<p>I’m on day 3 of a headache. Day one was excedrin to the max. Day 2 was rebound (I think) and I finally stopped taking the excedrin around noon. Day three, lying low, no excedrin. It’s not incapacitating, but it’s still THERE. </p>
<p>I avoid imitrex type meds if at all possible, because I get the throat tightness with that, and it worries me. So - any home remedies (I did ice on my head yesterday from 2 - 10) to make me feel approximately human again? </p>
<p>I am going to go to the doctor on Monday if the stupid thing isn’t COMPLETELY gone, and I may take a sick day just to get back to 100%. I know that one reason this thing is still here is that I went to work, because of some deadlines for the kids (competitions and convention registrations) that I just had to deal with, or really let down some kids who had worked hard.</p>
<p>Thanks for any suggestions… Again, because I’m afraid of rebound, I’m trying to avoid meds…</p>
<p>I like Amerge (it is a very long acting triptan-so it might not agree with you-but it lasts 24 hours and seems pretty gentle);it is expensive
Your doctor might give you something to prevent migraines such as topamax (it helps some people and even keeps your weight down-but it also may make you ditzy-its nickname is dopamax)Some people take amitryptiline nightly to prevent headaches; I would avoid depakote (icky side effects).</p>
<p>I’m a fellow migraine sufferer. I know how debilitating they can be, so you have my sympathy. I found tremendous relief from botox. The only side effect I have is losing the wrinkles on my forehead. It doesn’t work for everyone. It decreased my migraines by about 80%. It only makes sense if you get them very often. If you are going to try botox for migraines do NOT go to someone who gives them for cosmetic reasons. They won’t have a clue of what they are doing. When I started, about 8 years ago only two places were giving them for migraines (one in NYC and one in LA). Then Dr. Paul Flint at Hopkins in Baltimore started giving them. He is in the department of otolaryngology. But, he is moving to the west coast shortly. You could contact Dr. Flint’s office and ask who does it in your area. If you can go to him, do it. He is extremely talented and patient. I hold him in the highest esteem. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. I guess it’s time to go back to the doctor. I had been successfully managing these for several years, paying attention to triggers and hitting with excedrin at the first indication. A new and very stressful job this year has increased the frequency of the headaches, as well as making it more difficult to take a day off to recuperate. </p>
<p>Time to see what improvements there have been in treatment since I gave myself the last imitrex injection a few years back.</p>
<p>I second the botox. I actually first had botox to soften the field hand furrow in my forehead. My migraines did not start till I was in my 40’s so I was not a life long sufferer. The first injections were from an ophthalmologist and the migraines just stopped happening. When he retired, I found a dermatologist who gave fewer injections (& units) with better results. I did not get the same results when I had injections from a D.O. who had a beauty spa in the medical building. </p>
<p>All meds have side effects, but I would try to stay away from amitriptyline (Elavil) more CNS and cardiac side effects.–very cheap though.</p>
<p>You might ask your doctor re low-dose SSRT (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) treatment as a preventive. These are typically prescribed for depresssion/anxiety, but relatively recent research showed a serotonin role in migraines. The daily use of low-dose SSRTs can “break” the migraine cycle, and if effective, does not need to continue as a life-time thing.</p>
<p>I’m no physician, but you could discuss this with yours.</p>
<p>The imitrex pills are much easier to handle than the old injections. The imitrex injections years ago (Husband suffers with migraines) were scary–immediate feeling of something weird rushing through your veins. The imitrex pills don’t seem to have that scary feeling to them. It’s more gradual then the injections so the “throat closing” feeling that you mention doesn’t seem to happen with the pills.</p>
<p>I’ve had headaches and migraines since I was 18. The preventative medicines did not agree with me at all. I was not fond of the imitrex including the pills. Midrin works best for me if you can tolerate the racing heart and sleepiness. But after a headache for three days, I don’t care about that any more. Then I decided it was silly to wait the three days and take it the first day. I have far fewer headaches now. Worth a try.</p>
<p>I am on a low dosage of amatriptyline - 30 mgs each night. For about 18 months I had been on 50 but a side effect of being hungry all the time was a big problem. (I gained over 20 pounds) I don’t have the hunger issues at the lower dosage. I also take zyrtec and singular but those are because irritated sinuses are a huge trigger for me. Sadly, reading is getting harder even with reading glasses. I can’t read more than half an hour before starting a headache.</p>
