Migraine

Okay I was told by my doc that I couldn't have tylenol anymore. So my question is, what do I take now when I have a migraine? I use Excedrine Migraine, and if I catch it when it first starts, this works for me. But it has tylenol in it. I bought some Advil Migraine today, but it doesn't work. I had to take 4 to get the edge off of it. I don't like Advil Migraine, I tried it when I was 16 but ended up having to take 8 just to take the edge off, and I don't want to do that again. Anyone have any suggestions?

Jen

Jen,

What kind of doctor are you seeing? Is this just your primary?

If you have migraines, and you can take triptans, you should give them a try - Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue medications, what's the difference?

Taking OTC (over the counter) medications in excess can be harmful. Taking too much can lead to some serious problems and also Medication overuse headache.

If you are just seeing a primary care physician, and you have been dx'd with migraines, it's time for either a neurologist or a headache specialist. They are more "versed" in migraine treatments and what is used to treat them, then your primary doctor would be.

Yes this is my primary doc, and I have been to neruo's before. The two I have seen, I didn't like. I have put a post up to see if anyone knows of any good ones in my area, so I am waiting to see on that.

I have taken Imitrex before, but it made me sick. I had the nose spray first, but it would make me throw up. Then I tried the pills, but it made my throat feel really tight. Those are the only two I have taken.

For preventative I have been on TONS of them, me the little guinea pig, and have only had Topamax 100mgs work before. I haven't had that in about 6 years though. My primary doc put me on Nortriptyline 25mgs on Monday. So I don't know if it is going to work or not.

Jen

I think I gave you this link already, but there are many, many options for preventive meds.

Migraine preventive medications: too many options to give up!

If you can take tripans, which it sounds like you can....see if you can try others.

Just because Imitrex gave you a side effect, doesn't mean the other 6 will.

I had the same reaction on Imitrex and Zomig, but Frova works great for me. I've tried Axert too, that doesn't do anything at all for me, so onto trying another.

So far, Frova is the best for me.

Ask your doctor for samples - that way you can try it out and see what is the best one for you, before filling a prescription.

There are 7 triptans all together: Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge, Axert, Relpax, and Frova.

Only your doctor can answer this one for you. That said, knowing you need an abortive and not just an OTC med that might mask the pain, but can't stop the migraine process, you'd want to ask specifically about another triptan, Midrin, or DHE (an ergotamine).

Jen, you may have to travel elsewhere in the state to get to a headache clinic, but it will be worth it. Many of our forum members travel long distances, even by air, to see specialists. Good luck! Finding a doctor you can work with is very important.

I have been on Amerge before (the name triggered my memory) but it didn't work. I will have to bring it up when I see her next. I don't think she likes me much though, she didn't even offer anything to take when I get a headache. All she said was "No tylenol, maybe a little ibuprofen (sp?)." Well I am sorry but that won't work.
I don't think she like me because I tell her no to a pap smear all the time, and in the last visit I said no to the cervical cancer shot.

Oh another note, I think I am addicted to Tylenol. It's what works, and dangit I need it! Headaches be darned!

I got a reply back from the Headache Clinic that is about 6 hours from me, I asked for a recommendation for a doc near me. They said to try these docs in St. Louis which is about 5 hours from me. So no luck there. My car isn't good enough to go that far, and I don't have the money for anything else. I guess I will just have to keep looking.

All for now,
Jen

Sounds like first and foremost, you need a new doctor. If you get the impression that she's cold towards you, that's hardly a recipe for good care.

As for the Tylenol, does your lab work or anything show that you need to stop taking it? Are there signs of it affecting your liver? I think you need to get at the reason the doc said no more Tylenol, and take it to heart. Acetaminophen is nothing to mess around with. I've got a good friend, my age (36), who took too much Tylenol. It nearly killed her, and there are all kinds of ongoing issues she suffers from it. Not only is her liver messed up, she's got all kinds of vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and is on dialysis.

quote:

Originally posted by JenJen:
Oh another note, I think I am addicted to Tylenol. It's what works, and dangit I need it! Headaches be darned!

Jen, please take a look at this article from Teri's other site that she wrote about a 17-year-old girl who died from an acetaminophen overdose. Tylenol is nothing to mess around with. It may help your head in the short term but it is NOT worth the long term damage.

A Mother's Plea: The Dangers of Acetaminophen Overdose

quote:

Originally posted by MaxJerz:

quote:

Originally posted by JenJen:
Oh another note, I think I am addicted to Tylenol. It's what works, and dangit I need it! Headaches be darned!

Jen, please take a look at this article from Teri's other site that she wrote about a 17-year-old girl who died from an acetaminophen overdose. Tylenol is nothing to mess around with. It may help your head in the short term but it is NOT worth the long term damage.

A Mother's Plea: The Dangers of Acetaminophen Overdose

Sadly I know about this, as I was told about it when I overdosed and went to the hospital. I had taken 42 in a three hour period. I tried to throw it up, but all that was coming up was medicine. So I drove to my friends house and had her take me to the emergency room. That is when they told me I could have killed my liver. I didn't luckily, I had to do the charcoal thing and then they put me on a 96-hour hold on the psych floor.
I went to the doc because of the fact that I take Tylenol PM to get to sleep and then I was getting headaches every day so I was taking Excedrine Migraine for that. So I told her I figured that was too much tylenol and wanted a preventative.

Jen

quote:

Originally posted by dragondroolHOST:
Sounds like first and foremost, you need a new doctor. If you get the impression that she's cold towards you, that's hardly a recipe for good care.

As for the Tylenol, does your lab work or anything show that you need to stop taking it? Are there signs of it affecting your liver? I think you need to get at the reason the doc said no more Tylenol, and take it to heart.

She said that my some of my headaches might be rebound. On the new doc front, there aren't many around here. I just switched to her a year ago, because my old doc only focused on my weight. I went in with a rash on my face and all he did was look at it, say poision ivy and start in on weight watchers. So I got fed up and switched docs.

I have tried Advil Migraine but it doesn't work, and for sleeping I use Tylenol PM. I would go to Simply Sleep which is the PM without the Tylenol, but I like the Tylenol PM because it's rapid release and only takes about an hour and a half and then I am good to go to sleep. If I don't take something to get me headed towards sleep I can stay up for 24 or more hours before I even get a little tired.

Jen

There are prescription sleep drugs that wouldn't give you the problems Tylenol PM does. I take Ambien, and I'm asleep in about 20 minutes. My DH has Sonata to take when he wakes up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Ask your doctor. You really do need to get off the Tylenol.

Gretchen in Mississippi