is there anything you can do to relieve a migraine at home when pharmacy is closed?

Answer 1

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Answer 2

All of the things above and/or below are good advice, but what I think might help even more, especially if you are having multiple episodes of migraines, is to see a doctor.

Let them find out if it's a true migraine, or possibly caused by something else. I have many different type of headaches, and issues of pain and muscle, nerve, and possibly even joint disease now, so I have a few different meds, and even that wont help ALL of the time.

Imitrex injection helps a lot if you are able to give yourself a shot. I hate needles too with a passion, but when it gets bad enough, you'll try it like I did, lol. Sometimes its better to find out the cause of the headaches because there are some medicines that you need to take to build up in your system and that can work for you too.

I was also told to catch it AS SOON AS IT COMES ON! DON'T WAIT. If you wait too long, then nothing will help. Mine last anywhere from a day up to four or five days at most, and I get severe vomiting with my headaches, which really sucks. Sometimes you just can't cure headaches and you have to live with them and of course, do whichever medicine helps, etc. just to get through it. I'm 49 yrs now and started getting my severe migraines, headaches, etc. at around age 19!

If you can see a pain specialist, THAT can really help - or a neurologist as well. You need to get tests done to see what may be causing the headaches. If you are under a doctor, or a pain specialist, then you won’t have to worry about a pharmacy being closed because you'll have your own meds. If those don't work, then you probably need a trip to the hospital. Just keep in mind though if you get a pain specialist, YOU are held responsible for your medications: no sharing, no taking extra, etc., and you must sign a contract. If you break your contract, then you can lose your pain specialist, and that would really suck for you, so keep on the up and up with your specialist and be honest with him and yourself. Lots of people go in to pain specialists and abuse drugs before they're caught onto. (I mean, using for recreational use, partying, etc.) That kind of stuff makes it hard on those of us who don’t abuse the system.

My pain specialist also has given me some spinal injections (in the neck area of the spine, the cervical vertebrae), using something called fluoroscopy (don't know if I spelled it right). It's like using a camera I guess, I never looked, lol. I've also had the injections in the middle and lower spine.

They just gave me an IV and put some meds in to relax me and I buzzed, heehaw! BUT, you don't sleep and it is no fun trip. I did feel the pressure of the injection but the sedation and pain meds help. It hurts a little, but over around ten or so years, I've had about nine of these and trillions of local "trigger point" injections.

Other things I have tried and they seem to help a little also, is/are warm showers on the back of your head/neck; learning what foods, etc. may be causing your headaches; imagery (if I spelled that right); sitting in a dark room with absolutely NO noise, no television, etc. ONLY PURE QUIET.

Well I hope this helped you some. I'm sorry it was so long, but I've had (and still do get) severe headaches, although not every single day like I did before. The spinal injections are well worth the anxiety and pain I go through when I get them. They usually last for like 6 months to a year for me. I really like helping people when it comes to being in pain, so I tend to write too much. I just think if I write all of this, then maybe some of it will possibly even change your life when it comes to pain.

Answer 3

For prevention, propanolol was a good try. It sometimes takes a substantial dose for it to work and that might be worth revisiting. Other alternatives include antidepressants, and the older tricyclics tend to be better for migraine prevention than the newer SSRI's. Of the abortive drugs, you've tried a couple of the triptans, but there are quite a few others, and some people will respond to one when others didn't work. Persistence may pay off. There are some oddball treatments like metoclopramide or prochlorperazine that also will help in some people. It actually sounds like your GP is doing a good job of trying individualized treatments, including your desire for herbals, and I suspect he'll be in a better position to judge what to try next than somebody starting from scratch.

Answer 4

You might take a 2 tbsn (1 oz) dose of magnesium citrate (Citroma) or milk of magnesia. Magnesium has been given in emergency rooms for migraines with some success. Feverfew is given by herbalists to help prevent migraines. See 'The Natural Pharmacy' or the Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine for more good advice.

Answer 5

Wow! Lot's of good suggestions here, and I am definitely going to check out that website referred to for feverfew. Believe it or not, 'cause I get wicked, debilitating migranes too, is something a friend told me about. As soon as you feel one coming on, guzzle two glasses of Gatorade! Personally, I hate the taste of the stuff. But there's something in there that gives major relief. Give it a try. And, of course it helps to be where it's reasonably quiet and avoid bright lights, but that's not always possible. But the Gatorade worked better than any Excedrin (which most of your migrane pain relievers are nothing but aspirin or whatever with a mega dose of caffeine in them if you read the label. Coffee is said to relieve the symptoms as well. Plus what I also do is locate the vein on the side of your head which is usually quite visible and throbbing by then. You can put pressure on that vein for say like ten or 15 seconds. And then do the other side of your forehead. It just does something to get things to calm down enough, I don't remember the medical explanation. But it just temporarily stops the flow of blood so it gives it a chance to subside.

Answer 6

You can get Excedrin Migraine from any store that sells over the counter medications, like Wal-Mart or K-Mart. Try an ice pack on the eyes and temples while laying in a dark quiet room. If all else fails, go to the emergency room, they have an injectable medicine they can give you that will clear it right up.

Answer 7

Being someone who has been challenged with these type of headaches since childhood...and all the time my mother would first run to the dcotor the moment I had one...and had all kinds of pills and shots given to me...I first stray from any kind of meds to begin with when trying to get one to go away. I hate medication pills now, of any kind. (I even have challenges enjoying taking my vitamins, but I do! I am learning to like taking those, though they are pills.) But this is my typical routine, and it always works for me.

1) Sleep. I try to sleep it off, even if it it extremely painful. I will take an ice bag, and go to sleep.

2) If sleep does not help it, or does not help it go away completely; I will rub some lavender and peppermint oil on the temples of my forehead. Sometimes I will also drink a cup of hot Tension Tamer tea. (Most times my headaches now are brought on by stress.) And go back to sleep.

3) If that does not work, and it has been 24 hrs. since the onset of my headache, I will give in and take some Ibuprofen or Excedrin (if on hand), and go back to sleep. Drugs, even OTC drugs are always my last resort, and I give it a full 24 hours before popping them. Told ya, I hate pills.

Answer 8

What works for me is codiene and caffine, tylenol #3 or acetaminaphine with codeine (you can get it from the pharmacist it is available behind the counter - you have to ask for it) take 2, and drink a coke or a coffee. This works for me without fail, not any of the migraine meds on the market until I discovered this.

Answer 9

I find excederin works for me. Don't have any , 1 aspirin + 1 tylenol + caffine works too. Also feet in warm water and a cold wet towel around the head and neck can help. It pulls the blood away from the inflamed blood vessels in your head. I know you will look stupid but hey if it works .

Answer 10

Put your feet in cold water. This drains the blood from your head to your feet and relieves the migraine.

Answer 11

Place a pair of Cotton socks in ice water. Soak your feet in very hot water for 20 minutes.Wring out the cold Cotton socks .take your feet out of the water and immediately place them in the cold socks.cover the cold socks with wool socks(Cotton if you don't have wool) and rest. This procedure will pull the blood flow away from your head and provide relief.Sorry about your pain.