Hi everyone,

I've had a chronic daily headache for 2 years now (always head pain with 3-4 migraines a week). Any advice on new meds or alternative techniques that have worked for you?

Thanks!

You will have to pardon this email and it's rambling nature. It is a little bit long but I wanted to share as much of my information with you as possible.

I have suffered with Migraines since I was 9 years old and I am now 45. I have tried every medication under the sun. "Preventative" medications for blood pressure, seizures, and depression would help decrease the frequency of them for a time and then after a while it was almost as if my body had become tolerant to whatever medication I was on causing it to no longer be beneficial in preventing migraines. If these "preventative" medications failed, resulting in me having a migraine headache, I would take "Migraine" medication to eliminate the headache, however, even after a while, those stopped working as well. I was really at a crossroads. I was in the emergency room all the time and they treated me as if I was seeking drugs, even though my Neurologist is on staff of the hospital I go to and calls them and tells them that I am coming. Several times I would leave the ER in worse pain than when I arrived.
Then one day my Neurologist suggested a product called DHE45. According to my Neurologist, the first time you get it you have to be hospitalized for 3 days and closely monitored for blood pressure issues. I have actually done this protocol and other than being bored for 3 days, it wasn't bad. The reason for the hospital is because the medicine is given IV for this trial to monitor your reactions.
After the hospital, the way to administer the medication is by way of injection. It sounds kind of scary at first but you get used to it. I am Registered Nurse and could not stand the idea of giving myself a shot so my husband gave it to me for a while and now I do it without any problems. Please feel free to ask me any other questions about Migraines if you need to.

I had migraines from the time I was about 35 years old, apparently relating to perimenopause.
My mother had them too. The doctors tried many
medications without any success, until finally a
neurologist gave me a prescription for Sansert.
Lots of side effects possible, but I never got any of them. I never had another migraine once I
started taking it. My daughter now has migraines and tried to get a prescription for Sansert,but was told it is no longer given because of dangerous side effects. What do you know about this drug. I am now 64 and went off the Sansert once I was through the change of life. The migraines did not come back, so I guess it's safe to assume they were hormone related.

Before you run out and start taking prescription medications with possible negative side effects, have you tried a ketogenic diet? It's a special diet used to treat epilepsy, migraines, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. It can be difficult to follow because it's fairly restrictive-it's similar to the Atkins diet, but not exactly. If you want to try it, the usual starting regimen the so-called 3:1 level. Eat 5% calories from carbohydrate, 15% calories from protein, and all the rest from fat (no more than 10% of total calories from "bad" saturated and trans fats). If your migraines go away, you can gradually increase carbs to 10% of total calories. You may want to check with your doctor, though, because if you have risk factors for heart disease this is NOT the diet for you. And watch out-although it is similar to Atkins in restricting carbohydrates, this is not a high protein diet, and eating too much protein will cause it to not work at all.
The other negative to ketogenic therapy is that it takes about a week for it to start working. But if your migraines are really terrible, it may be worth a shot. You'll need to keep a food diary to make sure that you're eating the right proportions of nutrients. It's cumbersome and restrictive, but for most migraine sufferers, it works like magic.

Hello, I have had migraines for about 32 years. I have them less now that I work from home and do not come in contact with as many of the things that seem to set them off, but when I do feel one coming on I take a prescription medication that works better for me than any of the new or daily meds - MIGRIN - but you really should be working with a specialist if you have had a headache for 2 years. It took some concentrated treatment to break a cycle of migraines that I had, but now fresh air and avoiding allergens makes a big difference. Have you tried eliminated scents from your home? Bleach fumes, lysol, even scented laundry detergent is a problem for me. I never even buy bleach and try to clean with low ordor or natural products. Good luck!

I've recently started taking Maxalt. You take when you start feeling a headache coming on. It quickly dissolves and starts working within 20 minutes. So, far so good, it's been getting the migraines abay.
I'm also going to start botox injections. I'll have to keep you posted on how that helps.

