What medication do you recommend for a Migraine?

[Radley]

I have had a really really bad headache for 3 days now, i was in bed last night at 7.30 with a migraine patch on my forehead and an eyepatch on to make sure it is totally dark.

I can't get into the doctors and wondered if anyone can recommend anything for a migraine.

I have loads to do in the next couple of days and can't really be sat doing nothing.

[NotQuiteCockney]

DH get classic classic 24-hour migraines, aura, one-sided headache, vomiting. Migraleve seems to work well. Might not work for you as a) he always takes the "starter" pill, and that normally fixes it, and b) your headache sounds different.

Are you sure it's a migraine?

[Radley]

No i'm not sure it's a migraine, it seems to be behind my eyes and it only eases if i am in total darkness, its definately not a hangover lol, so i'm stumped, i have had a bad chest infection for about 2 months so don't know whether that has any baring on it.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Do you wear glasses? Any chance it's your eyes?

Does iboprofen help? Paracetmol? Codeine?

The light sensitivity is migrainey, but dunno about the rest. I'd be inclined to go lie in a dark room for a day if you can.

I know with DH's migraines, and the few migrainey headaches I've had, I've had no choice about needing to go lie down. One ceases to be a functional human being, iyswim.

You really should get to a GP if this doesn't stop soon.

[fairyjay]

A friend of mine uses naratriptan - only on prescription though!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, should have asked, has anything been different over the last 3 days? Caffeine intake up or down? Diet changed? More time at computer? More stress?

[NomDePlume]

NQC, I suffer with the same thing as your DH. Sadly, there's nothing drug-wise that can touch my migraine symptoms, the only thing I can do is lie in a totally darkened room until it passes (sometimes it can take up to 6 or 8 hours). My migraine symptoms are...

• Hot, searing pain over/behind left eye
  
• Nausea & upset stomach
  
• Major visual disturbances (often losing vision completely in one or both eyes)
  
  I also get pain free 'focal migraines' regularly (more reg than the painful ones). Basically I go almost completely blind (I see colour but no shape) pretty much without warning (my vision starts to deteriorate and within 7 or so mins my vision is gone.
  
  My triggers are sugar, caffiene, stress and lack of sleep. They are the bane of my life . It really makes me when people say 'it's just a headache'. Mine completely immobilise me, definitely nothing like a headache

[noddyholder]

syndol They usually make me sleep though so best take them when you have nothing to do.

[robin3]

Not sure if this helps but I was watching the BBC2 programme about alternative medicines and it featured accupuncture.

They seemed to prove through UK scientific research that it can control pain in the brain and there was a lady who had suffered all her life from migraines but after accupuncture she hadn't had any.

Just a thought.

[Elibean]

Just got some vasodilators prescribed by GP - not yet tried them. I usually get the classic 24 hour migraine with nausea/pain/visual disturbance - often when about to get period, or having hormonal swings. I had them during puberty, and again now at perimenopause - hardly at all inbetween.
But to be honest, I would go to the GP with a bad headache that lasted for days...it might be migraine, but worth having checked out. Could be sinusitis or something - and anyway, the pharmacist told me that prescription meds for migraine are far more effective these days than over the counter ones. Hope he's right!
Feel better soon...

[NomDePlume]

I keep meaning to try osteopathy for it.

[NotQuiteCockney]

NDP, that sounds dreadful. I know it's not "just a headache", as DH becomes completely incapacitated by them. Thankfully, migraleve works on his, and they don't happen often (was once per year or so for a while there).

It's good to know the prescription meds are even better. I think migraleve didn't work on the last one ...

[Radley]

Just asked dh to go to the chemist to get me some migralieve (he is going into town anyway) and he says he is only going to the supermarket and if there isn't any there he's not making a special journey.

[uwila]

Sumatriptan. You need a prescription but ask your GP for it for next time.

Migralieve is useless for me.