Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 Weaver wrote: > I was on maxalt-mlt, which was > WONDERFUL, but my insurance doesn't cover it and it > costs $20 a pill. Figure $200 a month minimum. Can't > do that! , I get migraines also. Not quite as many a month as you do, but at least 3 or 4. I take Maxalt, but pay a $35 co-pay for it which only makes it about 7 dollars a pill. I took Imitrex but it didn't even touch the pain. I guess I will keep paying the $7 a pill since it works so well. I especially like the few side effects. I can actually function within an hour of taking one. Does anyone else have any info on migraines? I heard there was suppose to be a new med out soon. -- Lipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 , I'm with you on the maxalt. The imitrex doesn't do the job like maxalt does. I pay $7.00 a pill for the imitrex, so if I could get my insurance to pay for the maxalt, I'd be willing to even pay up to $10 a pill. But $20 is just too much with the number of pills I have to take a month (around 10). I haven't had a really bad migraine episode since starting the imitrex (I've only changed in the past month), but if I do, and it doesn't work, I have one other drug I have to try before my doctor can write a letter to my insurance company to request an exception for me. I did hear about this new drug. Don't remember much about it, though. I can't wait. Anything that can get rid of a migraine is certainly worth its weight in gold!! --- Lipe wrote: > Weaver wrote: > > I was on maxalt-mlt, which was > > WONDERFUL, but my insurance doesn't cover it and > it > > costs $20 a pill. Figure $200 a month minimum. > Can't > > do that! > > , > > I get migraines also. Not quite as many a month as > you do, but at least > 3 or 4. I take Maxalt, but pay a $35 co-pay for it > which only makes it > about 7 dollars a pill. I took Imitrex but it > didn't even touch the > pain. I guess I will keep paying the $7 a pill > since it works so well. > I especially like the few side effects. I can > actually function within > an hour of taking one. > > Does anyone else have any info on migraines? I > heard there was suppose > to be a new med out soon. > -- > Lipe > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 to y'all with migraines... i get chronic headaches from the multiple cerebral bleeds from my hemangioma. they use the same treatments they use for migraines. If you are having upwards of 10 or so migraines a month, i wonder, are you on some kind of prophyllactic treatment? if so, i wonder if it needs to be changed to something that works better for you or needs to be combined with something else. The problem with taking breakthrough meds often is they can cause rebound headaches. Right now I take Topamax and it controlls my headaches quite well. I RARELY get breakthrough headaches. In the past they have used Neurontin, Depakote, a host of tricyclic antidepressants and SSRI antidepressants. Prozac worked EXCELLENT as well. Many of the same meds used to control neuropathy caused by TCS work well to control headaches.. neurological pain.... If you are getting recurrent migraines, i would see some prophyllactic meds, rather than keep trying to treat just the migraine.. try to prevent them first. for treating the migraine... none of my headaches respond to migraine meds (then again, they are not "migraines")... but Maxaalt, Imitrex, Midrin, Ergotamine (a specially compounded medicine), DHE, lidocaine nasal spray, and any form of narcotic analgesics are options for emergency relief once the migraine has started. But if you are having them that often, it sounds like you need to look into some kind of prevention medicine... looking in my nursing drug reference, most of the above medicines (ergotamine, imitrex, DHE) cannot be taken more than 5 times per week and says if you are needing to use more than 5 doses per week you need to see your physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 I was wondering what the consensus was for what people used for breakthrough pain, that is, if any of you use maintenance drugs for pain control. I was wondering what I should ask my pain management doc about getting something for exacerbations/things that don't control my normal pain. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated. W. Linder dlinder@... jigiwiffit@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 I am just getting in on this conversation, but I too have have daily chronic headaches and TSC. I have recently switched from Neurontin to Topamax. The neurontin makes me too sleepy. I started two weeks ago on 25 mg twice a day and am starting to move up to 50 mg twice a day. What mg are you on? So far, so good. Helping my headaches, no breakthrough pain yet. Woo!Hoo! The dry throat side effect is annoying and, strangly enough, it does make pop taste funny. But I guess that's good since now I am now drinking lots and lots of water. (Good for the kidneys and the waistline.) What mg's are working for you? I have Vicodin for breakthrough pain but wonder if that is the best choice. Besides the headaches, it is also prescribed for my burning buttock and leg pain too though. Amy > to y'all with migraines... > > i get chronic headaches from the multiple cerebral bleeds from my hemangioma. > they use the