I get migraines all the time... almost daily.... what medications work well and are they prescription?

Question

I vomit.... my eyes swell shut at times... the light almost blinds me... and sound makes my head feel like it's exploding.... The only medicine I found that works is Excedrine Migraine, however I need to "overdose" a few times a day for them to work. I'm affraid I'm causing damage to myself and would like to find something that could help or even prevent migraines!

Answer 1

I have been suffering from Migraine for about 3 years and these have been my findings.

Conventional treatment of migraine focuses on three areas: trigger avoidance, symptomatic control, and preventive drugs. Patients who experience migraines often find that the recommended treatments are not 100% effective at preventing migraines.

Trigger avoidance
Patients can attempt to identify and avoid factors that promote or precipitate migraine episodes. Moderation in alcohol and caffeine intake, consistency in sleep habits, and regular meals may be helpful. Beyond an often pronounced placebo effect, general dietary restriction has not been demonstrated to be an effective approach to treating migraine.Nonetheless, some people fervently claim that they have successfully identified foods which are likely to result in migraines, and by avoiding them, can decrease the likelihood of an episode.

Symptomatic control to abort attacks
Migraine sufferers usually develop their own coping mechanisms for vascular headache pain. A cold or hot shower directed at the head, a hot or cold wet washcloth, a warm bath, or resting in a dark and silent room may be as helpful as medication for many patients, but both should be used when needed.

Some headache sufferers are surprised to learn that a simple cup of coffee is used daily around the world to control minor vascular headaches that are not quite migraines. Minor vascular headaches are frequently associated with the hormonal fluctuations of menstrual periods, irregular eating, and unusually hard work. For migraineurs, a well-timed cup of coffee can prevent outright migraine under the same conditions.

A simple treatment that has been effective for some, is a counteracting "ice cream headache", briefly provoked by placing spoonfuls of ice cream on the soft palate at the back of the mouth. (Hold them there with your tongue until they melt or become intolerable.) This directs cooling to the hypothalamus, which is suspected to be involved with the migraine feedback cycle, and for some it can stop even a severe headache very quickly.

Preventive Drugs
The most effective prescription medications include several classes of medications including beta blockers such as propranolol and atenolol, antidepressants such as amitriptyline, and anticonvulsants such as valproic acid and topiramate.

Hope this helps you !

Answer 2

First - I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Second I’m sorry this is so long. I had a closed head injury (ACK) 24 years ago that started my migraines. There are a few types of migraines (vascular, tension, and many ways to avoid (or trigger) them.

Have the migraines started recently or have you had them in the past? If you had migraines and they have gotten worse in frequency or amount of pain? If the answer to either of these is YES - please go to a doctor right away.

A regular doctor may be able to determine if something else is going on and also give you something to help you with the pain before you over do it on Excedrin.

The Tylenol (acetaminophen) in Excedrin is the trouble. For SHORT term (4 days or less) you could try 600 or 800mg of Advil with 1/2 of a 'stay awake' pill (caffeine) every 6-8 hours. FOR ME the caffeine helps get rid of the migraine and Excedrin is Tylenol, Aspirin and caffeine. Advil Migraine does not have anything different in it than regular Advil. Just like Excedrin Migraine is the same as Excedrin.

Other ways to (possibly) help with an existing migraine:
Heat/cold - heat works for me - a hot shower and then heating pad on my head/eyes helps the pain. My girlfriend needs cold and uses ice packs.
Massage - if the migraine was triggered due to stress a head/neck massage can reduce or eliminate the migraine.
Sleep - if you are short on sleep then a nap may help.

Keep a log to see if you can find your triggers. In the log note when you get a migraine, even if it's just beginning, how severe and how long it lasts along with what you eat, drink, how much you sleep and how well you sleep, when you cycle and how you feel each day. See if you can see a pattern.

