Migraines - what are the options?

[doadeer]

I've been experiencing horrendous migraines for about 2 years now. They were triggered by chronic back pain. I have stresses in my life that can't be changed, I know these are the trigger. I do practice meditation and other relaxation techniques. The GP prescribed my one amitriptaline a day and I take two sumitripan when I feel one coming.

What is the next step in terms of what the GP could do? I'm getting them multiple times a week now. I also have private health cover through husbands work.

Thank you

My dd is in a similar situation. She also takes pizotifen daily from the doctor and sees a chiropractor, which has helped.

It’s difficult without really knowing the cause and a bit trial and error in most cases. Some people find Botox very effective. Mine have hugely improved since the dentist suggested I try a bite guard. Turns out I was grinding my teeth in my sleep and that’s one of the reasons I would wake up with them.

I'm on preventative medication now, but that took an asmission to hospitaland a battle with my GP. They don't stop me getting them but have stopped the intensity, duration and frequency

After years of them, I now take a daily beta blocker which stops 95% of them. The other 5% is stopped by three aspirin and sumitriptan.

Mine have been transformed since November by a daily dose of Candesartan (which is one of the things a GP can prescribe). I did also have a consultation with a neurologist because we have work BUPA and they ageeed it was a decent preventer and one of the ones with fewest side effects. I have only had two headaches since I started taking them and both of them were manageable and responded to medication. Before this my migraines had been lasting for days and were accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting.
The National Migraine Centre has an amazing podcast called The Heads Up podcast. There are episodes devoted to preventer medications and other useful topics. Listening to them helped me to get the maximum benefit from my consultation with the neurologist and my discussion with my GP.
I wish I had taken a daily preventer years ago.

Following this.
only thing I’ve found to help so far is pregnancy. Completely got rid of mine it was amazing. But sadly they’ve returned now.

I had nightly migraines triggered by the position of my neck after chemo damaged. Tried medication and referred to pain clinic got a list of don'ts. In the end I paid for acupuncture with an osteopath eased after a few treatments then after around 6 no more problems.
One useful prescription was buccal tablets to stop sickness as I could then take painkillers.

Your gp can either up your dose or give you something else like Pregabalin, Topiramate or Gabapentin. I also take a different reliever to Sumitriptan. (The nasal spray gave me sinus infections and the tablet triggers Raynaud's)

I attended the migraine clinic at Kings College Hospital and used to take Epilim. It worked for me.

There are so many different medications you can try, these can be instead of amytriptyline or taken as well as it, if you've found it any benefit since starting it.

I've been through Propanolol, Pizotifen, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Topiramate, Botox, now Ajovy (an anti-CGRP injection) and a few others I can't remember. As well as sumatriptan as necessary.

It can be a long road finding what works for you but hopefully you're well enough at times to research and ask your gp to try another or a different medication. Good luck.

Botox worked really well for me. Suffered almost daily in my 20’s. Had a few treatments in a row and it built up the coverage so now I have mostly grown out of them. Quick and easy and wears off. Bupa should cover it. X

If you have private heatlhcare, just go and see a neurologist, it will be worth it.

Amitriptylline may not work for you, or it may be the wrong dose, either way there are multiple options for migraine prevention.

Next would be make sure you do not have over-use headache - if you take too many triptans they can trigger even more migraines. The golden rule is no more than 2 a week or 6 a month. Any more than that and you can just create even more migraines.

Finally do you know what your triggers are? There are loads of migraine triggers and I didn't realise all of mine until I started really paying attention to them. Some you can't change eg stormy weather, but others you can.

Common ones are being hungry, alcohol, fragrance, not having enough sleep - ideally you should go to bed and get up at the same time every day, blue light from screens, changing the amount of caffeine you have in day.

If you have chronic back pain then physio, a desk assessment if you work at a computer, checking your driving position in the car and the height of your pillow.

Thank everyone. Lots to think about.

I have beaten my back pain using the curable app, I'm going to keep trying the same techniques for my migraines but explore other options too.

I have a disabled child, fighting local authority and mil with mental health problems and cancer. These are very big stresses but none that I can change. I know this is the cause. I'm super healthy across other areas of my life.