same treatments they use for migraines. If you are having > upwards of 10 or so migraines a month, i wonder, are you on some kind of > prophyllactic treatment? if so, i wonder if it needs to be changed to > something that works better for you or needs to be combined with something > else. > > The problem with taking breakthrough meds often is they can cause rebound > headaches. > > Right now I take Topamax and it controlls my headaches quite well. I RARELY > get breakthrough headaches. In the past they have used Neurontin, Depakote, > a host of tricyclic antidepressants and SSRI antidepressants. Prozac worked > EXCELLENT as well. Many of the same meds used to control neuropathy caused > by TCS work well to control headaches.. neurological pain.... If you are > getting recurrent migraines, i would see some prophyllactic meds, rather than > keep trying to treat just the migraine.. try to prevent them first. > > for treating the migraine... none of my headaches respond to migraine meds > (then again, they are not " migraines " )... but Maxaalt, Imitrex, Midrin, > Ergotamine (a specially compounded medicine), DHE, lidocaine nasal spray, and > any form of narcotic analgesics are options for emergency relief once the > migraine has started. > > But if you are having them that often, it sounds like you need to look into > some kind of prevention medicine... looking in my nursing drug reference, > most of the above medicines (ergotamine, imitrex, DHE) cannot be taken more > than 5 times per week and says if you are needing to use more than 5 doses > per week you need to see your physician. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2002 Report Share Posted May 11, 2002 Re: migraines I am just getting in on this conversation, but I too have have daily chronic headaches and TSC. I have recently switched from Neurontin to Topamax. The neurontin makes me too sleepy. I started two weeks ago on 25 mg twice a day and am starting to move up to 50 mg twice a day. What mg are you on? So far, so good. Helping my headaches, no breakthrough pain yet. Woo!Hoo! The dry throat side effect is annoying and, strangly enough, it does make pop taste funny. But I guess that's good since now I am now drinking lots and lots of water. (Good for the kidneys and the waistline.) What mg's are working for you? I have Vicodin for breakthrough pain but wonder if that is the best choice. Besides the headaches, it is also prescribed for my burning buttock and leg pain too though. Amy> to y'all with migraines...> > i get chronic headaches from the multiple cerebral bleeds from my hemangioma. > they use the same treatments they use for migraines. If you are having > upwards of 10 or so migraines a month, i wonder, are you on some kind of > prophyllactic treatment? if so, i wonder if it needs to be changed to > something that works better for you or needs to be combined with something > else. > > The problem with taking breakthrough meds often is they can cause rebound > headaches.> > Right now I take Topamax and it controlls my headaches quite well. I RARELY > get breakthrough headaches. In the past they have used Neurontin, Depakote, > a host of tricyclic antidepressants and SSRI antidepressants. Prozac worked > EXCELLENT as well. Many of the same meds used to control neuropathy caused > by TCS work well to control headaches.. neurological pain.... If you are > getting recurrent migraines, i would see some prophyllactic meds, rather than > keep trying to treat just the migraine.. try to prevent them first. > > for treating the migraine... none of my headaches respond to migraine meds > (then again, they are not "migraines")... but Maxaalt, Imitrex, Midrin, > Ergotamine (a specially compounded medicine), DHE, lidocaine nasal spray, and > any form of narcotic analgesics are options for emergency relief once the > migraine has started. > > But if you are having them that often, it sounds like you need to look into > some kind of prevention medicine... looking in my nursing drug reference, > most of the above medicines (ergotamine, imitrex, DHE) cannot be taken more > than 5 times per week and says if you are needing to use more than 5 doses > per week you need to see your physician.> > Hello, I also get a lot of mirgranes. I just had one few days ago that lasted for 3 days on the 3rd day it was so bad i could hardly walk so i called the dr. and he gave me diclofenac potassium until i go and see him next Sat. Has any taken this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2002 Report Share Posted May 12, 2002 Hi everyone. I also have migraines. I was getting them so frequent that they put me on atenonol to prevent them and Zomig when i get one. Zomig works great with me. I tried imitrex and it didn't touch my migraines either.The atenonol is pretty cheap and works to stop the migraines. Sara --- Lipe wrote: > Weaver wrote: > > I was on maxalt-mlt, which was > > WONDERFUL, but my insurance doesn't cover it and > it > > costs $20 a pill. Figure $200 a month minimum. > Can't > > do that! > > , > > I get migraines also. Not quite as many a month as > you do, but at least > 3 or 4. I take Maxalt, but pay a $35 co-pay for it > which only makes it > about 7 dollars a pill. I took Imitrex but it > didn't even touch the > pain. I guess I will keep paying the $7 