Migraines - Health & Medicine

heather6773 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 08:31 AM

I just started having migraines about 2-3 months ago. They started out once in awhile and finally when I was getting 3-4 times a week I called my dr. I noticed a pattern that I was getting them more and more around my monthly.

As if that wasn't bad enough. So my dr. has me on Topamax. I am on the started dose. I go back wednesday to see if I need it increased. I have not had one single headache. The worst part was the side effects from the topamax. But I think I am over those. Any one else suffer from migraines?

Csara · #2 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 10:33 AM

I do, and I notice that I get them when the weather is gross out....which is quite often here. I just use over the counter excedrin migraine and that usually seems to work.

Turtleheadfred · #3 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 07:52 PM

I have them - BAD - and I'm on Topamax too. I actually don't really have any side effects at all now that I've been on it a while. The worse thing I ever had was a little tingling in my hands... and I honestly didn't realize it was from the medicine!

It really has helped, but I also have another medicine they've combined with it for me, but I dont' take any narcotic type stuff that I know a lot of people have to take.

How bad are your side-effects compared to the headaches you were getting? For me, my headaches were about 4 - 6 a month. The Topamax helped a TON for a very long time (several years in fact). It's only recently we had to increase my dose again and eventually add the other medicine - but I have really bad allergies that make it bad too.

I hope it works for you - migraines are HORRIBLE!

heather6773 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 05:12 AM

I haven't had a single migraine since starting topamax and they were horrible. They would just hit out of no where. I would get the auro of lights then tunnel vision then no vision which always made me nauseuos .But so far so good. The topamax has really curbed the appetite though.

Its a side effect that is not a problem for me as I suppose it would be for some.

Turtleheadfred · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 04:13 PM

Heather - I know women who have BEGGED for that medicine because it DID curb their appetite and they wanted to lose weight! For me, it really didn't do that much, naturally!

I'm glad it's helping! Like you, I get really, REALLY sick - sometimes to the point that I can't stop throwing up... it's horrible! Thank goodness they've finally found something that can help some of us!

Csara · #6 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 04:58 PM

Wow! I'm glad my migraines are not as intense as you guys. I feel for you.

Deana · #7 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 08:27 PM

I have had migraines since I was a teenager. They are awful - I get bad aura, spots in my eyes, nausea and a severe dehydration feeling (although my Dr's haven't ever said that they come on from dehydration, it is just a symptom) not to mention the worst tunnel vision and awful tension/pounding in my head. They aren't as bad as they used to be--- now it is more tension headache coupled with nausea and aura. Lovely, lol.
When I was pg w/dd2, my dr gave my an rx for Dolgic. It has caffiene, acetaminophen and fiorinal. That has been a godsend to me. If I catch if early, a dolgic will zap it (sometimes I have to take an additional pill a few hours later). I try to wash the pill down with a REGULAR coke (not diet). I sometimes think there are medicinal qualities in regular coke!! If I don't catch it/treat it early, I am in big trouble, so I always have the med with me.

What is Topamax? I tried Imitrex and it was basically a joke. I used to take an Imitrex when I felt a migraine coming on, but I always ended up vomitting and then trying to keep a fiorinal down.

ETA: I have recently started a bcp (Yaz) and I feel like my hormonal migraines are like super light (if that makes any sense). I LOVE Yaz for SOOO many reasons!!

Turtleheadfred · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 11:00 PM

Topomax is a medicine orignally used to treat seizures. They found through studies, that it works as a preventative treatment for migraines. It won't stop one once you get it - you take it to keep from getting them!

If you DO get one, you then can take something like Imitrex, Axert, Amerge or one of those type drugs. I can't take Imitrex either - it makes me more nauseated. I take Axert or Amerge if I get a headache. My doctor also switched my birthcontrol to a type that constantly gave me hormones so that I didn't get those high/low hormone spikes that "can" trigger the headaches.

However, I'm now off all bc medication, so we'll see how it goes!

heather6773 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtleheadfred

Topomax is a medicine orignally used to treat seizures. They found through studies, that it works as a preventative treatment for migraines. It won't stop one once you get it - you take it to keep from getting them!

If you DO get one, you then can take something like Imitrex, Axert, Amerge or one of those type drugs. I can't take Imitrex either - it makes me more nauseated. I take Axert or Amerge if I get a headache. My doctor also switched my birthcontrol to a type that constantly gave me hormones so that I didn't get those high/low hormone spikes that "can" trigger the headaches.

However, I'm now off all bc medication, so we'll see how it goes!

Ditto for me too. I have to take the topamax every night and keep my Imitrex on hand but haven't had to use even one in 2 weeks. Before I would get several a week.

I don't have to take BC because hubby got the snip. Plus with my age and family history the dr. doesn't want me on it anymore. I was on YAZ for about a year and loved it too

heather6773 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2008, 12:56 PM

I ended up having my dose bumped up. I had 3 migraines the week before my cycle started. So that really proves to me they are hormonal. I am also on Metformin 500mg (diabetic med) for my ovarian cysts. Its funny I'm not diabetic or have seizures but take meds for it....go figure