Any migraine sufferers / doctors to give some advice?

[QueenBean]

I've been recently diagnosed with migraines and prescribed Imigran (50). When I took one a few weeks ago I was fine, it went quickly and I was delighted.

I went to bed last night feeling fine, woke up about 2am to a cracking headache, fell back asleep, woke up again about 4.30am and to an imigran. I then threw up about 45 minutes later and have thrown up another 5 times since then, all before 11am.

I read the side effects and vomiting is listed as one of them but I was fine last week.

How do I know if the migraine is causing the vomiting or if it's the medication? Because I threw it up I still feel dreadful but don't really want to take anything else as I have an empty stomach now.

Could anyone recommend anything that I could do?

Thank you

Hi QueenBean
I also suffer from Migraine - hopefully someone will be able to shed light on the tablets you've taken - I can't comment on whether it was the pills or not....
however I do know that some days I can have a migraine and drag myself to work and manage to get through the day and then sleep the minute I get home - with pain down one side of head throughout.
When I'm on holiday I can feel the same and for some reason I throw up - it's almost as if because I'm relaxed my body gives into it.
The vomiting doesn't ease the migaraine and it can last my usual 3 day stint.

Sorry I'm no help - I hope you are able to lie down in a darkened room and sleep through it - but if you're like me and have to carry on - take care

Hi I tried to write a reply on my phone and it lost it grrr.

I'm not a doctor just a long term migraine suffer. Do you normally throw up with your migraine?

Imigran is in a class of drugs called triptains it's the oldest and one that often causes the most side effects but I haven't come across anyone who it make's throw up. I've taken it before and you can now get this one over the counter at the Chemsit it tends to be the first one a GP will prescribe as it's the cheapest. I'm taking elitriptain at the moment but have also had Zomig there are around 7 different one's and some come in nasel spray or melts imigraine also comes in injections.

If your GP hasn't already explained this they work best if taken at first sign of pain. It could be that as you woke first at 2am in pain but didn't take it until 4.30am that is was a bit to late, also if you didn't throw up until 45 minutes later I would have though you would have absorbed most of the drug by then. Having said that some people so seem to find it take's longer then that to work but imigraine is poorly absorbed compared to some of the other triptains.

If your feeling a bit rough now try fluids and if you can stomach it some plain carbs often help. Your probably in postdrome which is the aftereffect of the migraine.

I also have another word with your GP if you have any further questions regarding using your drugs. I do think though as it worked the first time it's more likely you missed the window of it working most effective this time and you felt the effect of the migraine. But if your not normally sick it mite be worth trying a different triptain.

A good source of information on Migraine that you mite like to have a look at is the Migraine trust website.
Good luck hope your feeling better soon.

Thank you so much both for taking the time to post such long replies, it's much appreciated

I have thrown up a few times before, but nothing like today. It sort of feels like a really bad hangover even though I haven't drunk anything

Took the day off work and so have been in bed all day, just got up but think I'll go back to bed in a bit, can't believe how rough I feel still!

Feeling like you have a bad hangover is often how I'd describe the feeling of a migraine but without having had the joy of drinking anything. In fact I'm a total teetotaler nowadays.

Does sound like a bad migraine they are often worse to control if you get them in the middle of the night as you don't take medication straight away. So things have a chance to get worse first.

It's good to hear you were able to take day off - I'd follow MigGril's advice and next time you're at doctors you could mention what happened. I suppose you could have pills by your bedside to take asap.

I definitely get what I call my 'drunk day' - where the pain has eased off but I feel like I've been partying hard for several nights!

I gave up chocolate and crisps for 18 months in the hope of reducing them - but it had no effect - so just have to live with them. It would be nice if there was a product on the market that did actually ease the symptoms without side -effects.

Hope you feel better tomorrow

Thanks swimmer

I read on the packet not to take them too often as it can give you worse headaches on the days that you don't take them, so I was hoping that it would've gone quickly when I was asleep

How do you know when a migraine is definitely going to be one and not just a headache?

Also I find it really odd that they can just come on in the middle of the night too - I can see that eye strain / other triggers would give you them in the day but not so much at night

As a long term sufferer I agree with the advice to take a triptan at the very first sign. I get wafers from GP that dissolve in my mouth so I can't vomit them up. Also buccastem which you pop under your top lip is good for easing any vomiting.

you can also get the nasal inhalers that work well for me.

I take imigran 50 (and would have loved one today, but have run out)

I think, as others have said, it's probably not the pill, but that it was just going to be one of those migraines that nothing was going to shift. Sometimes imigran stops mine within the hour, sometimes it does nothing and I have a 24 hr vomiting session.

(apparently soluble aspirin and full fat coke can ward off migraines but not for me)

The best advice I've had from a doctor (migraine specialist) was to treat all headaches as migraines and therefore to take the Triptan as soon as possible.

I used to wait to see if the head ache got worse and then I would class it as a migraine and take the Triptan. Usually this was too late and I'd get a full blown 48 hour incapacitating migraine with vomiting etc. But not always so it was a bit like Russian roulette.

Now I take Rizatriptan (also called Maxalt) as soon as I get a headache and it seems to work 80/90% of the time. I think the times it doesn't work are because I've taken the medication too late. Though I some times have to take it 3 days in a row and still get that washed out post migraine feeling.

Good luck. Migraines are horrible!

That seems logical hebe. I think I tend to not take the pill as soon as I start because I feel guilty almost as they are so dear!

I must get some more tomorrow, I'm all out.

Immigran makes me hurl.

Ffs autocorrect changed that to immigrants. My iPad is NOT pc.

Immigran makes me vomit. You can get anti nausea tablets but I didn't find them useful.
I have tried several triptans including zomig rapimelt and nothing has worked. I found tylex fantastic for my migraines but it was prescribed for a different issue so not an option.
The only times I have vomited with a migraine attack jss been when I've taken a triptan
Recently I've had bloods done and I'm anaemic. Since eating more frequently and healthily I've noticed a reduction in attacks. I feel mine are hormonal but can't tolerate the pill and as I get aura its not recommended anyway
Migraine is so debilitating. I would love the comfort of having a medication that worked

dirty some women find the minin pill that stops your periods helpfull or the coil with hormones. I've tried both with some success before children. but I think since having children my hormones must have changed as they no longer seem to help. You cantakethem if you have aura the only one you can't have is the combined pill.

Thanks MigGril
I'm not sure if I can take the mini pill either- have one of my ovaries removed due to a borderline growth & my Gynae said I could take the combined pill. I am due my yearly check up next month and I will ask her about mini pill then.