I have been suffering from migraines since 1986 and have been through many doctors and tests. I have come across a drug (Remeron) that I take 30mg at night and it has worked wonders. My doctor gave me samples. Now the issue my stupid HMO (Independent Health) will not allow this medication, even with a doctors prior-approval. Now they have me on Celexa (3 days now) and I have had my 1st major headache. When I was on nothing I would get about 12 headaches a month, with Remeron 2 a month, now I don't know what Celexa will do. I saw this link and thought that some of you may want to talk to your Dr.'s about Remeron, I found it to work great and will continue to fight with my HMO to get it for me. I am using Imitrex Nasal and tablets and they work fine but Zomig (samples again) worked better but again my HMO wont cover.
Bob
Robert Bierasinski <bearman@hotmail.com>
USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 11:54:44 AM
Hi all.I hope everybody is OK.I just wanted to let everybody know what is going on with my treatment.My Dr. put me on Zoloft a month ago.It did nothing for the headaches.I talked to him yesterday and my new treatment plan is taking 1 vicodin every 4 hrs.I told him that I had tried it for the past week because in order to get rid of the headache I had to take 2 vicodin and I did not want to up the medicine.I was amazed at how well it worked.I am feeling human again.No more headaches.Can you believe that the answer was there all along.I mean I already had the medicine.I haven't had to use the Stadol since I started this treatment.I hope it continues to work.I am so looking forward to the holidays.My Dr. is a very compassionate man and I have been seeing him for almost 12 years so he knows what I have been going through.Yesterday he called insome more of the Vicodin for me and he called in 150 tabs with 2 refills enough for a three month supply.I have never seen a perscription bottle that big.He knows that I have a co-pay with my perscriptions so he knew this would be cheaper for me.I know I am very lucky to have found this Dr.He is a family doctor and I take my daughters there also,so I have faith in him.Well enough rambling on I am just so thrilled to be without a headache.I hope everybody finds relief soon.God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving.Lisa
Lisa
Richmond, VA USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 11:52:53 AM
This is a reply to Kathryn in regards to Paxil. I have been on Paxil
for a little over a month now. It has helped some with the frequency/
intensity of my migraines, but the thing that it has helped the greatest
with is my mood swings. My Highs & Lows are not nearly as extreme as
they were befor taking it. My husband says that I am MUCH easier to
live with now and my family says I'm much calmer than I used to be.
I used to feel like Jekyl & Hyde befor the onset of a migraine, now with
Paxil, I can tell that a headache is comming & do something about it
before the "Inner Bi**h" comes thru. I hope your daughter finds relief
because I know what she is going thru. She will be in my prayers.
Take care & Be Well! ~Dianna~
To Everyone else, Have a Happy Turkey Day!
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
NPR, FL USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 10:23:09 AM
Greetings from Canada! A co-worker forwarded this address to me knowing that I suffer from Migraines and I have enjoyed reading the comments from other sufferers. It's intereting to read that others have a problem with the weather. I moved to Calgary from Edmonton two years ago and have found that my headache frequency has increased dramatically. Calgary is 1000 feet higher in altitude and the weather in Calgary frequently changes because of the proximity to the mountains. Each and every time the weather changes I develop a migraine. I have visited the headache clinic here twice now and they have assurred me that I am not alone in my suffering because of the weather changes. Last year they put me on Elavil and Inderal but there was not much improvement. This year they have put me on noratriptlin (sp?). I am hopeful. Must go. will write again when I get a chance. Thanks to all of you who have shared your stories. It is helpful to me to know I have somewhere to go to get support.
Victoria Lundsted <vlundste@cadvision.com>
Calgary, AB Canada - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 09:42:31 AM
Hello everyone! Well, I had been given Imitrex for my migraines, so
I took it for the first time. It got rid of my migraine and I thought
WOW, this is great. That was last week. Well, the next morning, I
woke up with the worst, most excrutiating headache I've ever had. It
was unbelieveable. So, I took another Imitrex. Went away, mostly.
A couple of Excedrin Migraine finally got rid of it all. The next
morning, again, another horrendous headache. I guess these are called
"rebound" headaches? I called my neurologist and told him about it.
He's going to prescribe Zomig. I'm almost afraid. Do rebound headaches
occur with Zomig also? This last rebound headache has not gone away
yet. I am typing in almost complete darkness. The light bothers me
and almost any noise. About an hour ago, the fire alarm was tripped
in our building and they couldn't get it shut off for about 15 minutes.
Now if that isn't unbearable pain with a pounding headache. So, of
course, my head hurts even more now. The pain has moved from my left
temple to both temples. It's weird. The rest of my head doesn't
really hurt, just my temples. They are just throbbing, I feel like
someone should be able to hear them, they're throbbing and pounding
so hard. I can't stand this. I hate it. I can't believe these things
can't be cured. What did we all do to deserve to suffer this way? I
don't get it. Everyone seems like good people, why must we deal with
this horrible pain? Ugh. It makes me so mad. Oh well. I'm going to
sign off now. Going to take a hot bath and then lay down with an ice
pack which seems to be my new accessory. Hopefully, we can all get
through the day without these splitting headaches. I also hope
everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and don't get too stressed out. You
know, that can only bring on another headache. Melissa.
Melissa
USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 08:57:43 AM
To Kathryn about paxil.. I Too take paxil for migraine although i'm 39 and your daughter is very young. My husband and i researched extensively into this drug and found nothing to be worried about at all. We have a good friend who does research for this company in seratonim reuptake inhibitors which is what paxil is and he said it was much easier on your system..ie...liver, etc... than the old anti-depressants. As far as helping migraines, i've heard it helps some people. As far as for me i don't notice much improvement but it helps my mild depression alot so i'm staying on it. I've read alot in the library on childhood migraine. "dr atkins nutritional breakthrough" offers alot of info on migraine and diet. When i stick to his diet i do really well. I also have a friend who has put his ten year old on a natural diet and has had great results. E-mail me an i'll try to hook you up or get more info. wendy
Wendy <bluetulip@aol.com>
stratford, ct USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 07:55:54 AM
I was reading the migraine journal in hopes of finding some info. to help my 13 yr. old daughter. I have great empathy for all the migraine sufferers because I know what a debilitating and daily life-robbing enigma a migraine can be. I will get directly to the point......her neurologist has suggested we try Paxil (paroxetine HCL) as a result of my daughter having a migraine for the first time in her life that lasted on and off but mostly on for about a month. We tried all the pain meds.....advil, alleve, fiorinal, lortab, percodan......to no avail really.
She missed alot of school but the headache finally went away on its own I know the Paxil had nothing to do with it as we were only on the 4th day of it. I am reluctant and hesitant to put my daughter on this serious drug but my husband and I have decided to continue in hopes of "hedging our bets" to prevent another onset of this migraine because she can not risk missing that much school again. Does anyone have any feedback for us about Paxil for migraines??? I am going to fax her doctor today and ask her to send us any articles and info also but she is so extremely busy I don't know when she or her office staff will get around to it. I would appreciate any responses to our quandry that I receive. Thanks ever so.
Please just post your responses in the migraine journal if you are not an AOL subscriber as I had to use "mail controls" to prevent horribly nasty unsolicited material from coming through to our computer.
I will check the journal daily.....thank you again.
Kathryn Witty <kdwitty@aol.com>
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Date: 11/24/98 (Tue)
Time: 06:51:24 AM
