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Do you get migraines?
- Thread starter lilred
- Start date
Also they have found food to be a major part ,my wife eats some chocolate and bang,her hand's go numb and vision gets blurry.I have had to take her to the hospital ,and they IV her and give her pain meds through that.It sucks and i really feel for you.When you first feel one comeing on,try takeing your pain med's then pinch fairly hard between your thumb and fore finger,where you can feel the tendon joing the both and maintain pressure on it for as long as you can.It help's my wife sometime's,depends on how severe it is.lilred said:
Last edited:
M
*MissFit*
Guest
i never get migrains but i take topomax which is migraine medication every might..
I don't ever get headaches
I don't ever get headaches
i was prescribed a migrain med called midrin...it worked awesome..i used to get migrains so bad that sound light and movement hurt then obviously i would vomit from them...after a few months on midrin i never refilled or went back to the doc so i started taking motrin 600 mg...that seems to work pretty good now, there are a whole bunch of new meds out there. I think my mom is on topomax and that works for her real well
i take injectable imitrex for my cluster headaches. clusters are a type of migraine but not what most people get.
pure o2 works sometimes to 'abort' a cluster and some migraines as well. you can also try other things like laying down on a tile floor, a real hot shower, a real cold shower, exercise. sometimes they will work sometimes they wont.. but if they work here and there it is worth a try
pure o2 works sometimes to 'abort' a cluster and some migraines as well. you can also try other things like laying down on a tile floor, a real hot shower, a real cold shower, exercise. sometimes they will work sometimes they wont.. but if they work here and there it is worth a try
WolfPack Charlie
New member
I'm with Angel, I get them so bad sometimes that I have to lock myself in my room and cover the windows with blankets and make sure noone makes a sound anywhere in the house or it feels like someone is pounding me in the head with a hammer. They used to be more frequent when I was a kid, but just as bad. When I feel a headache comin on now, I take 3 Excedrin migraines and it seems to help.
squatpuke
New member
Don't know if they're migraines (probably not)...but I get some nasty-ass headaches also...
The wife will massage peppermint oil into back of neck, forehead and temple areas...I think this MIGHT increase bloodflow to my head and help relieve pain.
Sometimes I resort to a couple of Aleve....and if necessary, have some perkosets (sp?) as extreme backups.
The wife will massage peppermint oil into back of neck, forehead and temple areas...I think this MIGHT increase bloodflow to my head and help relieve pain.
Sometimes I resort to a couple of Aleve....and if necessary, have some perkosets (sp?) as extreme backups.
M
*MissFit*
Guest
Have u guys tried topomax?
M
*MissFit*
Guest
http://www.migraines.org/treatment/protpmax.htm
About the Drug:
TOPAMAX ® is also proving to be a most effective preventive or prophylactic Migraine regiment. After careful testing and a good anti-migraine program by this drug company, this existing Epilepsy medication is administered in a dose appropriate to Migraine prophylaxis. As Migraine and Epilepsy are Related diseases, this is actually a sound approach. Recent clinical trials of Topamax® as a Migraine preventive have been quite successful, and are moving this medication closer to FDA approval for this use..
Description:
Topamax® is an antiepileptic drug, prescribed to control both the mild attacks known as partial seizures and the severe tonic-clonic convulsions known as grand mal seizures. It is typically added to the treatment regimen when other drugs fail to fully control a patient's attacks.
Caution:
Do not abruptly stop taking Topamax®. If the drug isn't withdrawn gradually, seizures may be caused, even in patients who do not normally experience seizures.
How one should take this medication:
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed. It can be taken with or without food. Avoid breaking the tablets; the medication has a bitter taste.
Topamax® increases your risk of developing kidney stones. To prevent this problem, be sure to take this medication with plenty of fluids.
--If you miss a dose...
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses
at once.
--Storage instructions...
Store Topamax® at room temperature in a tightly-closed container. Protect the tablets from moisture.
