Migraleve shortage

[TiredPony]

Sorry if this is in the wrong topic, but I thought general health would be too quiet!
For the last couple of months I've been unable to buy Migraleve. Apparently there is a supply problem, although I've been unable to find anything about it on Google. All of my local chemists have sold out. I've been taking Boots own Paracetemol and Codeine, which is apparently all Migraleve is but they don't seem to work as well. Does anyone know what's going on and when they will be back in production?

I take 'Solpadeine for migraine' tablets for my migraines and they're currently out of stock nationwide as well!

I spoke to the manufacturer last week (I’m a pharmacist) they are expecting stock to be available around the 5th of November. HTH.

Have you tried ordering from another town or city?

It’s been unavailable since July.

Migraleve can also have an antisickness drug in it depending on what you are buying. Its prescription only on its own. Id go see the dr and ask for some metoclopromide (the anti sickness drug) and paracetamol and codeine tablets personally.

Sorry i lied its a different drug to metoclopromide but theory still stands. Dr can give you something similar.

There are prescription medication for severe migraine if they are regular, Sumatriptan. Ask your GP. Pharmacies exceptionally can give it over the counter after a questionnaire.

Thanks for the comments. It's good to know it will be back in stock soon. I wonder what the problem was?
My local pharmacy have told me to speak to my GP actually, I will call them.

Hi, Today I've tried Boots, Superdrug, lloyds, Co-op they all say the same can't get any, supplier issue, I'm panicking as it's the only thing that works for me and I took my last a few days ago. I've tried asking my kids at both ends of the country to check their chemists its the same reply. I'm advised to ask my GP for a similar medication :(

You can buy the paracetamol and codeine over the counter, then buy the anti sickness drug separately, which I think is in the newer version of Dramamine.

You can’t buy the sickness drug in migraleve separately.
You can buy buccastem m which is prochlorperazine. It’s £8ish for 8 tablets.

There are many better migraine drugs, speak to your GP.

I take a daily supplement of magnesium and haven't had a migraine for a while now they used to be once a week.

www.healthline.com/health/magnesium-for-migraines

Just bumping this as Migraleve is still unavailable, and now Buccastem is as well. Can anyone recommend alternatives?

Watching with interest as I normally take migraleve.
Luckily not had a migraine for while but need to get something in stock.

I only take the pink tablets and have found that codeine on its own is fine if I catch it early. Easy and cheap to buy online.

I was advised (by pharmacist) to have two ibuprofen washed down with full fat coke at first sign of migraine. I always have migraleve pink too. That usually knocks it on the head. So disappointing there’s still none available. I wonder what’s going on

Oh no. I found the Buccastem worked but I'm running out. Watching with interest.

Why does nobody go to the doctors? They can prescribe these drugs that are unbranded. So the same thing, essentially

One of the pills is just co-codamol, which you buy for much less, I cannot remember if it is the pink or yellow though.

I'd go to your GP. There are far better drugs for migraine than Migraleve. Paracetamol and codeine - the basics of Migraleve - are not in the recommendations for treating migraine.

In an emergency the coke thing does work - I am in day 5 (FFS) of a migraine so can't take any more triptans (stick religiously to max 2 a week, 6 a month). So last night when it came back with a vengeance I drank a load of iced water, had a slice of bread - all I had to hand - and stuck packet of frozen herbs on my head. Brought it down to almost nothing in 30 minutes and today it's still here but 1/10 and I'm getting on with my day.

@AnnaMagnani if you're on day 5,please go back to the GP, as your triptans may need to be administered in a different way. When I went in begging for help on day 10 in agony, I was given a nasal spray and was asleep 20mins after I used it and woke up a few hours later pain free. Took me several days more to recover from that one. There are other options too though.

For other people, please go and see your GP - Migraleve is very poor for migraine because it is codeine based which is not actually recommended for migraine treatment. There are far better, and more effective medicines out there.

southwest.devonformularyguidance.nhs.uk/formulary/chapters/4.-central-nervous-system/migraine
*
Do not offer ergot or opioids for the acute treatment of migraine. Opiates and opiate derivatives increase nausea and are addictive. Codeine and dihydrocodeine are associated with medication overuse headache* - that's the clinical guidance on use of opiod based meds, which includes codeine.

It's OK MotorcycleMayhem I know my triggers and also I have really severe migraine anyway - have seen neurologist at Queen's Square.

Am mega stressed at the moment plus also trying to lose weight - I know in the longterm being a heathy weight is good for migraine but my migraine genes keep telling me they want carbs!

Not a good time for me right now but I'll get there.

People don't go to the gp because it's incredibly hard to get an appointment - or even get through on the phone line - these days. People are also being encouraged to use their Pharmacy instead more and more.