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I've been a long term sufferer of headaches and migraines. I have tried pretty much everything you can OTC as well as various prescription medications. I have had scans and tests as well.
Everything has turned up nothing, so i have no answers to my frequent pains.
What medications do you use and you find help a lot or at least reduce the severity?
I've recently heard that quite a few of the pain medications can cause rebound headaches, so you take the medication, it reduces the severity of the headache for the time being, but when the medication wears off, the headache / migraine comes back worse. At least that's what I've heard with regard to both nurofen and anythig with codeine in it.
Worth googling anyway.
I heard that re the codeine the other night on one of the current affair programs. I can definitely vouch for it. I take Mersyndol night and it always comes back before the next dose is due. I have just shaken a bad headache and had 4 doses of Mersyndol night before it went for good.
For Migraines I take Maxalt Wafers 10mg. Migraine gone within 20 mins of taking it. Very rarely need a 2nd dose, but if I do I can have 2nd dose after 2hrs.
I used to get migraines at ovualtion and period time. I went on the Deop injection and that stopped those headaches, but then I started to get other triggers. Too long in the sun, strong smells (perfume, flowers etc) and various other things. Mum used to get food triggers that would cause Migraines.
For prevention, I take Sandomigran and when I do get a migraine, I take Mersyndol Forte (available on prescription only)
Oh yes. I take Sandomigran too. Forgot about that LOL.
Mersyndol I take or Fiorinal. Both knock me out, but isn't long lasting pain relief. I'll look into the other mentioned brands
Sandomigran. And Imigran for pain. Although I also take mega magnesium, which sometimes helps too.
Oh and peace and quiet! (Lol)
I take mersyndol forte too.
Astrolady - do you need a script for Maxalt wafers? haven't heard of that before but anything that works that fast I want to get to know!
Can't help on the drug side of things but I found Chiro helps reduce the number of migraines I get a year - was getting multiple ones now I'm down to about 2-3 a year and they're not too bad, not needing too many drugs to ease them.
Sometimes a migraine can be headed off at the pass if you take a largish dose of aspirin at the very first signs - if you can learn what your prodrome symptoms are and take it then, sometimes that's enough. You might still get some of the funny sensations but the pain itself will be more manageable.
DH found great relief from chiro too - went from frequent headaches that had him throwing up with the pain (dr ruled out migraines after extensive testing) at least once a week down to one a year, coincidentally two days after he missed a chiro appointment. He tried physio, numerous pain and migraine meds (prescription and OTC) with no effect.
Sitting in a hot shower with the water running over his head helped a little too (temporarily).
Yep you do Lulu. It's about $30 for 4 wafers, if you don't have concession. They dissolve on your tounge. So no need for water or anything.:
Thanks Astrolady. Sounds like money well spent if it kicks it that fast. Will talk to my GP about it.
That's what Imigran is too. For 4 tablets. I googled the wafers. I will definitely be asking to give them a try. How do you feel after you take them Astrolady? I usually have to wait for DH to get home before I take Imigran, because I feel so wasted, iykwim.:
It depends on the day and probably the severity. But I am one of those people where panadol/nurofen does nothing for me pain relief wise. I can even function fine on Mersyndol night strength :/ So I can get on with my life after taking Maxalt, but someone else may be out to it. There has been some days where I feel a bit wasted after taking it, but it passes quickly. Well for me anyway ;):
i actually take beta blockers for my migranes
i tried all the other treatments and beta blockers were the only relief i have found
they keep my blood vessles and hormones -'calm' if that makes sense. Its the fluctuations in my hormones that causes my migranes
I take 40mg twice a day and it makes an massive difference
i have gone from 4 migranes a month , and now i get a couple of dirty headaches a month instead
my OB actually got me onto the meds as they are safe to take when pg and bf which is a big trigger for my migranes as well
900mg of Asproclear helps at the first sign. If it doesn't work, then I resort to Zomig (prescription which has so far kicks in pretty quickly, there have only been a few occasions where I have had to have a second dose.
Chiro used to help, but doesn't any longer. I have been seeing a physio and massage therapist as mine tend to be related to tension in my upper back and neck which throws everything out.
OTC medication does zip for me these days (apart from the aspro clear if I get in quickly enough)
I take Sandomigran daily too and maxalt wafers are fantastic. I usually have an aspirin and cappuccino too as caffeine is supposed to help. I usually feel ok enough to function after maxalt but my preference is to lie down and block everything out. I have recently started getting migraines every 5-6 weeks again so not sure my sandomigran is working as good as it used too. I take two tablets a day - is that what you other girls take?
Sorka I got told to take 3 a day right before I go to bed.
i take two in the morning and 1 before bed
Yeah I was sure I was told I could take 3 but went to a different GP this time and he said stick with 2. I might ask again when I go back next time. Can't afford to keep having migraines every month - too much stuff to do :)