Migraine help needed

I started on Inderal back in the 70s and it worked very well for quite
a period of time. Since then though many great things have come out,
Imitrex etc. I still find the latest will be effective for just
so long and then I have to try something else.

Well Gaynor tried Imitrex (Imigran) but it was no good for her. She takes
Sanomigran daily - doesnt stop the headaches but appears to lessen them a
little, and amytriptylene at night for relaxation.

Anyway update is that she went to see the neurologist this week. My sister went
to because Gaynors head was so bad she couldn't think straight. My sister
explained that "Auntie asked a lot of her friend on the internet" and said that
a lot mentioned an anti-epileptic helped them, and wondered if it might help
Gaynor. Doc said "well you might as well try them"

He has started her on sodium valproate 200mg twice daily. He said to stop the
other two drugs. Also said they would take a month to get into her system. That
was two days ago. Gaynors headaches are so bad today she can't get out of bed.
I feel it was a bit drastic to stop the painkillers but then I'm not a doctor.
If she feels no better in a week they will go back.

Please keep good thoughts for her.

Love Val

Amytriptolene isn't a pain killer. It's a psychiatric drug which has
other uses, one being it helps produce REM sleep. It's also used for
some rare migrain problems, irritable bowl, etc. etc. Often
amytriptolene dosages have to be upped over time as their effectiveness
wanes . . . a sad fact for many medications.

It can also have very severe side effects, allergic reactions, and
shouldn't be mixed with some other medications. Nor should it be taken
too soon after being on *other* medications, which can cause trouble for
the patient. There can also be a reaction to a sudden stopping of
medication.

Research, research, research. That's all a patient can do. Know
everything there is to know and still be wary and vigilent. Zanax is
called "a terribly addictive drug". Well yes, it can be. But not in
lower doses. But of course, if you don't do your research, you'll not
understand the difference. You'll just hear some doctors screaming,
"No, you can't take THAT drug. It's too addictive." For some people,
it's a marvelous remedy for serious disorders. At low doses, there is
NO danger of addiction.

Hugs to you and yours.
Dianne

Val Mathison wrote:
I started on Inderal back in the 70s and it worked very well for quite
a period of time. Since then though many great things have come out,
Imitrex etc. I still find the latest will be effective for just
so long and then I have to try something else.


Well Gaynor tried Imitrex (Imigran) but it was no good for her. She takes
Sanomigran daily - doesnt stop the headaches but appears to lessen them a
little, and amytriptylene at night for relaxation.

Anyway update is that she went to see the neurologist this week. My sister went
to because Gaynors head was so bad she couldn't think straight. My sister
explained that "Auntie asked a lot of her friend on the internet" and said that
a lot mentioned an anti-epileptic helped them, and wondered if it might help
Gaynor. Doc said "well you might as well try them"

He has started her on sodium valproate 200mg twice daily. He said to stop the
other two drugs. Also said they would take a month to get into her system. That
was two days ago. Gaynors headaches are so bad today she can't get out of bed.
I feel it was a bit drastic to stop the painkillers but then I'm not a doctor.
If she feels no better in a week they will go back.

Please keep good thoughts for her.

Love Val

"Val Mathison" wrote in message
...
Well Gaynor tried Imitrex (Imigran) but it was no good for her. She takes
Sanomigran daily - doesnt stop the headaches but appears to lessen them a
little, and amytriptylene at night for relaxation.

Anyway update is that she went to see the neurologist this week. My sister
went
to because Gaynors head was so bad she couldn't think straight. My sister
explained that "Auntie asked a lot of her friend on the internet" and said
that
a lot mentioned an anti-epileptic helped them, and wondered if it might
help
Gaynor. Doc said "well you might as well try them"

He has started her on sodium valproate 200mg twice daily. He said to stop
the
other two drugs. Also said they would take a month to get into her system.
That
was two days ago. Gaynors headaches are so bad today she can't get out of
bed.
I feel it was a bit drastic to stop the painkillers but then I'm not a
doctor.
If she feels no better in a week they will go back.

That is a very low starting dose for this drug--most of the time it is
started at 250mg three times daily and then increased from there. She
should still be able to take the Imigran, even when on higher daily doses of
valproic acid--the Imigran is there to stop the headache once it starts and
the valproic acid is there to help prevent the magraines from happening in
the first place. No matter how well the preventative medication works, she
will still have migraines and will still need the medicines designed to stop
them.

Please keep good thoughts for her.

Love Val

Absoulutely, Val!
--
LittleBit

Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved
ones shine down to let us know they are happy.

Eskimo Legend

Amytriptolene isn't a pain killer. It's a psychiatric drug which has
other uses, one being it helps produce REM sleep. It's also used for
some rare migrain problems, irritable bowl, etc. etc. Often
amytriptolene dosages have to be upped over time as their effectiveness

Another tidbit about amitriptyline....

It's a tricyclate, has such side effects as dry mouth and weight gain, and yes,
does loose effectivenes over time.

I take Trazodone (aka Desyrel) which is a quadracyclate. It is in the same
drug family, but has fewer side effects. I take it for several reasons:
reactive depression (bio-chemical thing, physical cause to emotional
depression), migraine prevention, and bowel health.

My dosage has not changed in at least 10 years, and I have not noticed it's
effects lessening at all over that time.

Just my experience, and another tidbit to ask your own doctor about.

Caryn
Blue Wizard Designs
http://hometown.aol.com/crzy4xst/index.html
Updated: 7/7/03 -- now available Dragon of the Stars
View WIPs at: http://community.webshots.com/user/carynlws (Caryn's UFO's)