Connection between migraine and PMS?
Question:
I usually take Imitrex, but the most recent one didn’t go away even with the shots… and the doctor decided to put me on Prednisone and Fioricet temporarily.
I am pretty much in the same boat, Kirsten. I usually take Imitrex, and I take the injection form if the headache comes on strong or if my stomach is already upset. The Imitrex usually works for me, but once in a while I have a headache that it won’t work on. My neurologist suggested that I go ahead and take the Imitrex as soon as I start suspecting I’m getting a headache (I seem to mostly wait until I’ve confirmed to myself that yes, this is a migraine, and yes, this is a BAD migraine before I take the shot). Even though I resist that idea on grounds of economy (not every h/a turns out to be a migraine & that stuff is so darned expensive) and sort of a misguided puritan work ethic or something (I feel like I should tough it out), I have found that when I follow his advice, it does save me from having as many headaches. But there are still some that linger, come back later, etc., that will only go away if I take Fioricet and go to sleep. My sisters who have gone through menopause tell me that their migraines are very infrequent now. One sister is on hormone replacement therapy and finds that she only gets migraines when she takes the progesterone part (to have a period). She has compromised w/her doctor to take the estrogen for four months straight and then the progesterone to have a period, so she only has 3 bad times per year now. There definitely is a hormonal connection, no doubt about it. And when I’m PMS’ing I’m particularly sensitive to triggers that don’t bother me so much other times. So I try as much as I can to avoid anything that’s a trigger (no hot tubs, no flashing lights, no strong odors or chemicals if I can help it) during that time. I also try to stay hydrated — drink lots of water. Good luck to you! Rosemary
Response:
I am new here… and I tend to have migraines about once a month a week before my period. Does anyone else experience the same thing?
Hi, Kirsten! Try circumcision? This is gonna sound too simplistic, but i did have relief for those awful "four days prior" HA & PMS. I took B6 once a day all month (this was on top of the Centrum and any calcium supplement to strengthen my nails for classical guitar.) My husband NEVER allowed that bottle to go empty. We could go without MacDonald’s fries as a treat, but not the B6. Along with it helping the HA (by not allowing it to show up at all,) it eliminated most of my PMS symptoms. The MS Contin has made this situation a moot point for a few years now. But if i had to go back to riding the cotton pony, there would be a Costco bottle of B6 on the counter now. Deep peace, Lavon
Response:
I am new here… and I tend to have migraines about once a month a week before my period. Does anyone else experience the same thing? I usually take Imitrex, but the most recent one didn’t go away even with the shots… and the doctor decided to put me on Prednisone and Fioricet temporarily. I have heard that there might be some alternative methods to getting rid of these monthly migraines and it might have something to do with hormones. I just hope I don’t have another one that doesn’t go away with Imitrex. -Kirsten
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am pretty much in the same boat, Kirsten. I usually take Imitrex, and I take the injection form if the headache comes on strong or if my stomach is already upset. The Imitrex usually works for me, but once in a while I have a headache that it won’t work on. My neurologist suggested that I go ahead and take the Imitrex as soon as I start suspecting I’m getting a headache (I seem to mostly wait until I’ve confirmed to myself that yes, this is a migraine, and yes, this is a BAD migraine before I take the shot). Even though I resist that idea on grounds of economy (not every h/a turns out to be a migraine & that stuff is so darned expensive) and sort of a misguided puritan work ethic or something (I feel like I should tough it out), I have found that when I follow his advice, it does save me from having as many headaches. But there are still some that linger, come back later, etc., that will only go away if I take Fioricet and go to sleep.
