There must be a migraine drug that works

[infamouspoo]

I'm on topomax which has reduced the fuckers from 10 days a month to 2 or 3 but neither maxalt nor imigran touch them. Ergotamine work maybe 50% of the time (all 3 still give me the full blast of horrible side effects though).

This week I've had a migraine from 7pm every night. Ive just taken a maxalt wafer maybe half an hour ago. Nothing. Its building up and before long I will be vomiting.

Any other ideas? Ive had them 35 years and tried everything.

Hpw do you get a specialist doctor? 35 years here of GP's just failing to take migraine seriously. Anything else that takes 10 days out of your life each month plus 5 days recovery would be considered seriously disabling.

You can also get the imigran as an injection. When I had my first and worst migraine I was blue-lighted to hospital in an ambulance as they thought it was a stroke/meningitis/encephalitis but when I arrived they injected me with imigran and I came round quite quickly.

Mine were Imigran Sumatriptan pills, 50mg. It's always a week before my period. I had to stop taking the pill because that made them worse, more like a 5-7 day attack. It stopped when I was pregnant last year. Now DS2 is 8MO and I got a migraine a week ago. It was awful. I get tension in my neck and shoulders too infamous.

speak to the migraine action association www.migraine.org.uk/

I would urge sufferers to try Naramig, honestly it's the only thing that works for me.

cant go to bed yet until dh takes the disabled one to bed. He's staying in with him tonight (its usually me as he stops breathing) and I'm on the sofa. Then I'm taking 2 diazepam and getting my head down.
Spookey, I have more than 3 children despite the migraines. Video's then DVD's were the key but it wasnt easy. I also got 3 month migraines during each pregnancy. DH couldnt believe I'd keep doing it. Maybe I'm bonkers but I refused to let them stop me having the kids I wanted. That said, never ever take a migraine drug during pregnancy. I took a maxalt in desperation with number 4 at 14 weeks after asking the Ob/Gyn and phoning the manufacturer and them saying it was safe. number 4 is brain damaged. I'll never know or forgive myself.

so sorry.

Sorry to hear that OP :(

Botox protocol has only recently been approved by NICE, but that DOES mean it is - or def should be, so push if get a 'no' - in ALL PCT's. It's only available to 'chronic migraneurs' (daily, maybe 3 times a week min I think) as that's where the efficacy kicks in.

OP - topimarate; have you not had any issues with side-effects like 'word-finding' or speech or any other cognitive issues?

Re those who get them one week a month, that's due to the fall in oestrogen at end of menstrual cycle (has NOTHING to do with levels of oestrogen you have; rather the fall per se as come to end of cycle).

INSIST GP refers you to a Neurologist. If they refuse, tell them you will contact PCT direct - if suffer from migraines and big kick in bollocks to anyone who thinks a migraine is a 'headache' you have both a need and a right to be referred to a Neuro.

I really feel for you op. migraines are hideous. I now take 100mg of sumatriptan, which works a treat. I often have to have a second dose next day but it still gets rid of them for a good 20 hrs. You could speak to your GP and ask if ok to take a higher dose than 50mg?

My GP told me to stop taking paracetamol and codeine as he said research has shown them to cause migraines (I was taking them 2 weeks out of 4 as my migraines were so frequent).

The migraines reduced after 2-4 weeks of stopping the above.

I am also having acupuncture which really works for me as mine are hormone related.

I wish you well and much sympathy.

Infamous, I could have written your post 3 days ago, except I have 1dc, not 4. Have you tried Anadin extra as well as the Imigran? That is what I take and 90% of the time they work well. I have had migraines for at least 30 years and have tried beta blockers, amitriptyline and pizotifen (they all made me feel dreadful). I took the Maxalt melts for a while but they then seemed to become less effective. Then after having DD I went onto sodium valproate (as a preventative) which is an anti epileptic - they worked extremely well and I hardly got any migraines BUT they caused a massive increase in my appetite and I gained approx 21llbs. I literally did not stop eating all day every day. I came off them and have been on the Imigran since (with the Anadin Extra). I also tried Botox in sheer desperation (before the valproate) but it didn't work. If you are certain that your migraines are hormone related then I wouldn't bother with Botox. It is extremely expensive (mine was £400) and I believe (disclaimer - I am not medically trained) that they do not work on hormonal migraines. I really feel for you, I hope you get a good nights' rest. PM me if anyone wants to chat about the fecking things!