When Indicated for Migraine:
Since this is a relatively new way to use some of the newer neuronal stabilizers (anticonvulsants) such as Topamax® (topiramate) (As well as others like Neurotin® (gabapentin), Lamictal® (lamotrigine) and Gabatril® (tiagabine)) prophylactically for Migraine disease, the dosage will be directed by your physican. Having noted that we will post recommend clinical practice guidelines for use as soon as we get that information from the manufacturer, FDA or AHS. For now, data from a Phase III study recently completed offers excellent information.
At the Migraine Trust's 14th biennial International Research Symposium, noted Migraine specialist Dr. Stephen Silberstein noted:
The best results were achieved at a dosage of 100 or 200 milligrams of topiramate per day, a lower dosage than that used to treat epilepsy.
The most commonly experience side effects were nausea and tingling of the extremities.
"What was amazing in this trial was the effect on weight. The patients who got topiramate lost, on average, 3.8 percent of their body weight."
During a recent interview with MAGNUM, Dr. Silberstein elaborated:
"The key to success with Topamax is a very slow titration up to the therapeutic dose. Patients should begin taking only 15 mg, once a day, and taper up slowly from there, being sure to take it in a split dose."
The effective dosages are lower than you might think. Many patients achieve good results at only 50 mg per day."
Possible Side Effects:
Some side effects, such as fatigue, are more likely to surface with high doses of Topamax®. Others occur regardless of dosage. While many tend to disappear after the first 8 weeks of therapy, it's still important to report them to your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Topamax®.
More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal coordination, abnormal vision, agitation, anxiety, appetite loss, back pain, breast pain, chest pain, confusion, constipation, depression, difficulty with concentration, difficulty with memory, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, indigestion, involuntary eye movement, language problems, leg pain, loss of coordination, menstrual problems, mood problems, nausea, nervousness, rash, sinusitis, slowing of movements, sore throat, speech problems, tingling or burning sensations, tremors, upper respiratory infection, weakness, weight loss
Less common side effects may include:
Abnormal gait, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acne, aggressiveness, apathy, bladder infection, changes in taste, bloody urine, body odor, bronchitis, cough, decreased awareness, decreased mobility, decreased sensitivity, diarrhea, digestive inflammation, dry mouth, exaggerated sense of well being, eye pain, feelings of illness, feelings of unreality, fever, fluid retention, frequent urination, gas, gum inflammation, hair loss, hallucinations, headache, hearing difficulties, heart palpitations, hot flushes, hyperactivity, impotence, increased sweating, irritable bladder, joint pain, kidney stones, loss of balance, loss of consciousness, low sex drive, mood swings, muscle ache, muscle tension, muscle weakness, nosebleeds, painful or difficult urination, personality problems, pinkeye, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to touch, severe itching, shivers, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, suicidal tendencies, swelling, vaginal infection, vomiting, weight gain,
Topamax® has also been known to cause a number of very rare side effects (typically striking less than one person in a hundred). If you develop any unfamiliar problems while taking Topamax®, report them to your doctor.
When should this drug not be prescribed:
If Topamax® gives you an allergic reaction, you'll be unable to use the drug.
Special warnings about this medication
Because Topamax® sometimes causes confusion, dizziness, fatigue, and problems with machinery, or participate in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness until you are certain how the drug affects you.
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or if you are on hemodialysis. Your dosage of Topamax® may need adjustment. Also make sure the doctor is aware of any liver disorder you may have. Topama® must be used cautiously by individuals with impaired liver function.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication:
If Topamax® is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Topamax® with:
Acetazolamide (Diamox)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Dichlorphenamide (Daranide)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Oral contraceptives
Valproic acid (Depakene)
Topamax® can depress the central nervous system. Be extremely cautious about combining it with alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, and other central nervous system depressants.
Special Information if You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding:
In animal studies, Topamax® has caused harm to the developing fetus, and its safety has not been verified in pregnant humans. It is recommended for use during pregnancy only if the doctor feels that its potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the infant.
This medication may appear in breast milk, and its possible effect on the nursing infant remains unknown. Check with your doctor if you plan to breastfeed your baby.
