Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: dre84 on 21/11/2011 18:01:44
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I suffer from migraine since 5 years.I have trying different medicines without success.Can anybody give an advice?
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Hi! Sorry to hear about your migraine. I have treated successfully my migraines using NSAIDs(non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). I am in a hurry now but you can find lots of information about this drugs here : nsaidslist.com
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Have you tried any of the newer medications such as Imitrex? There is nasal variety, but I've heard of people with gagging problems with it. I'd try the "pen" injectable form. Anyway, it is supposed to help if you catch it during the early stages of a headache.
BTW... you didn't mention symptoms. Do you have the classic Migrane symptoms?
Headache, perhaps aura, light & noise insensitivity, nausea, etc.
Do some internet searches as they often can come up with the latest cutting edge treatments, and talk to your physician.
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About 6 months ago I, very suddenly and surprisingly, started having migraines - the first one lasted a week.
When I visited my GP, my usual doc was on holiday, and I saw a locum doctor, who also suffers from migraines.
She prescribed me Sumatriptan. I'll try to recall what she said, but I was in much pain at the time and might get a it slightly wrong!
She explained that a migraine involves vasodilation of the blood vessels in your head. An ingredient in Sumatriptan causes these vessels to constrict. I have since read it is also effective with Cluster Headaches, which I find impressive, as I honestly thought nothing could be done about those.
Aura are my first sign of an impending painfest, so I always have a pack of Sumatriptan in my handbag in case this hits, and I take it as soon as I can, as the longer I leave it, the less effective it is.
On the pain relief front, I have been informed that opiate-based painkillers (such as Codeine) can make migraines worse.
Something cold on my head can provide lots of relief, I have been known to lay in bed with a pack of frozen vegetables melting all over my head! I assume this works on the same basis as the vasoconstriction as Sumatriptan - cold stuff makes our blood vessels narrow to try and reduce surface area and retain more body heat.
I'd also try to note what you were doing when the migraine hit. For me, it is surprising bright lights that get me - the glint of some sunshine reflecting off something is usually my cause, but I don't know more than that.
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I have been a migranaut for a long time.
I used to have 24 - 36 hour attack / recovery but it is better managed now.
I would advocate keeping a food & drinks diary - my one definite trigger is chocolate and I have also found that cafeine withdrawl can often be a trigger (for me)
Doctors have suggested beta blockers (assuming it was some sort of stress reaction) the overall effect of which was worse than migraines.
I was also prescribed a daily dose of ergotamine, which reduced the intensity but not the frequency.
Some people find "feverfew" herbal tablets help.
What really works for me and can stop an atttack in very short order is a sumatriptan. I use Maxalt melt - as they dissolve on the tounge, so I know I have recived the correct dose even if I am sick (which is often during an attack)
I have found over time the nature of my migraines has changed - I now can have "mild" migraines which can be dealt with by paracetamol and codeine and severe that I treat with Maxalt.
As an observation, migraine is a very specific condition that seems to affect people (in severtiy / duration / aura etc.) in different ways - what works for one person does not work for everyone!