Migraine

I wanted to hear other people's experiences w/ preventives to see if this is common.

I started Depakote on 2/15. It appeared to finally start working when between 3/13 and 3/24 I only had TWO migraines. Since then, I seem to be back to my usual pattern of 3-5 migraines a week.

Does this sometimes happen before a preventive starts to fully take effect? Is it possible my two good weeks (the best pain free stretch I have had since January!!! ) was just a fluke and the depakote isn't doing anything?

I went back through my food logs, work logs, call logs, journal etc to see if I had done anything different from usual in those two weeks, and there is nothing....

Thanks everyone!!! I say it all the time, but I'll say it again, I don't know what I would do w/o you guys!

Well first thing - don't quote Paula Abdul songs - that's bad (Opposites Attract) Just Kidding!!!!! Although I did like the video with the cartoon cat in it.

When I first started on Topamax, I went an entire month migraine free - then they progressivly got worse.

I went into a downward spiral in December of this past year, and finally found a doctor who was willing to listen and work with me. We added Amitriptyline to the mix and low and behold - I'm back to 2 week runs without migraines!

I really can't comment further then that, since those are the only two meds I've been on. - yeah, really risky business where huh?

I'll let you know again in July - I think we are changing my meds again. I think I'm coming off both meds and trying a new preventive. (the Topamax is not helping the 'ol libido at all) and as a newlywed (well almost a year now) I can't be havin that! Dr agrees - so it's time to start trying some new stuff. I just wanted to stay on it a little longer this time since I was finally getting some relief again.

That's sorta what happened to me this time with Topamax.

I took it once before and had the longest stretch of time with no attacks that I'd had in my life. I stopped because I had a heat stroke.

This time, I had about two weeks where I felt relatively good, no aura symptoms (I've had near-continuous visual aura for a long time) but things have deteriorated and I'm back to worse than I was before I started taking the Topamax. Don't know what the problem is this time. I started ramping up in December.

I'm about ready to call my migraine speck and discuss other options.

I'm the same way with topa MW - the heat in the summer - oh man!

I get overheated so fast - and with no warning either!!! I have to be super careful when I am out playing in the summer time - it creeps up on me and the BLAM! I am huffing and puffing and having hot and cold flashs, clammy and all that stuff.

That is the only down side with me and Topamax at the present moment.

But I went through the same thing, where the Topamax stopped working -the enter Amitriptyline and ta da! It's all good again....well as good as it's going to get right now....till I go back in July.

This happened to me with both Topamax when I tried it the second time in February 2007, and with nortriptyline, when I first started it last April, but I wouldn't have a full 2 weeks. More like 3-4 days - just enough to start thinking, hey, maybe this is going to be the one. Then the dizziness and nausea would set in again with my CDH. I'd increase the dose and it would happen again. At 50 mg of nortrip I would start to see something more like real relief, but I can't tolerate the side effects at that dose so I couldn't tell you if the relief would have lasted.

I had this happen with acupuncture too - at first I had very positive results, but then my migraines came back just as bad as before.

Now, the Topa (third trial) isn't even pretending to work. I'm still on the nortrip; I've now been on it almost a year. I've had the same migraine since November and my current specialist wanted to give the Topa time to work. Ugh.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by EileenHOST:
Well first thing - don't quote Paula Abdul songs - that's bad (Opposites Attract) Just Kidding!!!!! Although I did like the video with the cartoon cat in it.
QUOTE]

ROTFL!!!! I spent 20 minutes trying to think of a non-paula abdul title for my post! Ha ha ha....

I think what I need to do is see how next week goes, and if its the same, I need to reschedule w/ my neuro. Since we thought the depakote was working, I scheduled for end of May. But if I have third week in a row of this, I'll try to get in to see her end of April.

I think after depakote she wanted to try neurontin. I am also going to ask her if maybe we should bump up my Lexapro. I am on the minimum dosage of 10 mg. I have held off raising it b/c I really like Lexapro and don't want my body to adapt to it any faster than it has to.

I am kind of bummed b/c I don't have any side effects from the depakote. It is always scary going on a new drug b/c you have to think "oh dear, what is THIS one going to do to me..." Also kind of stinks to be back to square one.

Oh well. I just keep thinking, at least I have a good doctor. That is the hard part.
Thanks as always everyone!

Kat

My son had a similar experience with Neurontin. He has been having 15+ migraines per month. We added the neurontin. The first month he was down to 6 migraines. I thought this is the drug for him.

By the following month things were getting worse. The month after that they were worse again. Our doctor bumped up the neurontin. We basically doubled the dose. He had no side effects on the lower dose.

My son started having some side effects on the higher dose so we had to get off that. His next drug will be topamax. Right now he is only taking elavil.

It does stink to be back at square one. I have the same fears that you do. What will happen with the next drug?

Good Luck with your next preventative. Hopefully, it will be the last one you have to try.
Jean Ann