Recommended dosage:
ADULTS
Topamax® therapy usually begins with a dose of 15 milligrams once daily during the first week. The daily dosage is then increased each week until, by the eighth week, the patient is taking 100 milligrams twice a day. Some patients achieve adequate results at 50 milligrams twice a day.
For people with poor kidney function, the dosage is usually cut in half. On the other hand, those undergoing hemodialysis may need a supplemental dose.
If you are also taking Dilantin or Tegretol, the dosage of Topamax® may need adjustment. Likewise, the doctor may adjust your dosage if you have liver problems
About the Drug:
TOPAMAX ® is also proving to be a most effective preventive or prophylactic Migraine regiment. After careful testing and a good anti-migraine program by this drug company, this existing Epilepsy medication is administered in a dose appropriate to Migraine prophylaxis. As Migraine and Epilepsy are Related diseases, this is actually a sound approach. Recent clinical trials of Topamax® as a Migraine preventive have been quite successful, and are moving this medication closer to FDA approval for this use..
Description:
Topamax® is an antiepileptic drug, prescribed to control both the mild attacks known as partial seizures and the severe tonic-clonic convulsions known as grand mal seizures. It is typically added to the treatment regimen when other drugs fail to fully control a patient's attacks.
Caution:
Do not abruptly stop taking Topamax®. If the drug isn't withdrawn gradually, seizures may be caused, even in patients who do not normally experience seizures.
How one should take this medication:
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed. It can be taken with or without food. Avoid breaking the tablets; the medication has a bitter taste.
Topamax® increases your risk of developing kidney stones. To prevent this problem, be sure to take this medication with plenty of fluids.
--If you miss a dose...
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses
at once.
--Storage instructions...
Store Topamax® at room temperature in a tightly-closed container. Protect the tablets from moisture.
When Indicated for Migraine:
Since this is a relatively new way to use some of the newer neuronal stabilizers (anticonvulsants) such as Topamax® (topiramate) (As well as others like Neurotin® (gabapentin), Lamictal® (lamotrigine) and Gabatril® (tiagabine)) prophylactically for Migraine disease, the dosage will be directed by your physican. Having noted that we will post recommend clinical practice guidelines for use as soon as we get that information from the manufacturer, FDA or AHS. For now, data from a Phase III study recently completed offers excellent information.
At the Migraine Trust's 14th biennial International Research Symposium, noted Migraine specialist Dr. Stephen Silberstein noted:
The best results were achieved at a dosage of 100 or 200 milligrams of topiramate per day, a lower dosage than that used to treat epilepsy.
The most commonly experience side effects were nausea and tingling of the extremities.
"What was amazing in this trial was the effect on weight. The patients who got topiramate lost, on average, 3.8 percent of their body weight."
During a recent interview with MAGNUM, Dr. Silberstein elaborated:
"The key to success with Topamax is a very slow titration up to the therapeutic dose. Patients should begin taking only 15 mg, once a day, and taper up slowly from there, being sure to take it in a split dose."
The effective dosages are lower than you might think. Many patients achieve good results at only 50 mg per day."
Possible Side Effects:
Some side effects, such as fatigue, are more likely to surface with high doses of Topamax®. Others occur regardless of dosage. While many tend to disappear after the first 8 weeks of therapy, it's still important to report them to your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Topamax®.
More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal coordination, abnormal vision, agitation, anxiety, appetite loss, back pain, breast pain, chest pain, confusion, constipation, depression, difficulty with concentration, difficulty with memory, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, indigestion, involuntary eye movement, language problems, leg pain, loss of coordination, menstrual problems, mood problems, nausea, nervousness, rash, sinusitis, slowing of movements, sore throat, speech problems, tingling or burning sensations, tremors, upper respiratory infection, weakness, weight loss
Less common side effects may include:
Abnormal gait, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acne, aggressiveness, apathy, bladder infection, changes in taste, bloody urine, body odor, bronchitis, cough, decreased awareness, decreased mobility, decreased sensitivity, diarrhea, digestive inflammation, dry mouth, exaggerated sense of well being, eye pain, feelings of illness, feelings of unreality, fever, fluid retention, frequent urination, gas, gum inflammation, hair loss, hallucinations, headache, hearing difficulties, heart palpitations, hot flushes, hyperactivity, impotence, increased sweating, irritable bladder, joint pain, kidney stones, loss of balance, loss of consciousness, low sex drive, mood swings, muscle ache, muscle tension, muscle weakness, nosebleeds, painful or difficult urination, personality problems, pinkeye, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to touch, severe itching, shivers, shortness of breath, sleeplessness, suicidal tendencies, swelling, vaginal infection, vomiting, weight gain,
Topamax® has also been known to cause a number of very rare side effects (typically striking less than one person in a hundred). If you develop any unfamiliar problems while taking Topamax®, report them to your doctor.