I have had migraines for years and have tried a couple of different migraine meds and they didn't work. What seems to dull them for me now is taking 3 - 222 pills and an antihistamine. The problem with mine, is they tend to last 3 days or more.
However, when I was on the Atkins diet and was past the initial stages and eating tons of vegetables and lean protein, my migraines went away completely. I didn't even have a regular headache for at least 6 months while I was on the program. This break in migraines could have had something to do with not eating any refined foods or sugars. Everything is all natural...something that is healthier for us anyway!
Good luck.

I had the classic migraines for years. Vomiting, knifelike pain, you name it. Went to ER one night and a new doc gave me a shot for Tordol which helped but he also gave me samples of a drug called Relpax. I forgot about them until the next migraine hit. It was full force when I remembered the samples. Expecting to be disappointed, I took one and it worked! Made me a little sleepy but didn't knock me out. All I know is that I keep it in the house and it works every time.

When I feel one coming on, I take two extra strenght Tylenol, and a strong cup of coffee, caffine opens your arteries back up. I've read that you could be magnesium, if you get them a lot.

Have had migraines for 20 years now, not much fun are they?! Began taking 50mg Atenolol (beta blocker) 1x daily which has greatly reduced the frequency & the severity of the migraines I do get. Have taken Fiorinal, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax & Midrin over the years. After had a hysterectomy in 2000 didn't have nearly as many migraines (most of them were hormonal), but of course would NOT recommend that to get rid of them. I now take Excedrin Migraine most often, also take Toradol pills - one pill knocks out the migraine within 10 minutes. About 1-2 times per year I end up in the ER with a shot of Toradol & something else they give me to calm my stomach - used to use Phenargen (sp?) but now there's something newer that doesn't make you so tired. The Toradol is not to be taken every day, but the Atenolol, getting on a regular sleep schedule (i.e. not sleeping in a lot on weekends) have really helped a lot & then when I do get a migraine I can take the Toradol to get rid of it - doesn't make you tired or knock you out-- also use ice packs on my head where the point of the migraine is & then use heating pad on my neck - that helps a lot if I get a migraine the Toradol doesn't knock out right away. Healing Gardens has a small bottle of lavender lotion that has a slight menthol smell to it & I rub that on my pressure points on either sides of my eyes & on the spot of the migraine as well & under my nose & on the sides of the back of my neck. Vicks or HeadOn works too, but doesn't smell as good as the lavender!

I suggest you keep a food and weather diary. I have found that foods trigger my migraines. Aged cheese, some red wines, chocolate. All the good stuff!! Now that I have hit menopause, my migraines are much less of a problem.

Hello Everyone...I'm new at this, so please forgive me..I'm currenlty 49 yrs old and have had to live with migraines since I was at the age of 16. Unfortunately, I inherited it from my father who used to get them all the time..In my case, everything effects me, the weather; sugar; caffine; chocolates; perfumes; wines; certain foods; stress; monthly menstrual; too much sleep; too little sleep; you name it - I get a migrane from it..I have been to see all kinds of doctors and neurologists..they all say the same thing and they give me all kinds of new medications to try...problem being, they all work at first, but then my system gets immune to it..So, now, I'm trying a whole new procedure altogether..Botex injections for migranes..that's right..I get them once every three months..it kills the pain and it becomes somewhat tollerable..the injections are done in the base of the back of the neck and one on each side of the front temple...they tell me that eventually I won't need the injections at all..It will just stop the pain altogether..that would be a blessing..and the best part is, most insurance companies cover this type of procedures..hope this sheds some light to some of you and maybe even worth looking into...good luck...

Hi I work for a chiropractor and there are a lot of reasons for migraines, but I must say I have seen a lot of wonderful results through chiropractic care for migraines. Even patients that have come in vomiting from them. Good luck hope this might help

You should have your Dr. test you for celiac disease, it can cause migraines. I suffered for years with migraines until I was diagnosed with celiac disease & went on a gluten-free diet.

You really need to find out what your triggers are. Keeping a diary of foods, weather, time of month,and scents around you may help. I have had migraines since i was 9 years old, some of my common triggers are: allergies, household cleaning products, perfume, windex, ASPERTAME, NUTRASWEET, (They are the worst 3) I cannot tolerate any of them at all, as I get violent migraines from them. Find out what your triggers are and try avoiding them.