Migraine

[PotSoonHot]

I am being plagued by these. Doctor prescribed sumatriptan. It's rubbish. Migraleve has a better effect. Today I took a migraleve and still need something else. Can anybody recommend a) a decent migraine medication and b) a secondary one if it's still ongoing. Is paracetamol all I can do?!

@HandbagCrazy re menthol I find that if I rub tiger balm on my temples, back of neck and sometimes even eyelids (!) that detracts from the pain a bit. The full fat coke makes sense as I often crave sugar once it's over and especially marshmallows. I have the hangover of it for 1-2 afterwards.

Thanks for all these suggestions. Loads of new stuff to try and I will definitely be going back to the GP. Will request zolmatriptan/Naramig and are what happens.

Mine peak at ovulation and just before my period but stress exacerbates them

4head can be good to reduce the pain. It doesn't lift it completely, though. I sometimes use my Cefaly machine, but I find that despite their claims, it only works while I'm using it, and the effects stop once I remove it. It's supposed to be preventative and to rid migraines once established, but I don't find that it does, and I can tolerate the machine being used on its highest setting without any issue, yet friends who aren't migraineurs have tried it and begged me to remove it on its lowest setting!

I have tried so many things for my migraines. Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Frovatriptan; injections, wafers, tablets. Amitriptyline, Nortryptiline; Propranolol, Metoprolol; Topiramate (now on 200mg BD); Mirena coil, mini pill; Botox; vitamin D; aspirin and Coke, Naproxen; nothing has changed them.

I still get cracking migraines mid cycle and at my period, like clock work, plus in between. It's my migraines that tell me when I'm coming on .

I'm having a colonoscopy for other reasons next week, and I'm seriously considering trying gluten free after I've had the results of that. I need to try something else.

Have you done a headache diary to see how frequent your migraines are? If you are getting several a month then you should be having a preventer medicine to reduce their frequency.

Also you need to monitor how often you take any medicine such as paracetamol or triptans to treat migraines - no more than 2 days a week or 6 times a month is what my neurologist told me or you risk triggering even more migraines.

I didn't tolerate amitriptylline and can't have propranolol because of asthma. However my cyclical migraines were eliminated with the progesterone-only pill. And the frequency of my migraines has plummeted with topiramate.

Didn't get on with sumatriptan but almotriptan is much better.

Also I carry a water bottle every where - staying v hydrated keeps mine away and can sometimes stop one in it's tracks. As can knowing your triggers - mine like me to have routine with no late nights. I'm cutting all fragranced and scented products out of my life as well - realised even my conditioner was giving me a migraine

I've also got the F.Lux app on all my screens which I think has made a lot of difference, it cuts out blue light later in the day.

Plus neurologist suggested there is evidence for magnesium 400mg a day, feverfew 250mg a day and riboflavin 400mg a day. I've done the first 2 but not the riboflavin as my migraine has improved - apparently it does turn your wee bright orange

I've been to the National Migraine Centre too, and saw a fabulous doctor. I've never before had the experience of talking to anyone medical who really seemed to understand my migraines, and I've had them since very early childhood, so that's a long time to suffer without finding a real expert. But I realised they were total experts - I'd recommend a visit there if possible.

I used to have classical one-sided migraines with vomiting, dread, and acute noise and light sensitivity which would wipe me out for a day then disappear leaving a huge sense of well-being. Years of that, then more recently they've evolved into low-level attacks that drag on for days, recede a bit then come back. Not bad enough to put me in bed but utterly draining.

They're now much better with the aspirin & coke trick plus Frovatriptan. Regular eating and sleep patterns help. I was recommended magnesium too - I take it when I remember

Oh, and I forgot the main thing! Topiramate daily, but only 50 mg as I couldn't tolerate a higher dose. It made me horribly depressed and lethargic - apparently many people don't react well to large doses.

I still get cracking migraines mid cycle and at my period, like clock work, plus in between. It's my migraines that tell me when I'm coming on These are my symptoms exactly, plus in knew i was pregnant every time as I had no migraine days before I was due on, so I knew I was pregnant before it showed on a pregnancy test. Also I had no migraines when pregnant or breastfeeding. The worst migraine I've ever had was when i stopped breastfeeding my DD1 so I'm fairly sure mine are hormone related!

My GP suggested the mirena coil and said it works for some but for others it can make them worse. I've been quite lucky and it has reduced the severity of my migraines quite substantially. I still have them including the visual disturbances etc but they aren't as severe.

I agree - you should ask your GP about preventive medicine. I found they worked for a while and then changed to another. I eventually graduated to the injections which were a life saver as worked really fast. Did that for years - my poor legs must be mince by now. They have reduced now I am post-menopausal but still get the odd one but manage them on paracetamol and codeine

@whathaveiforgottentoday, yes, my neurologist helpfully suggested that another baby or two might be the way to prevent further migraines, but I told him that 18+ years of side effects of 9 months' pain relief would never pass clinical trials

@whathaveiforgottentoday The only time I have never suffered was during pregnancy so I totally get this!