Migraine

My doctor is considering Periactin as part of my migraine prophylactic regimen. Has anyone taken this? I've read about it online, but would appreciate hearing of any personal experiences you've had with it (side effects, how it worked as a prophylactic med, etc.) I know everyone's experience is very different, but I sure would appreciate some personal input as well.

When I check it out online, I see SO many "common" side effects that it scares me off. I'm used to seeing a lot of possible side effects, but not so many "common" side effects. I really don't need another drug that's not going to work, but will absolutely cause weight gain! If it worked, I might not mind.

I've love to hear from anyone who is/has taken it or who has knowledge of Periactin. Thanks!

Hi, Marvel!

I don't have any experience with Periactin myself. I know it's an antihistamine med, and that we have had people have some luck with antihistamines in the past related to migraine.

If memory serves me right, most of the forum posts about it as a preventative have been related to children and teenagers, but don't quote me on that. Have you done a search for Periactin on the forum using the find button?

My standard spiel on the side effects is to try and not get too bogged down in lists. Personally, I don't generally check out the side effects until I've taken the med and have a few days experience. I double check contraindications, but I don't focus on side effects so much unless I start experiencing something unusual, and then I check.

It's just too easy to scare ourselves off or get into the self-fulfilling prophecy thing where side effects are concerned. While it's good to be aware of them, it can be quite negative if we allow too much focus on them before we ever try the med for ourselves. The only way to know for sure if it will work is to try it. It's easier to stay positive and work for a postive outcome with a med if you don't read too much potential doom into things.

What does your doctor say? Have you mentioned your reservations after reading the lists? My suggestion is that you call and talk it over with him.

I tried cyproheptadine (the generic for Periactin) last fall. I didn't do so well with it. The first time I tried it, it didn't seem to do much for my migraines, and the second time I tried it, it gave me bad dizziness and nausea. So I discontinued it.

Droolie is right, it's one of the preventives of choice for children and teens because it's usually pretty well tolerated. I tend to have weird side effects to a lot of meds, so don't base your experience off of mine.

Good luck to you, and let us know how it goes.

hello!

i used periactin short term while i was in-patient at the diamond headache clinic. i was told (and wasn't able to research it while i was there inpatient, obviously) that it was to help make the transition between medicines smoother.

i had no side effects.

i also can say with certainty that i didn't get any preventative relief from it, but like i said, i was also on it for only a couple weeks.

good luck!
emily

I took it for several months. I so no difference in my migraines but I did have a huge weight gain and some seriously crazy food cravings. I ate us out of the house! It was really, really bad.