a pill > since it works so well. > I especially like the few side effects. I can > actually function within > an hour of taking one. > > Does anyone else have any info on migraines? I > heard there was suppose > to be a new med out soon. > -- > Lipe > ===== Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2002 Report Share Posted May 13, 2002 Jenn, I was on depakote for migraines and nortriptyline, at one point in time. I went off all maintainence meds in December because I have been more than tired of taking drugs all the time. It's been years since I went a day without taking medication for something. And I was taking way too many pills and being way too drugged up. So in December, I gave up all the pills, except for Ultram, which I can't do without if I don't want more pain than I can manage. Ultram is least strong pain med I can manage on. I can always go back to prophylactic meds if I choose. Right now, I'm happy not taking something every day. If I could take Maxalt, I would be thrilled. Imitrex is just not up to the challenge. Maxalt and Imitrex, and the other triptans, actually work best if taken before the pain, after the initial aura, if one gets one. They cause the blood vessels in the brain to contract, which counteracts the mechanism by which migraines operate - the dilation of blood vessels. I've heard that they haven't tested the safety of taking more than 6 times per month. And chest pains can be a side effect. That's a bit scary. Get rid of one pain, for another, potentially more dangerous pain. It's all so much fun. __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 14, 2002 Report Share Posted May 14, 2002 Amy and Sara, Sara, thanks for remembering Zomig! I have been on that one as well and I just COULD NOT remember the name of it! I kept trying to remember all the names of the HA meds they have had me on in the past and I knew there was one more in addition to maxaalt and imitrex and zomig was it. I think maxaalt worked best, but it was marginal at best. a narcotic analgesic is the only thing that works.. then again, mine aren't " true " migraines, and i am always on the lookout for another cerebral bleed. Many of the migraine meds alter the vasculature of your brain, as well as raise your blood pressure, so i can only take VERY low doses, because an increase in my blood pressure can trigger another hemorrhage of my hemangioma... Amy, I take Topamax 100mg twice a day. The only side effects i have are dry mouth (that eventually fades) and a tingling sensation in my hands and face (worse in cold weather... that too fades with time but never goes away, and comes back with any increase in dose). But I SWEAR this is the BEST med for HA control. I had excellent control over my HA's with Prozac, and b/c of some issues with my abusive soon-to-be ex-husband taking me off of it b/c he didnt want a wife on prozac, i changed to Topamax, and *fortunately* I have achieved equivalent control over my HA's. Topamax doesnt make you sleepy. I nearly lost my job several times on Neurontin and got kicked out of school on Neurontin i was so sleepy. It also has a wonderful side effect of weight loss... i eat all the time, anything i want and i can hardly keep the weight on. I have always been around a size 10-12 most of my adult life, except after Depakote put 40 lbs on me in 6 mos. Exercise and diet got me down to a 14. not too bad... with Topamax i have finally stabilized after much losing in a size 6. so despite the frankenstein scars on my back i'm enjoying a 2-piece this summer! The only time i have problems with it controlling my HAs is when i have alot of back pain, and i take my oxycontin on a regular basis for say 7 days in a row and then i have good days and stop. I will get rebound HAs and Topamax does not stop those, although i am sure they are not as severe as they would be w/o being on the topamax. It is a fabulous Rx!!! I swear by it. I know others of you have said that you dont like taking pills all the time every day. I take more pills every days than some of my 80 year old patients... pills for headaches, asthma, pain, birthcontrol, irreg. hearbeat/mitral valve prolapse, allergies. my pharmacy bill is monstrous. BUT not having headaches by taking 2 pills a day, is much better than putting up with them. Lemme know how it works for you! In Christ, Jenn Dx SBO @ L2 w/TCS, diastematomyelia, lipoma. Sx 4/5/00. Now retethered. Surgery #2 to be done 12/02. Also Dx 1/21/97 cavernous hemangioma w/multiple hemorrhages. No Tx. MRI 2/02 stable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2002 Report Share Posted May 15, 2002 I also get Migraines.....there Hereditary. My Mom, my Brother and I all have them. I get them less frequently as my Mom and my Brother. I would say maybe 1 or 2 a Year. There was a span of time where I didn't have one for a few Years. I do get Aura's with mine. They usually result with me Throwing Up and then it's done and over with. Me mymocha@... > > I get migraines also. Not quite as many a month as you do, but at least > 3 or 4. > Does anyone else have any info on migraines? I --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.361 / Virus Database: 199 - Release Date: 5/7/2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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