<p>I had the topamax once which worked well on the migraine but really made me stupid. I had to go off it because it caused my blood pressure to drop too low and I was always on the verge of passing out.</p>
<p>Now, if the migraine breaks through I use a medication called Maxalt. One often stops the headache in its tracks but occasionally I need a second one. I think it is pretty strong because I am only allowed 12 per month. The good thing is that it is not a narcotic and I can drive with it.</p>
<p>Every other month or so I get a headache that the Maxalt can’t erase. Then I take fioricet which is very strong and makes me too drowsy to drive.</p>
<p>For home remedies: I alternate hot and cold washcloths, wear sunglasses inside and close all the blinds, drink tea for the cozy feeling. Sleep is often good for me too once I’ve taken the medications. One of my friends swears by two gin and tonics! </p>
<p>My migraines are always worse in August. Turns out that is when my asthma is really bad too. I just learned this summer to take my inhaler when I have a stubborn headache that is not responding. Usually cleared up in an hour! Do you have any other medical conditions that could be feeding into the pain?</p>
<p>I was plagued with a series of these recently. They were much different than those I had in the past, with slurred speech, clumsiness, and strange smells.</p>
<p>What stopped them dead in their tracks was an ice bag to the back of the head. I don’t know how to best describe the sensation, other than by describing it as like having something soothing poured over the head. The relief was almost immediate.</p>
<p>I leared to do this as soon as I had the first twinges or noticed any of the pre-migraine symptoms start up. The migraines seemed to begin mid-to-late afternoon, so ice off and on until bedtime was what worked for me. After four days or so, the headaches stopped.</p>
<p>I do hope you can get some relief by trying this in the short term, but your decision to see your doctor on Monday is a wise one.</p>
<p>For me, a white tube sock filled with rice, heated in the microwave then draped over sinuses, helps a lot. And a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup with a Coca Cola when out in public and no meds avaliable can help, too.</p>
<p>Good Luck, I hope you get some relief asap.</p>
<p>If you have having troubles with Imitrex, than try another triptan. Imitrex is the other triptan which is generic, and also, has the fewest drug-drug interactions. Triptans are only 80% effective.
In the OTC world, Excedrin is the best choice.
In terms of prevention, you see drugs such as topamax and propranolol being used.</p>
<p>I was getting migraines associated with hormonal fluctuations that nothing would touch ( off the shelf )
I did research and started taking melatonin at night and nicotinic acid in the morning.
Not the really huge dose- enough to give me a flush and release histamines though.</p>
<p>Imitrex didn’t work for me, but Zomig, which is related, has changed my life, and I don’t have any side effects. Unfortunately, my insurance limits the amount I can get to a few a month, so I am always deciding if it’s really a migraine, or bad enough, to use a pill for.</p>
<p>Luckily, I seem finally to be moving on to a non-hormone stage of life, and for the last couple months, the number of headaches has gone down. Knock on wood…</p>
<p>OP - Let’s see: Imitrex, Amerge, botox, amitriptyline, seratonin, Midrin, triptan, ice, heat, high-dose ibuprofin, Zomig, and menopause. A colleague with lifelong migraines swore by loud music, but I think she was just making that up. Hot (make that very hot) baths work for me. But as the variety of “best migraine solution ever” responses suggest, people respond to very different treatments. </p>
<p>PS, If you know what your triggers are, biofeedback works really well in my experience.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you see a Neurologist who is up-to-date on the latest meds. You may need to try different drugs/combos to figure out what works best for you. A good neurologist understands that.</p>
<p>^^ Good summation! Just add caffeine, alcohol, and vomiting to the list for sake of total inclusiveness, and you’ve got it nailed.</p>
<p>Identifying triggers is indeed helpful. My migraine onset was after menopause, so hormone balance must certainly play a part for women. My eyes are very light-sensitive, and I suspect the change of the angle of sunlight and its intensity at day’s end during different times of year will be always a factor for me.</p>
<p>I have heard that if you have issues with circulation in your hands and feet (a la Reynaud’s), warming your extremities can bring comfort. Biofeedback is said to be very helpful in some cases, but I have no personal experience with it.</p>
<p>I do hope you are feeling better tonight and that you’ll soon have a coping mechanism that works for you.</p>