Migraine

Hi everyone,

I was a member of the about.com discussion awhile ago and just made my way into this discussion board. I am a grad student as well as migraine sufferer. I started my program last Fall and the migraines seem to be worse at the beginning and end of semesters as well as when big projects are due. I've tried Topamax, Propanolol, Trileptal, Amitriptylne (sp?), to no avail (averaging about 7-10 migraines a month w/side effects of the medications). I'm now trying Migravent, which is all natural since every other class of migraine meds didn't do anything for me, I would like to see if something natural may. I take Imitrex and Fiorinal as abortives, but have quite a few rebounds where I can't take anything because the migraines are 2-3x per week sometimes.

Has anyone taken or even heard of Migravent? I hadn't heard of it before my doctor gave me samples. It's basically B2 vitamin (7,820% daily value) w/some magnesium (25% daily value) and butterbur, CoQ10, Bioperine combo. Any info would be awesome! I'm taking it 3x/day.

Thank you in advance,

Sarah

Hi Sarah. I'm sorry I can't say I remember you, but welcome to our new home.

I don't know about migravent. I will say, though, not to give up hope on preventives. Even if a drug on one class doesn't work, another might. This link might help.

Migraine preventive medications: too many options to give up!

Yay! Another grad student with migraines! I'm a second year Master's student in Sociology. Mine tend to fluctuate with periods of stress too, especially around big projects and the end of the semester (oh, yeah, midterms too!).

I haven't heard of Migravent, but right now I'm on Verapamil, Zonegran, and Alesse for rx managment and Migrelief (Magnesium, Riboflavin, Feverfew), Melatonin, and CoQ10 for supplements. I've got Imitrex STATdose injections for abortive tx. Between all that, I'm starting to get some management but it's coming slowly.

I very much agree with Deb that even if a drug in one class doesn't work, another might. Norvasc and Verapamil are in the same class of calcium-channel blockers. Norvasc does nothing for me, while Verapamil is pretty much my hero. I tried Topamax as well, with too many side effects, so we switched to Zonegran (another anticonvulsant). I do much better on that.

Good luck with your studies!

Welcome, Sarah. I'm glad you found your way here.

I don't know anything about Migravent. I currently take separate capsules of Vitamin B2 and magnesium as part of my preventive regimen. I think I take larger amounts than you are describing in the Migravent, though.

Welcome again.

Just adding my welcome to the pile! Glad that you found us!

Hi, Sarah!

I've heard of Migravent, but I've never taken it, so I don't have any experience to report.

Just a reminder, Imitrex is an abortive, but Fiorinal is not. And, as far as rebound goes, has your doctor considered either of them to be a culprit. I know Fiorinal especially has a high rebound profile. I myself had a rebound effect with Imitrex.

I've taken Migravent and Migralief. I tried each for about three months before I determined I didn't see a positive change in my migraine cycle from either. Now I take B2 and Magnisium separately as well.

I have read some others having positive experiences with Migravent and Migralief. I suppose it's like everything else, you just have to give it a go and see if it works for you.

The only concern I had with Migravent is the butterbur. I came across some literature that suggested it can be a carcinogenic, depending on whether the leave or the stem is used. I don't have further information on this. I switched to Migralief after this inconclusive information, until I didn't find it was helping me.

I agree with the others that suggest you continue to work with your doctor and not avoid all preventative medications.

Good luck and welcome.

Liz

Thank you all for your replies and welcomes. I don't get a chance to visit the site much during the school week, but it's Spring Break this week, yay! I had migraines/rebound headaches three out of four days last week, but I'm not sure if it was from coming off the Trileptal or my period, probably a combination of both. I do need to be careful with the Fiorinal because it definitely causes rebounds for me. I usually take 50 mg of Imitrex, but one day I had to take 100 mg for it to go away.
How much caffeine does everyone drink? I keep getting mixed messages about whether or not I should avoid it and it's hard sometimes with school to avoid. I know it can help my migraines, but it may also be causing rebounds...just curious how others feel about drinking caffeine.

Thanks for the welcomes and I'll try to read your responses more frequently in the future.

Welcome from a fellow grad student! I'm working on a master's in math part time and working full time, so i can definitely relate to the stress issue

I haven't tried migravent, but to throw my preventive regimen on the pile... I take 60 mg inderal LA and 1200 mg neurontin, along with b-complex and fish oil supplements. I have imitrex and frova for abortives (although I haven't tried the frova yet). My doctor just gave me cataflam and the rescue med fioricet today, so i haven't tried those yet.

I generally have a couple cups of coffee or green tea just about every day. I know some people have caffeine is a trigger... i haven't done an elimination diet yet to figure those out, but it may be worth it to you if you think it's causing you problems.

Happy spring break! And welcome again to the forum family

Currently I have 1-2 cups of caffeine a day. Although, as a mother of four this is recent for me. (I was pregnant or nursing for seven years, so I didn't have caffeine during that time.)

The right foods were a good source of energy for me in the morning when I don't drink caffeine. Peppermint tea was also a good pick-me-up.

Some days I drink a LOT of caffeine and then I may go days without any or very little. Caffeine is not a trigger for me, in fact, I use it to help relieve my migraines and give me some energy when I have to deal at work, since my abortive and my migraines generally compound the fatigue I already deal with chronically anyway.

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection.

One way to see if coffee may be impacting your Migraines is to keep a Migraine diary. You can download one HERE. It is pretty easy to do, and I'm sure you don't want more "work" being in school and all. But it can be a very helpful tool for you and your doctor.

Since you mentioned rebound, you may want to look at this article Teri wrote, Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires.

I just re-readPreventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference? and thought you might find it helpful too.

Glad you found us!