Migraine

Does anybody know about DHE injections at home for the prevention of chronic daily headache? Injections would have to be done twice a day... Sounds like quite a hassle, but I would be willing to do it if it eased the pain. We're not going to try though, she doubts it would work since I'm not very responsive to triptans. I'm just curious about it.

Thanks!
Jenn

No, I have NEVER heard of DHE injections at home twice a day as a preventive. In fact, DHE is a major rebound culprit.

They DO sometimes use IV DHE daily for a short period of time to break a Migraine cycle. Yes, it's a paradox that something that causes rebound can break a cycle for some people. This protocol is one that I've only seen done inpatient.

Hmm... I must have misunderstood then. Unless she was talking about doing it short term to break the cycle, but instead of doing it through inpatient IV, it would be done at home?!

Thanks Teri,
Jenn

My thought, too, was that I wouldn't ever want to try and use any med for prevention purposes that had such a high rebound potential. Rebound isn't fun, and I certainly never intend to get back in that situation. *shudders*

Jenn,

I know Teri will disagree with me on this one but it has been done in some form. I have used DHE injections as an abortive with great success. A couple years ago though I got into a rough spot where I wasn't responding to triptans anymore, preventatives were not working and my doctor was trying to find a way to help me. I had also had DHE IV treatments in an inpatient setting and felt so much better while receiving the treatments only for the daily headache to back when I left the hospital.

My doctor arranged for me to have a PICC (perphially inserted central cathater - aka. long term IV line) line inserted. I hooked up my own IV bags to adminster DHE and magnesium twice a day. After a while I got to the point that only 1 treatment per day was needed. I did this for 7 months. I still had my daily headache but the IV treatments took the pain down to a level in which I could once again function on the job and at home and the long the treatmetn when on the less sever the headaches got over all.

I just want to note that during this time I was VERY closely followed by my doctor and by nurses. I was properly trained in the maintanence and cleaning of my PICC line and had immediate access to a nurse if a problem ever arised.

After 7 months I had to have the PICC line pulled as it developed a leak. However I was ready for it to go. After the line came out and I was no longer receiving my daily fix of DHE and magnesium I maintained a level of lower intensity and duration for a couple of months. I do not believe that I ever suffered from rebound while on the DHE. It did what we needed it to by getting me out of a cycle that we couldn't accomplish any other way.

My doctor is extremely cautious about using this form of treatment and will not do so without making sure every one involved completely understands the ramifications.

NO it wasn't used as preventative, but it was used as long-term, daily abortive treatment.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Shortone

Hi

My son did use DHE injections at home for approximately 3 weeks. It did help for about 2 weeks and then I realized he was getting in a rebound cycle. He would wake up with a migraine and get his shot and by the end of the day he felt better. We stopped them and he had the absolute worst headache of his life. It was awful.

The injections were 2X per day for 7 days and then 1X per day. I wish I had realized sooner what was happening with the rebound.

My son was having status migraines and also thought to have chronic daily headache which has now been diagnosed as New Daily Persistent Headache. It definitely broke the cycle.

Jean Ann

I just want to thank everyone for their input.

Jenn