Also wanted to say I am so sorry that you can't forgive yourself for taking maxalt when preg. God knows migraines are horrendous and when pregnant are even more painful. You were obviously in a bad way with 3 other kids to care for, you were told by the professionals that it was safe.

Please cut yourself some slack, you are not to blame.

'OP - topimarate; have you not had any issues with side-effects like 'word-finding' or speech or any other cognitive issues?'

Yes. My IQ has dropped and I cant find words but on the plus side I've lost a stone. Its why its called 'the super-model drug' as it makes you thin and stupid
Funnily enough its eased slightly at the moment but they do that as you all probably know. Ease then thunder back. Cafergot (caffeine and ergotamine) also works but only sometimes but you feel like you're horribly hungover for 2 days after.

I found imigran didn't work for me, until I switched to IM injection. I take a 50mg injection when I have one coming on, sleep, and it goes. Horrible pain in the neck though, as it takes effect.

I'm finding it harder and harder to inject myself now, though....I need to go back to the GP and talk about preventers. I came off them because of the side effects. Now, I think I have to admit defeat.

The Imigran sprays are magic. They don't like prescribing them because they are expensive, my GP gives me tablets and then two sprays for really, really bad occasions. You do need a neurology referral, go back to your GP and insist! I had to wait 7 months for mine, finally got the appointment this week, but it's better to be on the waiting list even if it is long than not at all...

I agree with Perma - be kind to yourself. I had one dreadful migraine while I was pregnant - I know how it feels to be so desperate to get rid of it.

You have my sympathies. I used to get 8-10 a month.
I had injectable sumatriptan too, it was fabulous. V expensive for the NHS but worth it in my book: i would inject, then feel a weird warm feeling travel up my body and bingo; pain gone ( but v tired after).
Naramig tablets were also good ( a different triptan; not to be taken with sumatriptan).
What really helped mine though was leaving teaching and being pregnant. So I can only conclude that they were stress and hormone related. And garlic.

Your doctor should refer you to specialists. Are you near London? I self-referred to here http://www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/
and they were great, and only ask for voluntary donations to see specialist doctors. No GP referral needed.

Good luck xx

I'm seeing a decent GP in 2 weeks and will hang onto her leg. The migraines are worsening as I get older - hence getting to 10 days a month then 5 days post-migraine where I'm no use to man nor beast.
Anyone been to the migraine clinic in London? I was wondering if that was worth a shot even if its £100?

Hope you feel better soon OP. I am interested in trying acupuncture as mine are hormonal. I may try and see my GP again as well.

Also agree with Stoic - insist that you are referred to a specialist. Which area of the country are you? I know they run a "headache" clinic (yes they did call it that!) at the John Radcliffe in Oxford. Good luck.

I use zomig on prescription from my GP, at the first sign of an aura and they work brilliantly

Suffered migraines since teens, along with siblings, but now manage with Migraleve, always two pink ones, then two yellow on odd occasion they don't work - yellow ones make me sleep, and I wake pain-free but fragile.
Ginger biscuits good for nausea, and black coffee can help until Migraleve starts working.

I had one particularly bad year in 2005 with a migraine every two weeks (before my GP realised it was the pill causing them) and used migraleve because I had run out of imigran. It worked for a month, but then the migraines were worse and I was off work for a week. I went back to the GP and he said migraleve has been known for a lot of migraine users to make the migraines worse and the attacks longer.

I think it's awful that anyone has to get them at all. My friends admit they don't know what it's like and before they knew me thought they were just bad headaches.

Migralieve gives me a worse headache strangely. So does taking just paracetamol.