Do anyone have any suggestions about how to deal with painful migraines?

Question

I am 29 years and I recently have gotten migraines. I get a stabbing feeling in my ear first and then about 10 min after I get a painful throbbing on my left side of head. My doctor gave me Immetrex but it makes me wooozy and lightheaded so I can't take it be for work. Do anyone know any good migraine medicine I can take that won't mess with my blood pressure medicine(propepernal).Thanks to anyone who can help.

Answer 1

I've been suffering from severe migraines for about 10 years now, so I feel your pain. You can try the OTC meds, but for a lot of people, they don't even touch a migraine. Fortunately, there are many prescription drugs out there, but it is assumed that if you have a migraine, you're going to be able to pass out and deal with the groggy side effects. Not true for many people. The side effects do vary from person to person with all the meds out there, it all depends on your body chemistry, so you may want to try several different meds. Is your blood pressure too high or too low? Inderal is commonly used as a BP medication, but is also used as a migraine preventitive. It lowers your BP, so if you have high BP, you may want to discuss switching meds with your doctor. Since there are very few of us here who are medical doctors, you can bring the list of meds you receive to him, and tell him you're looking for a rescue med that won't make you groggy (if there is such a thing), but only he will be able to work with you to find one that is right for your migraines.

But, in the meantime, here are some things that I do when I'm at work and can't take meds:

First, if you are in front of a computer all day long, turn the brightness down to 50 or below, and make the screen brighter by adjusting the contrast.

Turn overhead lights down or off if you can and get a desk lamp to light your space.

If you have a freezer at work, bring a herbal pack with rice or flax seeds scented with a drop of lavender and a drop of peppermint essential oils in it. When a migraine strikes, apply this cold compress to the area that hurts. It generally will take the edge off a little bit.

After or before work schedule appointments with an accupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage therapist. These alternative treatments can often help with migraines.

In the fleshy area between your thumb and index finger, pinch and apply pressure. This is known as the HOKU point and has been known to help with migraines and other headaches.

Rub your temples and feel the pulse - you may notice that one is faster or slower than the other. If this is so, close your eyes and relax for a minute until the pulse on both sides is going at the same rate.

This works best in a squatting position, but will work in any position ultimately. Tip your neck forward and on the back of your head (where your head begins and neck ends) there is what is referred to as the occipital groove. There is a slight indentation. Hook your index and middle finger (on each hand) into this groove, and with your head tilted forward, gently pull up towards the top of your head. This technique will release cerebral spinal fluid that has built up in your head, and sometimes helps alleviate headaches.

That's about all I can think of. Hope some of it helps you. Good luck!

Answer 2

Resolution of headache and migraine symptoms can be achieved in many ways. These ways range from natural remedies to medication and hospitalization in severe cases. Often, resolution of a migraine headache is achieved by the body’s natural coping methods whereby the person feel the urge to enclose themselves in a solitary room, away from light and sound where he can rest until the migraine passes. If the body’s natural methods are unable to take over, a person is need to seek medical treatment depending upon the severity, and a headache can be treated with medicine or natural methods. Medical treatments of headache and migraine symptoms can include painkillers, caffeine derivatives or muscle relaxants.

Preventative methods of treatment are ideal in some cases, which mean avoiding the headache in the first place. These can include dietary changes, feverfew, and relaxation methods like meditation, massage or acupuncture. Most headaches can be treated with these methods, although consulting a physician is the wisest idea, as together patient and doctor can devise an appropriate plan of action to treat his headache most effectively.

Answer 3

If you tell your doctor about side effects from Immitrex they should be able to offer alternatives or possibly medication to counter the lightheaded effect. I know there are more options out there, I just can't name them off the top of my head.

Something else to check...has your weight increased recently or are you feeling more tired in general lately? You might want to ask about sleep apnea. I went in for a migraine (I've had them since I was a kid and I'm 29 also) and the doctor started asking my wife about my sleeping habits (she was with me because I couldn't drive myself there) and then the doctor set me up with a sleep study based on that. Turns out I have sleep apnea and with a CPAP I have a lot fewer headaches and I haven't had a migraine since.

Basically, you might want to look at fixing your triggers for migraine instead of just the symptoms.

Answer 4

i'm not sure what country you're based in, but in UK we have an over the counter product called Migraleve that comes in two strengths - low (yellow) and high (pink). Since it's otc I think it would be safe for someone on other medication, and you take it in conjunction with 400mg ibuprofen, at the first sign of a migraine.

If you are in the middle of an attack, something that helps me is to use one of the cooling patches on the market, or a balm called 4head that you literally rub on the painful area. Its cold and feels minty, so is best used in summer. It literally numbs the area and lasts usually long enough for the medication to take effect.

Answer 5

I too have migraines, and was put on topomax, and a lot of other medications, that made me feel as though my heart was pumping way too fast. When I do get a migraine now, I take Fiorocet that was prescribed,or go to the E.R, and they usually give demerol by I.V. The Fiorocet works pretty well, though.I feel your pain!

Answer 6

well, if u r seeing a doctor to get the one med, let him/her know its affects on u and u need something else to take for work..I would never combine OTC meds with prescription meds, u never know how they will react with each other.
a good exercise is too close ur eyes and rub first the temples in a clockwise direction, then after about 10 seconds of that, stop a moment and resume in a counter clockwise rub, then ten seconds later pause and take the bridge of your nose firmly between your index finger and thumb and put pressure on it for ten seconds.
migraines are toughies, i always require a dark room and no sound its so bad..luckily I work at home and can lay down if needed..I feel very badly for anyone who has to interact while enduring a mid work cycle migraine, its almost impossible to concentrate.

Answer 7

You need to go see a doctor and see what is causing these awful headaches. He or she will also prescribe some medication to help the pain. If you get them often, the doctor can also prescribe some medication to help prevent headaches. I suffer from migraines as well and see my Neurologist on a regular basis. Good luck...you don't need to suffer!!

Answer 8

Try taking a daily magnesium supplement. Magnesium deficiency causes the same symptoms as migraine, and that could be the reason. Also, try placing an ice pack on the back of your neck. It reduces any inflamation and swelling around the nerves and could relieve the pain.

Answer 9

The only thing that helps me is to take a few Advil and then lie down and sleep. Then when i wake up the pain is gone.
Always wear sun glasses outside and do not stare at the computer for long.

Answer 10

the only thing that truly worked for my migraines was a trip to the ER for some serious narcotics

however I was able to attribute stress to the cause of my severe migraines, once i was able to eliminate the stressor the migraines vanished