Yeah, I pretty much do the same thing… the nurse at the school I work at said that many people have success by using real progesterone cream twice a day every day to help with hormonal balance or something like that… of course this is the opposite of what works for your sister… one of our deans has been using the cream and says that it is a miracle… then I read about it in an alternative medicine journal. I am often skeptical of these things, but I suppose it would be worth a try… I get tired of having to give myself painful injections. -Kirsten
Response:
What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something wrong with it. I use it with some success if I take it as soon as I feel a headache coming on. Cheryl B. (new to group, still kind of lurking) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kirsten: Prior to a hystercetomy and HRT, I would get 1-2 migraines a month no matter what. I now get an average of 8/year most of them manageable. Every so often, I get a migraine that won’t respond to anything. Something I try might dull the pain but it never fully goes away. Or, it goes away when I add to Imitrex something that hardly ever makes a dent by itself.. Caffeine in various forms like coffee, coke, or no-doz will sometimes work. I used to try Jolt Cola (all the sugar and twice the caffeine) with some success. Excedrin Migraine (I know, I know) along with Imitrex sometimes works as does a Motrin dose 800 mg.) of ibuprofin. An ice pack on my head, trash TV and a grocery store tabloid will sometimes help. Drinking a beer while taking a really hot bath worked once. Smoking dope didn’t work. Daily doses of Feverfew for a couple of years helped a little bit. Inderal (propranalol) didn’t work, BC pills didn’t work. Tofranil (Imipramine) worked. Not one migraine for 2-3 years but the side effects are pretty dramatic and doctors don’t prescribe the old tryclyclic antidepressants anymore unless you’ve tried the newer ones. Bottom line…what works for you will most likely be a combination of things discovered by trial and error. Reading the postings in this newsgroup can be a great way to learn about what works for other people and give you ideas about what you might try for yourself. I recently discovered that an expired dose of injectible Imitrex still worked. I also discovered it’s easier to inject without the auto injector which is the reason I stopped injecting myself. Good luck! Sassy 
Response:
Kirsten: Prior to a hystercetomy and HRT, I would get 1-2 migraines a month no matter what. I now get an average of 8/year most of them manageable. Every so often, I get a migraine that won’t respond to anything. Something I try might dull the pain but it never fully goes away. Or, it goes away when I add to Imitrex something that hardly ever makes a dent by itself.. Caffeine in various forms like coffee, coke, or no-doz will sometimes work. I used to try Jolt Cola (all the sugar and twice the caffeine) with some success. Excedrin Migraine (I know, I know) along with Imitrex sometimes works as does a Motrin dose 800 mg.) of ibuprofin. An ice pack on my head, trash TV and a grocery store tabloid will sometimes help. Drinking a beer while taking a really hot bath worked once. Smoking dope didn’t work. Daily doses of Feverfew for a couple of years helped a little bit. Inderal (propranalol) didn’t work, BC pills didn’t work. Tofranil (Imipramine) worked. Not one migraine for 2-3 years but the side effects are pretty dramatic and doctors don’t prescribe the old tryclyclic antidepressants anymore unless you’ve tried the newer ones. Bottom line…what works for you will most likely be a combination of things discovered by trial and error. Reading the postings in this newsgroup can be a great way to learn about what works for other people and give you ideas about what you might try for yourself. I recently discovered that an expired dose of injectible Imitrex still worked. I also discovered it’s easier to inject without the auto injector which is the reason I stopped injecting myself. Good luck! Sassy
Response:
Hi Kirsten, I figure everyone puts off taking the Meds until it is too late. I do the same thing hoping it will be just a regular headache and will go away by the afternoon. Then there I am with my breakfast still in my stomach after 4 hours… and you know the rest. Hey, if you are tired of giving yourself those painful injections, let me come over and do it for you – I am sure it will not be painful for me 
Have a "pain free" one. Dan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am pretty much in the same boat, Kirsten. I usually take Imitrex, and I take the injection form if the headache comes on strong or if my stomach is already upset. The Imitrex usually works for me, but once in a while I have a headache that it won’t work on. My neurologist suggested that I go ahead and take the Imitrex as soon as I start suspecting I’m getting a headache (I seem to mostly wait until I’ve confirmed to myself that yes, this is a migraine, and yes, this is a BAD migraine before I take the shot). Even though I resist that idea on grounds of economy (not every h/a turns out to be a migraine & that stuff is so darned expensive) and sort of a misguided puritan work ethic or something (I feel like I should tough it out), I have found that when I follow his advice, it does save me from having as many headaches. But there are still some that linger, come back later, etc., that will only go away if I take Fioricet and go to sleep. Yeah, I pretty much do the same thing… the nurse at the school I work at said that many people have success by using real progesterone cream twice a day every day to help with hormonal balance or something like that… of course this is the opposite of what works for your sister… one of our deans has been using the cream and says that it is a miracle… then I read about it in an alternative medicine journal. I am often skeptical of these things, but I suppose it would be worth a try… I get tired of having to give myself painful injections. -Kirsten
Response:
Hi, Kirsten. Actually, there are some recent studies showing that Amerge can be quite effective in PREVENTING menstrual migraine. It’s taken once a day for six days, beginning two days before your period. Perhaps this is something that could be explored for you. In your case maybe they’d start it more than two days before your period. Here’s an article about it: Amerge To Prevent Menstrual Migraine In a recent double-blind study, Amerge was found effective for preventing menstrually associated migraines and reducing the duration of break though migraines. http://headaches.about.com/library/weekly/aa050101a.htm Hope this helps you some! — Teri Robert your About Guide to Headaches http://headaches.about.com visit our forum at: http://headaches.about.com/mpboards.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am new here… and I tend to have migraines about once a month a week before my period. Does anyone else experience the same thing? I usually take Imitrex, but the most recent one didn’t go away even with the shots… and the doctor decided to put me on Prednisone and Fioricet temporarily. I have heard that there might be some alternative methods to getting rid of these monthly migraines and it might have something to do with hormones. I just hope I don’t have another one that doesn’t go away with Imitrex. -Kirsten
Response:
Ummm… thanks for the offer… I think -Kirsten
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Kirsten, I figure everyone puts off taking the Meds until it is too late. I do the same thing hoping it will be just a regular headache and will go away by the afternoon. Then there I am with my breakfast still in my stomach after 4 hours… and you know the rest. Hey, if you are tired of giving yourself those painful injections, let me come over and do it for you – I am sure it will not be painful for me Have a "pain free" one. Dan I am pretty much in the same boat, Kirsten. I usually take Imitrex, and I take the injection form if the headache comes on strong or if my stomach is already upset. The Imitrex usually works for me, but once in a while I have a headache that it won’t work on. My neurologist suggested that I go ahead and take the Imitrex as soon as I start suspecting I’m getting a headache (I seem to mostly wait until I’ve confirmed to myself that yes, this is a migraine, and yes, this is a BAD migraine before I take the shot). Even though I resist that idea on grounds of economy (not every h/a turns out to be a migraine & that stuff is so darned expensive) and sort of a misguided puritan work ethic or something (I feel like I should tough it out), I have found that when I follow his advice, it does save me from having as many headaches. But there are still some that linger, come back later, etc., that will only go away if I take Fioricet and go to sleep. Yeah, I pretty much do the same thing… the nurse at the school I work at said that many people have success by using real progesterone cream twice a day every day to help with hormonal balance or something like that… of course this is the opposite of what works for your sister… one of our deans has been using the cream and says that it is a miracle… then I read about it in an alternative medicine journal. I am often skeptical of these things, but I suppose it would be worth a try… I get tired of having to give myself painful injections. -Kirsten
Response:
What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something wrong with it. I use it with some success if I take it as soon as I feel a headache coming on.
Absolutely nothing wrong with using it. As a matter of fact it is similiar to fiornol, esgig and those prescription meds. Some people have the attitude that using excedrin equates to not having true migraines but excedrin didn’t get to claim help for migraines with out some pretty vigerous testing. It claims to help "mild migraines" but, in my case, helps with some of my worst ones (it is my first line of defense against menstrual migraines). Of course, you don’t have to buy the excedrin migraine–you can get generic tylenol, aspirin, and caffiene pills which usually say something about "extra strength pain reliever on them". For people who can’t take tylenol, anacin has aspirin and caffiene (and a few store brands have this formula). I do have to pay for aspirin free excedrin for my kids since you generally don’t want to give aspirin to children and, so far, no one makes generice tylenol and caffiene. I priced caffiene pills with generic tylenol and it was actually cheaper to just get aspirin free excedrin from the discount drug store. Some times I give a coke with tylenol to them. The only thing to watch out for is over use. Whether you believe in rebound or not, caffiene addiction is real and for some people it only takes a couple of days for it to build up. For anyone who cares, caffiene is fairly easy to get off of–just figure your caffiene use and use generic no-doze pills to go off slowly. Or you can just cut back on the use over time but I find that it is easier for me to cut out the caffiene drinks and replace them with non caffiene ones and then be a bit "clinical". Probably a psychological thing but who cares. Georgia (whose back on caffiene as she gets use to a very low dose of elavil again to treat her fibro)
Response:
Hi As far as I understand, it’s soon going to be good news for those of us who resist taking imigran until we know it’s a migraine due to cost, as imigran comes off-patent before too long which means, like paracetamol (tylenol?) and aspirin, it will be able to be made by more people and SHOULD become much cheaper! This has to be a good thing, although I still don’t know if I want to take it too often, as it may have as-yet unknown side effects……. If I hear any more on the subject I’ll let you know! Caroline
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I usually take Imitrex, but the most recent one didn’t go away even with the shots… and the doctor decided to put me on Prednisone and Fioricet temporarily. I am pretty much in the same boat, Kirsten. I usually take Imitrex, and I take the injection form if the headache comes on strong or if my stomach is already upset. The Imitrex usually works for me, but once in a while I have a headache that it won’t work on. My neurologist suggested that I go ahead and take the Imitrex as soon as I start suspecting I’m getting a headache (I seem to mostly wait until I’ve confirmed to myself that yes, this is a migraine, and yes, this is a BAD migraine before I take the shot). Even though I resist that idea on grounds of economy (not every h/a turns out to be a migraine & that stuff is so darned expensive) and sort of a misguided puritan work ethic or something (I feel like I should tough it out), I have found that when I follow his advice, it does save me from having as many headaches. But there are still some that linger, come back later, etc., that will only go away if I take Fioricet and go to sleep. My sisters who have gone through menopause tell me that their migraines are very infrequent now. One sister is on hormone replacement therapy and finds that she only gets migraines when she takes the progesterone part (to have a period). She has compromised w/her doctor to take the estrogen for four months straight and then the progesterone to have a period, so she only has 3 bad times per year now. There definitely is a hormonal connection, no doubt about it. And when I’m PMS’ing I’m particularly sensitive to triggers that don’t bother me so much other times. So I try as much as I can to avoid anything that’s a trigger (no hot tubs, no flashing lights, no strong odors or chemicals if I can help it) during that time. I also try to stay hydrated — drink lots of water. Good luck to you! Rosemary
Response:
It works for me if I have a regular headache, which I get very infrequently and sometimes, rarely, for a migraine if caught early enough. My father is always suggesting different herbs to me and it drives me nuts. My mother (who suffered until menopause) was always telling me I was doing too much. Well geez, I had three kids and a full-time job, what was I supposed to do?? My migraines I have to admit, have gotten better since drinking more water and giving up Diet Coke and chocolate. Cheryl B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – To clarify my reference to "Excedrin Migraine (I know, I know)" – this newsgroup has pretty much agreed that this OTC med doesn’t work for most of us. Many of us find the Excedrin advertising irritating and misleading especially when a well meaning friend or relative thinks they’ve heard about something we haven’t that will help our heads. I merely meant to indicate that for me, when I take Excedrin Migraine with a dose of Fioricet or Imitrex, it sometimes helps.
