<p>My D has suffered from migraines for several years. It got really bad earlier this year. She took Imitrex when needed, but it didn’t help as much as she would have liked. She went to a neurologist, who suggested Topomax - and Maxalt (which I believe is Imitrex & Anaprox) when the migraine hits. D read up on topomax & decided against it. She ended up working with a naturopath (one connected with a hospital’s oncology department, actually). Her migraines are linked to hormones & stress. After two months of supplements & proper diet, she really noticed a difference. She very rarely gets migraines these days, but when she does, she takes Maxalt. She is really glad that she chose the supplements over the Topomax - although this may not help YOUR migraines.</p>
<p>I suffered from migraines for years and tried many different meds with help of my neurologist. Some of the first ones tried were the beta blockers—for me a miserable choice, felt very depressed and sluggish. Next we went through anti-depressants which supposedly people have good results with–couldn’t tolerate those either–made me sleepy, bad dreams, sleep problems and depressed mood. Finally tried Topamax and it was a life saver—I only took 50mg a day and after about 6 months dropped to 25mg. The Dr. said that dose probably wouldn’t help, but it did–I would stop it once in a while and sure enough after about 2 weeks headaches back.</p>
<p>The up side of menopause has been, am off meds now and only take Midrin about once a month when a headache comes on.</p>
<p>^ Did you have mental fuzziness and/or weight loss with it?</p>
<p>No, at that dose I had no side effects (unfortunately re the weight loss, lol). The only thing I noticed was some difficulty waking up in am, similar to if I’d taken an Advil PM or something like that. After up and moving, I was fine.</p>
<p>My son recently started on Topamax for seizures, he was on 75/day and felt “fuzzy” then, but now has backed down to 50mg. Some of it for him is also he cannot take his ADD med anymore and I’m sure feels cognitive change from stopping that. He has experienced no weight loss.</p>
<p>I’ve been on a variety of medications to prevent migraines, including verapamil (calcium channel blocker) and atenolol (beta blocker). They diminished migraine frequency but each had side effects.</p>
<p>I am now on Toprol XL (metoprolol) which is an extended release beta blocker. It prevents headaches better than anything I have previously taken, with the fewest side effects. I’ve had no trouble with weight gain. In fact, I now seem to lose weight without trying, but that could just be me. It does not seem to suppress heart rate as much as some others. </p>
<p>I would love to try a natural remedy, and am eager to hear if Feverfew or another compound has worked well for anyone.</p>
<p>I also take the generic of Inderal (extended release). After 50 years of suffering, I find this to be a life saver. It took several months to reach its full potential, but for the first time, migraines do not rule my life. I treat the occasional light migraine with the new generic of Imitrex. I had some lightheadedness at first, but have no side effects now. My mother has taken a low dose antidepressant for many years and swears by it.</p>
<p>I tried Topamax while I was also taking Maxalt. Topamax did nothing for me. I gained weight (aren’t you supposed to lose? ) and was generally slow and sluggish. Also some issues with my stomach. Just wasn’t the miracle drug I was hoping for. I then started on Lexapro, which has it’s own issues, but may be used off label for migraine. Huge improvement for me.</p>
<p>My daughter’s doctor also suggested Lexapro daily and then Treximet and another drug (sorry don’t know the name) when she got a migraine. She started having some bad stomach upsets, so decided to stop the Lexapro. I do not know if the stomach issues were due to the Lexapro or having to live at home after graduation while looking for a job!!!</p>