Here are common migraine triggers:
• Stress
• Foods: Malt beverages (Beer, wine coolers' Smirnoff Silver, etc.), Red Wine, Chocolate, Meats with Nitrates, MSG, Aspartame, Aged Cheese, Peanuts
• Skipping a meal
• Too much caffeine
• Smoking
• Changes in the weather
• Changes in hormone levels (pregnancy, monthly cycle)
• Getting too much or not enough sleep, or a change in sleep schedule

Here’s a couple links with more detail on migraines:
http://www.medicinenet.com/migraine_headache/article.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=41582

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I did the Exedrin Migraine thing too....until I'd make myself sick sometimes from too much medication. I finally went to the doctor and they now have me on FROVA and TOPOMAX. I've also tried Maxalt...it's pretty good too. Topomax helps me from getting migraines as often (I was getting them nearly daily). And I take Frova when I start to feel one coming on....it eliminates it almost on contact unless it's going to be a "biggie" then the Frova makes the Migraine tolerable.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to rule out other problems though. See a doctor and make sure you are just dealing with migraines. Also, I go to a chiropractor every once in a while and that seems to help the migraines that tend to come from the stress in my neck and shoulders.

I hope you get some relief.

Answer 5

I have been getting mirgaines for almost 8 years now. The only thing that works on me as well is Excedrine Migraine. I would make an appointment to see your doctor. Get a prescription for your migraines as soon as you can. Also if you haven't had this done and you have the money get a MRI done. You could have something wrong. I had to get one done to see if I had a brain tumor. Luckly I didn't. Good Luck.

Answer 6

1. Taking too much Excedrin is a bad idea. It can damage your liver and it can lead to rebound headaches.
2. You need to get more specific prescription migraine meds. Find a good headache specialist (Neurologist, Headache and Pain Management Clinic.)
They will be able to help assess your migraines. They can give you meds to prevent the migraines and other meds for the pain. There are many many options. They'll help find the right meds for you.
At the very least, you need to get some triptans (Maxalt, Axert, Imetrex etc) these are specific to migraines to be taken at the very first sign of the headache. They work much better than OTC migraine meds.
They may recommend other treatments (nerve blocks, craniosacral therapy and acupuncture work well for me.)
They will also help you with strategies to prevent and monitor you pain. (Learning your triggers, keeping a pain diary, learning to meditate/belly breathe to reduce the pain.)
Good luck.

Answer 7

From what you've said, I'm wondering if you've been diagnosed with migraine. And if you have, why aren't you reporting this to your neurologist? There are a lot of meds that could help you prevent and/or abort a migraine. I mean no disrespect but I would think that someone with such severe symptoms as you would already have a prescription.

Answer 8

Drs often prescribe Topomax for migraine suppression. It helps you lose weight, too. Probably get Rx for something like imitrex, maxalt or axert to take when you first start to feel you're getting a migraine. You definitely need to see a doctor if you're having daily H/A, it could be something serious. I wouldn't keep taking the excedrin, esp overdosing it, it contains aspirin--a blood thinner. You also need to keep a migraine diary so you and your doctor can figure out what is triggering your H/A so you can avoid that stimulus. Hopes this is helpful.

Answer 9

There is no cure for all migraines, but there is relief. A doctor can prescribe you numerous types of medication depending on what you think is causing the headaches. Muscle relaxors such as anaprox will help with tension headaches. Fiorecit is good, but it leaves you feeling high. He might prescribe you vicodin or Hydrocodone (generic name), but they can get addicting. If the headaches persist, he might just prescribe you something like motrin (but 800 mgs) pills. All these work to help relieve pain. Also watching what you eat and drink like avoiding red meats and caffeine, can be beneficial.

Answer 10

Ask your doctor for a prescription of Imitrex.It works specifically for migraines.For the past 6 months,we've been using a 10 dollar off coupon that covers half the co-pay. Over the counter meds are great,but sometimes our bodies need extra strength.Call your doctor and make sure you have migraines.It could be anything.Good luck!