fair amount of zofran and phenergan for nausea.  I have had some pretty big issues with nausea unfortunately.

[PRINCESS5121]

HI Lady...  :)  i went to a neuroligist for headaches i use to get about a yr and half ago.werent migranes to me, but she said u dont have to have serious pain to be migranes.she told me to take vitamin b complex 2 times a day.within 1 week, they 90% went away.until..........TREATMENT !!! now i must be getting migranes,b/c last night i didnt even want to get up from bed to run to the bathroom as myhead felt like a concrete block ! im callin dr tomorrow,and asking to see his partner instead,and see if i can get in for a visit and a sit down.this guy im seeing now just assumes i know all about hcv and side effects and what to expect.but i am going to ask about headache meds from my neuroligist and make sure i tell her i have hcv genotype 2,so she wont prescribe something bad for my liver.good luck to you as well.im in NJ and need to know if anone else lives in south jersey who can recommend me a real dr !

[Lady Lauri]

  I am with you on these *&%$#@% headaches....on my 3rd day of one now. Never in my life had 3-4 day headaches, don't even want to talk or move my head!   I want that answer too! I have Vicoprofen, but when 2 won't touch it (within a few hours) I won't do more, so what to do????  That and the leg pain... :{.........don't like doing drugs but morphine sounds good about now! (kidding!!)

                                                                                 LL

[PRINCESS5121]

all pain killer are bad for your liver,but at times if a dr prescribes them,i guess he would have to know the condition of your liver,best way from liver biopsy.are you treating for HCV?and merrybe,thanks.i have a heart condition which i cant have caffeine anyway.thankyou for your input.now i just got back labs today.24 days into treatment and WBC 2.1...norm is 4.0-11.0 !!  RBC is good.dr wont be in till monday.how professional......any suggestions ? is procrit for low WBC or RBC or both or either or ?