Percocet for migraine headaches?

Question

Does anyone with migraine headaches take percocet or vicodin for migraines? Mine are daily migraines. I had some percocet left over from when my wisdom teeth were removed and it makes all the pain go away and makes me feel good, but now I've run out. Imitrex doesn't work for me. Should I ask my doctor if I can get percocet for them? I'd be taking them on an almost daily basis if the headaches continue that often. I know they're addictive. But I would put up with withdrawal symptoms in the future if I could stop these debilitating headaches now. How often are narcotic painkillers prescribed for migraines/headaches, and what are the circumstances involving the doctor writing the prescription? Is it usually the last option if everything else has failed? Or is it something most doctors routinely would prescribe? Thanks..

Answer 1

I have migraines from time to time, but I have never been prescribed narcotics for them. Please explore other avenues of treatment before you go with narcotics; it sounds easy to deal with withdrawal, but it definitely isn't. I would strongly suggest going to a neurologist about your migraines; they will be the people who are most receptive to trying a variety of options. I don't think that writing a script for narcotics is a common treatment that most doctors would consider; it was never offered to me (and I'm not sure I would have accepted them had they been offered). Severe migraines are sometimes treated in a hospital setting with narcotic medications, but that's the only situation where they are usually prescribed that I have ever heard of.

I can't tell from your name and avatar if you are male or female; if you're female, for many women, going on birth control pills helps alleviate the symptoms of migraines. I was placed on birth control pills so that I would take 12 weeks of active pills followed by one week of inactive pills, so that I would only have four menstrual periods a year; this can be accomplished with practically any type of birth control pill; it can also be done by using a brand called "Seasonale" which is packaged this way.

Find a good neurologist, and see what can be done about your headaches before you go on a path that can potentially lead to a serious addiction. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Are you wanting them because they make the pain go away or because they make you feel good? Narcotics can sometimes cause rebound headaches because they lower the blood pressure, but they are sometimes prescribed for migraines. If you feel you need to be on narcotics for your migraines long-term, you should see a pain management doctor. You will have to bring all of your medical records to the pain doctor. Narcotics are the oldest and safest form of pain control available and if you GENUINELY have pain and need to take them every day there is nothing wrong with that. But take a good long look at if you genuinely need them for the migraines or if you like the way they make you feel. A pain management doctor may try several different modalities to help your situation in addition to the medication. Many pain management doctors are also neurologists (mine is) and can also help figure out what is causing your migraines. Family doctors will probably not routinely prescribe Percocet for migraines, but if you explain that you've been taking what you had left over from your wisdom teeth for the migraines and it helped, they may write a one-time scrip for a handfull of them. Withdrawals are nothing to mess around with, though; they are worse than the worst kind of hell. If you do go to pain management and are put on narcotics they will taper you down when you are ready to quit or they decide you need to stop taking them.

Answer 3

Doctors really don't mind prescribing percocets. It will probably work for you, it sounds like they would. Everyone is different. I would ask for vicodin first, because that is weaker and less addictive. Then maybe try percocet. Make sure this is the last thing, I'm on a strong narcotic and can't get off of them. I go threw horrible withdrawls. It's not as easy as you think. You might have to go to rehab for this. Remember Rush Limbah

Answer 4

You need to find out the root cause. I had them from third grade to 1998, when a Halter Monitor showed that I had Bigeminy,where the heart beats with one normal heartbeat and one premature heartbeat. The doctors put me on Verapamil 240mg, which restored my heart to normal sinus rhythm. This also stopped my migraines, which was just great, doctors had been listening to my heart for years, but did not catch this. I even went to a headache clinic in Ohio. Life is too precious, to have to spend days in bed, with a migraine, throwing up, unable to stand the noise of someone walking on the floor. Keep trying to find out why you have them.

Answer 5

There's a new development in migraine therapy:
http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html

Answer 6

I have tried percocet for mine but it seems advil works pretty good also.I take the gel type before I go to sleep and it works for me but everyone is different what works for me might not be your cure.