Migraine

I have had a migraine for 10 days now (even after my infusion) and my Neurologist just called in a prescription for Keppra for me. I've read some older posts on Keppra....just wondering if anyone is taking it now...and what do you think. I am desperate for relief! I've been taking Darvocet and Naprosyn just to get through this last 10 days.... Has Keppra made you nervous or relaxed? I honestly could care less if I feel sedated...because anything would be better than the ice pick stabbing in my head!!!!

I don't have any personal experience with Keppra to share with you. Here's an article on it:

Keppra Oral

Does your head pain actually feel like an ice pick stabbing? Have you shared that information with your doctor? There's actually a kind of headache called "ice pick headaches," and your doctor needs the fullest possible description of your symptoms to determine your diagnosis. Click
HERE for more information about that type of headache.

I wish you all the best in getting control of your head pain.

I took Keppra for about 4 years, and it was the greatest thing that ever happened to my headaches. I had no side effects and, though it didn't get rid of my headaches completely, it helped them quite a bit. Unfortunately, I no longer have health insurance and so I can't afford it-- it's extremely expensive.

As far as this really long headache of yours (I realize this post is from long ago, but...) Darvocet and other opiates are terrible for migraines and cause them to get worse. You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

quote:

Originally posted by carrie: ..You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

Hi carrie,

Actually, if that's what her doctor has prescribed for her, she'd do well to discuss any medication changes with him or her before doing anything, since we don't give medical advice on this bb.

Maybe you're thinking of rebound or medication-overuse headaches?

There was a press release recently about opioids contributing to the development of chronic migraine, but there wasn't enough information in any of the reporting on that press release to know if any of the study participants were on preventative programs or utilizing abortives or early-intervention meds along with the opioids.

I've got OxyIR prescribed for me. A number of us here have prescriptions for Darvocet and Lortab and other opioids as rescue meds.

It's a doctor/patient thing really. Medication-overuse from them would be something to be aware of for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by carrie:
I took Keppra for about 4 years, and it was the greatest thing that ever happened to my headaches. I had no side effects and, though it didn't get rid of my headaches completely, it helped them quite a bit. Unfortunately, I no longer have health insurance and so I can't afford it-- it's extremely expensive.

As far as this really long headache of yours (I realize this post is from long ago, but...) Darvocet and other opiates are terrible for migraines and cause them to get worse. You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

My original post was back in Feb. The keppra was TERRIBLE! It made me jerk and twitch and it took and entire month for that to stop even after I stopped taking it.

As far as the opiate comment goes....I'm sure glad you're not my neurologist. The last year has been horrible trying to find a preventative that will work for me. Obviously you're one of those people who don't think pain relief is needed for severe migraines. A severe migraine for me is comparable to to childbirth....except it's in my head!! If we were to omit the opiate group...what do you think should be taken for pain of that intensity?

Hi, Carrie, and welcome to the forum family!

I'm going to switch gears for a minute and step in as a moderator here.

This is a very strongly worded comment. It's fine to have opinions about different meds. We all do. But when we're stating opinions, particularly when they have to do with medications, we have to be very careful that we make it clear that it is an opinion, and only a personal opinion. Wording is very important, because intentions can be misread.

Like a couple of others have already pointed out, many of us have prescriptions of narcotic medications for use as a rescue medication when our abortives fail. When used properly and responsibly, under the care of our doctors, there is a place for them in our migraine care. Yes, rebound (MOH) can be a problem, but as long as we are aware of it and make every effort to avoid it, then we're being responsible.

To come right out and say that any one med is terrible for migraine, or that it shouldn't ever be taken, under any circumstances, is bordering on medical advice. It is not our place to tell others what they should or should not take. That is a decision to be made by each individual person, along with their doctor.

I'm not trying to drive anyone away from either this discussion or the forum with these comments. Instead, I just want to offer a reminder to long-time and new members that we have to be very careful with how we say things, particularly when we don't agree with something.

quote:

Originally posted by carrie:
As far as this really long headache of yours (I realize this post is from long ago, but...) Darvocet and other opiates are terrible for migraines and cause them to get worse. You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

Carrie,

Hi, Carrie. Welcome! Glad you found us. Everyone here is super about sharing information and support.

Sorry to disagree with you on your first post, but opiates are often used as rescue meds, and as it's been explained to me, are quite appropriate for that use.

