Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Advice Needed

I’ve been having chronic headaches again lately. And by “chronic” I mean that I’ve had a headache for 4 weeks straight now. The headaches are part of the reason I’ve been so sporadic with my blogging. It has been awhile since I saw my neurologist (since before I was pregnant with Anderson), and I’m out of the loop on headache medications now. I used to take Maxalt and that medicine was a gift from God except for the $20 per pill price tag. I often had to choose whether or not a headache was Maxalt worthy before I would pop a pill because I didn’t want to waste expensive medicine on something that Tylenol or Excedrin would help. I don’t have any Maxalt right now, so I’m out of luck in that department.

I couldn’t get an appointment with my neurologist until December, so until then I’m just living on a combination of Excedrin, Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I’m completely aware that I’m giving myself rebound headaches, I just don’t know what to do without taking the Tylenol because the pain is so bad.

So, if you suffer from headaches what do you do? Are there any new migraine medications out on the market that might be worth mentioning to my doctor? Because y’all, it feels like an eternity to December, and trying to function with constant pain is getting old. I’m open to any suggestions you have.

Y’all have a great day!

4 random thoughts:

Candy Jones said...

Amy, I use Imitrex and it is generic. I like the Maxalt better just because the Imitrex makes me feel a little "sore" all over. Weird. Then my neurologist also gave me Migranal to use with the Imitrex. It is a nasal spray that you squirt in each nostril (hate that word...just the sound of it....thought you might want to know)C: and it seems to help the migraine go away faster. I have some kind of headache weekly but I can tell the difference if it is a migraine.
Use an ice pack. Try to get one somewhere. Ice in a baggy is just yuck. I have one I bought at Carousel of Shops in Prattville. It has rice, lavender and other things I have not figured out. But it is sewn up in a soft raggedy ann material and I keep it and 2 other kinds in the freezer always.

Also, call the pharmacies and see who has the Imitrex generic for lesser price. Ask your neuro. for the 100 mg. so you can cut them in half. And just ask for samples for the migranal. I have a feeling it is sky high. I don't know if you have tried Inderal, Topamax or some of the other meds that are supposed to work in a prophylatic way (to prevent the h/a) but they have never helped me. Also, I heard recently that a lady tried Prozac and her h/a went completely away. That might help with a lot of stuff! I heard rumors a hysterectomy would help but it did not help me at all.
Hope some of this helps. c:

Ashley said...

I suffer from chronic migraines, and the only thing that will help me when one hits is actually an over the counter painkiller... not even the expensive "migraine medications" will help... It's called Mersyndol, and it's a combination of Acetometophine (tylenol) with codine, as well as a muscle relaxant. I pay about $20 for 100 pills. But I am in Canada, so I don't know if you can get it in the States...

Ashley said...

oh, and like Candy Jones mentioned... Topomax. I took it for 6 months when I first started getting my migraines, and they were way better for about 4 years. I started getting my migraines again about 5 times a week, and started it again. I've been on it for 3 weeks, and haven't had a migraine. I paid I think $60 for 3 months worth...

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

Amy, I've had migraines since I was 5 years old. Every few years, I have to switch meds because for some reason I start to become immune to them after a period of time. Right now I'm not on a preventive, but I take Treximet for pain. I can take one at the onset and a second one an hour later if it's not better.

Treximet is a hybrid of Imitrex and Naproxen. Imitrex alone never touched my headaches, but Treximet is helping with the pain. The one I used just prior to Treximet was Axert. It worked for me for about four years before I had to switch.

Both are triptans, which is probably the same class of drug you've taken for migraines in the past. My insurance will only cover 9 triptans per month, but some policies will pay for 18 per month. I usually don't USE 9 per month, but this month I have ... and I can't get it refilled until Sunday. Hoping I don't have any more migraines before then.

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