Migraine

Hi. Question, please? What is the difference between tension headache and migraine? I believe I was diagnosed with migraine and so I was prescribed fioricet. Now, a friend of mine told me that fioricet is only for tension headache and not for migraine? Thanks for the input. Donna

Welcome to the forum.

This is a good link to give you some information on TTH and Migraine: TTH or Migraine?

I need to be brief, since it's a rough morning for me. I'm sure others will be along soon.

Liz

-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Hello!*•-:¦:-•:*'''''*:•-:¦:-•*Welcome to the family!*•-:¦:- •:*'""*:•.-:¦:-

Our goal is to provide everyone with the information and support that we all need to manage our Migraines and/or headaches. To that end, we consider this a “safe harbor,” where nobody tries to sell us anything, and we all use “family-friendly” language so parents are comfortable letting their children read the forum with them.

Please take a few minutes to review our policies and guidelines along with the other information in the START HERE folder. For information about Migraines, a good article to begin with is Learning About Migraines - Where to Start.

I hate to start out by disagreeing with you, but I really have to disagree with parts of what you said here.

Migraines are a genetic neurological disease. While hormonal fluctuations can trigger a Migraine, they aren't classified as hormonal.

You said "more often than not, it carries with it this temporary blinding light called aura," but only about 25% of Migraineurs have the aura phase.

Welcome again!

quote:

Originally posted by sharetheride:
Hi. To answer your question, tension-type headaches are like the more common headaches we get. It's basically a pain described as if the head is being squeezed from the sides. Now migraines are more neurological/hormonal and are usually very, very painful and more often than not, it carries with it this temporary blinding light called aura. Now, fioricet can be used on both cases. Only that regular ibuprofen or paracetamol are advised to be tried first before taking the said stronger med. I recommend that you discuss this further with a doctor, though. Just wanted to give a basic understanding of the two conditions.

Thank you, Liz! That's exactly the link I was going to post. You're on top of things!

quote:

Originally posted by Liz:
Welcome to the forum.

This is a good link to give you some information on TTH and Migraine: TTH or Migraine?

I need to be brief, since it's a rough morning for me. I'm sure others will be along soon.

Liz

-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Hello!*•-:¦:-•:*'''''*:•-:¦:-•*Welcome to the family!*•-:¦:- •:*'""*:•.-:¦:-

Our goal is to provide everyone with the information and support that we all need to manage our Migraines and/or headaches. To that end, we consider this a “safe harbor,” where nobody tries to sell us anything, and we all use “family-friendly” language so parents are comfortable letting their children read the forum with them.

Please take a few minutes to review our policies and guidelines along with the other information in the START HERE folder. For information about Migraines, a good article to begin with is Learning About Migraines - Where to Start.

Liz gave you the best link we have about the difference between TTH and Migraine.

On the medications -- it's generally recommended that a Migraine abortive medication such as the triptans -- Imitrex, Maxalt, etc. -- be the first line treatment for Migraines with pain medications such as Fioricet reserved as a "rescue medication" to be used if the abortives fail. This article should help you with this question -- Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

Welcome again!

quote:

Originally posted by lilyofthewest:
Hi. Question, please? What is the difference between tension headache and migraine? I believe I was diagnosed with migraine and so I was prescribed fioricet. Now, a friend of mine told me that fioricet is only for tension headache and not for migraine? Thanks for the input. Donna