When should this drug not be prescribed:
If Topamax® gives you an allergic reaction, you'll be unable to use the drug.
Special warnings about this medication
Because Topamax® sometimes causes confusion, dizziness, fatigue, and problems with machinery, or participate in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness until you are certain how the drug affects you.
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or if you are on hemodialysis. Your dosage of Topamax® may need adjustment. Also make sure the doctor is aware of any liver disorder you may have. Topama® must be used cautiously by individuals with impaired liver function.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication:
If Topamax® is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Topamax® with:
Acetazolamide (Diamox)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Dichlorphenamide (Daranide)
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Oral contraceptives
Valproic acid (Depakene)
Topamax® can depress the central nervous system. Be extremely cautious about combining it with alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, and other central nervous system depressants.
Special Information if You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding:
In animal studies, Topamax® has caused harm to the developing fetus, and its safety has not been verified in pregnant humans. It is recommended for use during pregnancy only if the doctor feels that its potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the infant.
This medication may appear in breast milk, and its possible effect on the nursing infant remains unknown. Check with your doctor if you plan to breastfeed your baby.
Recommended dosage:
ADULTS
Topamax® therapy usually begins with a dose of 15 milligrams once daily during the first week. The daily dosage is then increased each week until, by the eighth week, the patient is taking 100 milligrams twice a day. Some patients achieve adequate results at 50 milligrams twice a day.
For people with poor kidney function, the dosage is usually cut in half. On the other hand, those undergoing hemodialysis may need a supplemental dose.
If you are also taking Dilantin or Tegretol, the dosage of Topamax® may need adjustment. Likewise, the doctor may adjust your dosage if you have liver problems
I get them real bad when there is a swift change in the weather something to do with the pressure changes. I take advil or tylnol.
Judo Tom said:
Ouch.
I'm sorry - those are pretty horrible.
I've been getting migraines most of my life - I have found they are for me food allergy, hormonally and blood pressure related.
I take zomig as an abortive med and there is currently no preventative med that works for me and I've tried them all.
If I'm really strict food wise (allergies) 3 out of 4 weeks per cycle I'm ok that one week I'll get a migraine no matter what I just have to take a pill and deal.
As already mentioned the first place to look at are the foods you are eating they will often be triggers for people and they are the easiet to fix.
Also, for the pill poppers, Excedrin migraine is the EXACT same product as all the other Excedrin products, it's just a label change. If reference to taking headache meds daily over time you will get rebound headaches by taking the drug to eliminate them.
There are all sorts of headaches out there and the thing about a migraine is that a headache is not a migraine and headache is a symptom of a migraine. You can get a migraine and not actually have head pain.
*MissFit* said:
I took Topamax and it took just over a year to get the feeling back into my fingers and during the time and shortly thereafter I have severe memory loss.
Worst drug ever for me.
Not to mention my Doctor that was a complete idiot that didn't dose it properly nor ramp it up.
M
*MissFit*
Guest
different things work for everyone
velvett said:
yeah topomax did not work well for me either.. and it destroyed my hands and fingers for some time which is really bad for my job and my hobby...
i am pretty sure i get the clusters because of some disc problems in my neck.. or at least that has something to do w/ it
also clusters are different because instead of sitting still in a dark quiet place most people when the suffer a cluster headache flop around on the ground or rock back and forth and hit there head with there hand or worse.. makes us look like grade A retarts
