I have suffered from migraines for 5yrs now?

Question

When they first came, they were intense maybe 2 every 14d. My doc put me on various meds and finally settled on topamax 200mg. They gradually tapped down to 1 every month or so. But again lately, they have become intense once again and the topamax is not longer working. My doc wants to but me on depakote but I'm really afraid, bc I have always thought it was for bi-polar conditions. I have tried several other Rx's with very little success, he thinks the depakote will work. Has anyone heard of this, and does it work. I am 43yr and I know that it's mainly a hormonal issue with my headaches.

Answer 1

Prevnetion is key. But have they tested you for clotting disorders, specifically Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. This was the cause of my migraines. Of couse, I still take preventative measures and watch for triggers.

Here are some treatment ideas:

Preventative medication may be prescribed for patients who have frequent headaches (3 or more a month) that do not respond to abortive treatment. Studies have shown that as many as 40% of these patients may benefit from preventative treatment.

Using one medication (monotherapy) is tried first, but a combination of medicines may be necessary. Many of these medications have adverse side effects. If migraines become controlled, the dosage is often reduced or the drug discontinued.

Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol [Inderal®], atenolol [Tenormin®]) are the preferred medications. These drugs produce an effect on heart rate. They should not be taken by patients with asthma and should be used with caution in patients with diabetes.

Side effects include gastrointestinal upset, insomnia, low blood pressure (hypotension), slowed heart rate (bradycardia), and sexual dysfunction. Some beta blockers pass into breast milk and may cause problems in nursing infants.

Antiseizure drugs such as valproic acid (Depakote®), topiramate (Topamax®), and gabapentin (Neurontin®) may be used to treat migraine.

Side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal upset, sedation, liver damage, and tremors.

Calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine [Norvasc®]) inhibit artery dilation and block the release of serotonin. They should not be taken by patients with heart failure or heart block.

Side effects include constipation, flushing, low blood pressure, rash, and nausea.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; e.g., amitryptaline [Elavil®], nortryptaline [Pamelor®], desipramine [Norpramin®]) block serotonin reabsorption and take 2–3 weeks be effective.

Side effects include the following: Constipation, Dry mouth, Low blood pressure (hypotension), Increased heart rate, (tachycardia), Urinary retention, Sexual dysfunction, and Weight gain

High doses of TCAs have been implicated in seizures, stroke, and heart attack. Abrupt discontinuation of these medications may cause headache, nausea, and malaise, and may intensify side effects.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., paroxetine [Paxil®], fluoxetine [Prozac®], sertraline [Zoloft®]) are usually better tolerated than TCAs, but may not be as effective.

Side effects include nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and loss of appetite.

Methysergide maleate (e.g., Deseril®, Sansert®) may be prescribed for patients with frequent, severe migraines.

Side effects include insomnia, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and hair loss. This drug should not be used by patients with coronary artery disease and must be discontinued for 3–4 weeks after 4–6 months of use because it can cause retroperitoneal fibrosis, a condition in which the blood vessels in the abdomen thicken, which reduces blood flow to organs.

Answer 2

I don't know about Depakote, but I was once put on Depakene for my migraines. It didn't work, but then again, nothing did. My Doctor was hopeful with Imitrex but it sent my blood pressure so high that I can't use it.

If you can catch the headache quickly, try taking 1,000mg of Ibuprofen and getting into a tub of water as hot as you can stand it. Get as much of your body (other than your head) into the water as possible. The Ibuprofen will reduce swelling of tissues around blood vessels in your brain. The hot water will draw your blood supply peripherally instead of centrally. This should help. Add hot water as necessary to maintain temperature.

If I don't catch them within about 30-45 minutes of onset, this doesn't work for me. I am soon in the cycle of pain so bad I throw up and then throwing up making the pain worse, which makes me throw up, etc. etc. etc. until I finally go to the ER and they give me Fentanyl and Phenegran or Demoral and Phenegran. That knocks me out, stops the nausea, and the headache goes away.

I don't have as many anymore. They slowed considerably when I found out I had sleep apnea and began using a CPAP machine when I sleep. This was back in 2000, and I have had less than two migraines a year, since then. My Dr. thinks the migraines may have been brought on by carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a side effect of sleep apnea.

Ask your Doctor about a sleep study. Sleep Apnea is a deadly disease that kills many people. If your migraines start in the morning or wake you from sleep, this may be a cause.

Good Luck!

Oh, I heard there is a headache clinic at a hospital near Herman Park in Houston, Texas. The hospital is not Herman, Texas Childrens, or St. Lukes or the Diagnostic Center. I want to say it's named after Sam Houston, but I may be wrong.

Answer 3

Using anti-seizure medications for migraines is not uncommon. Cross-prescribing is a common thing, like diphenhydramine HCl being used both as an anti-histamine and a sleep aid. Just be diligent and aware of the potential side effects. I have migraines also, and I can't take the anti-migraine medications due to HBP. If you feel that the migraines are related to hormone fluctuations, have your doctor test your hormone levels. They may suggest that hormone replacement therapy might be another treatment option to try. Try putting some soy products or supplements into your diet and seeing if the migraines increase or decrease.

Answer 4

I've been on both Topamax and Depakote, both for bipolar disorder, but I also am a migraine sufferer. My doctor told me that both medications are from the same family. When I switched, I didn't even have to be weaned from one to the other like other drugs, so I don't think you should be that worried about the Depakote.

P.S. Depakote is also prescribed for migraines.

Answer 5

My wife had the same problems, after years of them we just happened to switch to natural cleaning and personal products, the day I threw out all the old products is the day she never got another migraine. After talking to other people using these safe products we found similar results.

Answer 6

Yes I do, my eyes go funny first and I cannot see properly then I know what I am in for, I get one if I eat a snickers bar and certain cheeses, I have it for about 2 days and feel like putting my head through the wall. only a dark room and sleep eases it. I also get pins and needles in my face and down my arms too, my sympathies to you as I know.

Answer 7

Read more about Depakote and other medications at www.webmd.com. That's a source for medical topics of all kinds, including medications and what they can be used for, side effects, etc.

Answer 8

ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IMITREX. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS FOR ME. I'VE BEEN A MIGRAINE SUFFERER FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS.

Answer 9

Depakote is actually a seizure medication. I think it would be worth trying; at this point, what's worse. You don't want to continue having migranes.

Answer 10

You can contact Karishma Reiki Touch Therapy healing as even many person of similiar deasease has take advantage from this therapy. You have to send your requisition to www.healthcaretours.coms and they will contact you. You need not to contact them personally for this as your problem can be cured from Distant Reiki Therapy.