Migraine

My new doctor started me on Neurontin 100 mg at bedtime, and gave me Fioricet for rescue med - I am no longer allowed to take triptans after developing throat swelling with almost all of them so doc says NO MORE triptans. Just curious about what others have experienced with both meds. I know that Topomax can make you feel stupid, thus we used to call it "Dopamax" on the old board. It also can cause weight loss - my mother has been on really high dose of Topomax for several years now and she went from a size 12 down to size 6. I could handle losing about 10 or 15 pounds, so it would be a nice side effect. Especially since between the shoulder/neck spasms that flared up in the last week and the M monster popping up again, it is really hard to exercise with pain. Evidently the neurontin hasn't made me groggy enough, even in combination with the Flexeril and Tramadol for the shoulder I still couldn't get to sleep tonight - and I have an interview in the morning! EEKKSS....

I haven't done Neurontin, though I think that is going to be the next preventive my neuro tries me on.

I was given Fiorocet as a rescue med by an ER doctor. I have taken it a couple times, and it does seem to work pretty well. Though I usually take it in the evening b/c of the barbitol, it never really seems to make me sleepy.

Sorry to hear your not sleeping well. I know that makes my migraines worse when I don't get a solid nights sleep.

Hi Debby

My 14 year old son just came off neurontin. The first month he was on it, it was awesome. He started at 300mg and then we slowly got up to 900mg. He had a 50% decrease in migraines during the first month.

The following months his migraines increased again. The dr slowly increased the dose to 1800mg. He began experiencing a lot of side effects. I would say most of them were mood/mental changes. Looking back he seemed depressed. He was getting very angry. He started falling behind in school and didn't seem to care. I think an adult would have been able to recognize the side effects easier.

We had to wean him off the neurontin. He experienced some side effects coming off the drug as well. But, He seems back to his old self now. His migraines have decreased since going off the drug.

His next preventative is Topamax.

Good luck with neurontin. I hope it works for you.
Jean Ann

I've never been on the neurontin, but have fiorinal as a rescue. Here is some information.

Fioricet

Do you have any other meds to use with a migraine? I have Midrin, the fiorinal, toradol (oral) and darvocet. No more triptans for me, either.

I've never tried Fioricet, but I took gabapentin (generic for Neurontin) for about a month, in combination with nortriptyline and verapamil. My neuro at the time added it to try to help with my awful insomnia and see if it would help as a preventive. It didn't do well with either, and I had some rather unpleasant side effects with it. I never went above a 600 mg dosage, which is a low dose as I understand.

Good luck with it - let us know how it works out for you.

Deb - No, I don't have any other meds right now. This is a new doctor for me, so I am going to try his suggestions for a while. He is also a migraineur, so at least he is understanding!!

Max - I am only on 100 mg of the gabapentin right now. I have found it is helping some with my sleep. The one side effect I have developed already is dry mouth - what side effects did you have? Since I am on such a low dose right now I'm not feel groggy in the morning I don't think - but I am also taking Flexeril and Tramadol for a shoulder flare, and that does make me drowsy, so I will know better how the gabapentin works once I am off the additional meds.

Thanks for your replies!

AndrewsMom - I hope the Topomax works well for your son. That is my doctor's first choice other than the cost, so thus we are trying the lower priced neurontin first. I haven't been up to anywhere near the level I was 4 years ago, so hopefully this low dose will control enough that I can be functional for work - I need to get a better/different job and don't want to start off with a bad work record for attendance right off the bat with these monsters..

Good luck to your son!

Debby, when I first started taking gabapentin it made me extremely drowsy, so it did help with my insomnia. Before long, it didn't help me fall asleep or stay asleep, but I couldn't wake up in the morning either and I felt dragged out all day. I didn't realize how bad it was until I tapered off of it, but I couldn't get to work on time for most of the month I was taking it.

Worse was a weird side effect I didn't connect immediately to the gabapentin. I would periodically wake up completely unable to move. Couldn't open my eyes, couldn't even open my mouth to say anything, couldn't move a muscle but I was awake. It was terrifying. When I was able to move again my entire body would be in pain.

Just remember that everyone reacts differently to medication, of course, so don't let my bad experience scare you off!

quote:

Worse was a weird side effect I didn't connect immediately to the gabapentin. I would periodically wake up completely unable to move. Couldn't open my eyes, couldn't even open my mouth to say anything, couldn't move a muscle but I was awake. It was terrifying. When I was able to move again my entire body would be in pain.

Wow, that sounds scary! Hopefully I won't get that one, but if I do at least I will know what is causing it. So far I'm not having many issues on 100 mg only, other than drowsiness. Crossing fingers...

My fingers are crossed for you, too! Let us know how it goes!

I don't know anything about Neurontin, but I use Fioricet as a rescue med, too, and it is mostly fabulous. For me, it works quickly on severe migraines without making me feel dopey. When it kicks in, I feel kind of a happy high for about 15-30 minutes.

My migraines hang around for days, though, and it usually wears off after about 24 hours. If you take too much Fioricet within a set period of time (say, 3 doses or more within a week) it can give you rebound headaches. Not good.

I just started taking Topamax last week (starting gradually at 25 mg/day). My face has been breaking out like crazy and I itch everywhere. Until today I have been attributing it to hormones and allergies. If this is what it's like on the lowest dose, I'm not looking forward to the increase.

Hi loulabelleblue!

Welcome to mymigraineconnection, and to our forum family. Sorry you have the need to be here (head pain is definitely no fun!), but we're glad that you've found us! If there's anything that any of us can help you with, just holler!

Welcome again!

Thanks for all the replies. Loulabelle - I hope that the side effects simmer down for you. I get itching from some meds and seasonal allergies too - no fun at all!! Good luck with the Topomax. I have been hearing that some people lose with with the Neurontin/gabapentin, and some gain. If I gain any I will ask to switch to Topomax, I don't want to gain any more than I have in the past year with menopause and HRT. EEKKSS.....

Loulabelle, please contact your doctor immediately about your reaction to Topamax. Here's an article:

TOPAMAX Oral

And here's a quote from that article:

quote:

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

rash itching swelling severe dizziness trouble breathing

So because I'm concerned about your safety, I ask you please to contact your doctor right away.

Welcome Loulabelle!

I too experienced odd and frequent breakouts when I first started topamax. They did diminish.

If you are having a rash though, other then something you've experienced in previous years with allergies, as you state, then yes, I'm with Nut, you should definately check with your doctor, just to be on the safe side.

Keep us posted, ok?

Welcome again!