Arabella

quote:

Originally posted by carrie:
I took Keppra for about 4 years, and it was the greatest thing that ever happened to my headaches. I had no side effects and, though it didn't get rid of my headaches completely, it helped them quite a bit. Unfortunately, I no longer have health insurance and so I can't afford it-- it's extremely expensive.

As far as this really long headache of yours (I realize this post is from long ago, but...) Darvocet and other opiates are terrible for migraines and cause them to get worse. You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

Miriam,

Starting oral Keppra isn't going to break your 10-day Migraine. What was the IV infusion you had? When one doesn't work, IV infusion can be done with another medication.

Please be very careful with the Darvocet and Naprosyn since they can both cause rebound if used more than two or three days a week. If you get into a rebound cycle, preventives aren't going to work.

On the Keppra -- with a 10-day Migraine, it may be hard to know if it's making you nervous or relaxed or if it's the Migraine.

Hope this Migraine breaks soon!!

quote:

Originally posted by Miriam36:
I have had a migraine for 10 days now (even after my infusion) and my Neurologist just called in a prescription for Keppra for me. I've read some older posts on Keppra....just wondering if anyone is taking it now...and what do you think. I am desperate for relief! I've been taking Darvocet and Naprosyn just to get through this last 10 days.... Has Keppra made you nervous or relaxed? I honestly could care less if I feel sedated...because anything would be better than the ice pick stabbing in my head!!!! <img src="http://www.msteri.com/art-bits/TinyEmoticons/fryingpan.gif" alt="Skillet" width="40" height="25"><!--graemlin::Skillet:-->

Carrie,

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

Did you try the patient assistance programs to get Keppra so you could keep taking it?

On what do you base your comment that opiates cause Migraines to get worse? I know of no empirical evidence of that. They are quite often prescribed as rescue meds to be taken if abortives fail or cannot be taken for some reason. I think this article would be helpful to you, Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?.

Welcome again!

quote:

Originally posted by carrie:
I took Keppra for about 4 years, and it was the greatest thing that ever happened to my headaches. I had no side effects and, though it didn't get rid of my headaches completely, it helped them quite a bit. Unfortunately, I no longer have health insurance and so I can't afford it-- it's extremely expensive.

As far as this really long headache of yours (I realize this post is from long ago, but...) Darvocet and other opiates are terrible for migraines and cause them to get worse. You should, under no circumstances, be taking opiates for a migraine. That is likely what's made this headache last for so long.

quote:

Originally posted by Teri Robert:
Miriam,

Starting oral Keppra isn't going to break your 10-day Migraine. What was the IV infusion you had? When one doesn't work, IV infusion can be done with another medication.

Please be very careful with the Darvocet and Naprosyn since they can both cause rebound if used more than two or three days a week. If you get into a rebound cycle, preventives aren't going to work.

On the Keppra -- with a 10-day Migraine, it may be hard to know if it's making you nervous or relaxed or if it's the Migraine.

Hope this Migraine breaks soon!!

quote:

Originally posted by Miriam36:
I have had a migraine for 10 days now (even after my infusion) and my Neurologist just called in a prescription for Keppra for me. I've read some older posts on Keppra....just wondering if anyone is taking it now...and what do you think. I am desperate for relief! I've been taking Darvocet and Naprosyn just to get through this last 10 days.... Has Keppra made you nervous or relaxed? I honestly could care less if I feel sedated...because anything would be better than the ice pick stabbing in my head!!!! <img src="http://www.msteri.com/art-bits/TinyEmoticons/fryingpan.gif" alt="Skillet" width="40" height="25"><!--graemlin::Skillet:-->

I knew the oral keppra wasn't meant to break the cycle. I was just wondering what people thought of the drug. I had been on Topamax for 2 years previous to the keppra and it worked great for about a year and a half...and then it seemed to stop working. I also tried gabapentin for a while too.

The infusion was to break the cycle. 1000 mg depacon, 1000 mg solu-medrol, ativan and zofran for nausea.

I am now trying baclofen (it's great!), lexapro (mainly for anxiety) but who knows, it might do something for my headaches, atenolol and I might be trying Topamax again. My neuro said it might work again after being off of it for so long. I sure hope so.

I am doing much better! The only migraines I can't seem to get under control are the estrogen driven ones. Does anyone have any good advice for those?