Response:
: Georgia: : : Caffeine is NOT easy to get off. Your method is good, but I still felt like : hell when I went off, using Exedrin instead of No-Doz pills, cutting them up : and decreasing over a week to 10 days. I still had to nap everyday and felt : like crap. This was while decreasing the coffee slowly along with it. Caffeine IS easy to get off–comparatively. Try getting off of daily opiates. Try getting of SSRIs. Try getting of benzos. Or even try getting off long-term use of nicotine. A nap each day and feeling like crap is a picnic compared to getting off many meds. Opiates can be hell, including diarrhea, sweats, projectile vomiting, muscle contractions, as well as many more things you don’t even want to imagine. SSRI withdrawal can include anxiety beyond belief, insomnia, nightmares when you CAN get to sleep and a host of other problems that last for weeks. Benzo withdrawal can cause seizures, knotting in the stomach that getting sucker punched is the only thing that helps you get any relief. Even nicotine after a few years of smoking can keep a person nervous and sick for six weeks or longer. I’d prefer to get off caffeine rather than any other drug that’s out there. Getting off any med that you have a degree of dependence on can be challenging, but caffeine is the easiest one out there. Mouse : : Cheryl B. : :
: ===== : What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something : wrong : with it. I use it with some success if I take it as soon as I feel a : headache : coming on. : : Absolutely nothing wrong with using it. As a matter of fact : it is similiar to fiornol, esgig and those prescription meds. : Some people have the attitude that using excedrin equates to : not having true migraines but excedrin didn’t get to claim : help for migraines with out some pretty vigerous testing. : It claims to help "mild migraines" but, in my case, helps : with some of my worst ones (it is my first line of defense against : menstrual migraines). Of course, you don’t have to buy : the excedrin migraine–you can get generic tylenol, : aspirin, and caffiene pills which usually say something about : "extra strength pain reliever on them". For people who can’t : take tylenol, anacin has aspirin and caffiene (and a few : store brands have this formula). I do have to pay for : aspirin free excedrin for my kids since you generally don’t : want to give aspirin to children and, so far, no one makes : generice tylenol and caffiene. I priced caffiene pills : with generic tylenol and it was actually cheaper to just get : aspirin free excedrin from the discount drug store. Some : times I give a coke with tylenol to them. : : The only thing to watch out for is over use. Whether you : believe in rebound or not, caffiene addiction is real and : for some people it only takes a couple of days for it to : build up. For anyone who cares, caffiene is fairly easy to : get off of–just figure your caffiene use and use generic : no-doze pills to go off slowly. Or you can just cut back : on the use over time but I find that it is easier for me : to cut out the caffiene drinks and replace them with non : caffiene ones and then be a bit "clinical". Probably a : psychological thing but who cares. : : Georgia : (whose back on caffiene as she gets use to a very low dose : of elavil again to treat her fibro) :
Response:
Does hooey trot? Can hooey be trotted out? Rosemary
Yeah, I live with him, LOL! Red
Response:
Good one, Red! LOL Rosemary (still giggling) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Does hooey trot? Can hooey be trotted out? Rosemary Yeah, I live with him, LOL! Red
Response:
To clarify my reference to "Excedrin Migraine (I know, I know)" – this newsgroup has pretty much agreed that this OTC med doesn’t work for most of
I still find it more irritating…oh forget it. Georgia – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Many of us find the Excedrin advertising irritating and misleading especially when a well meaning friend or relative thinks they’ve heard about something we haven’t that will help our heads. I merely meant to indicate that for me, when I take Excedrin Migraine with a dose of Fioricet or Imitrex, it sometimes helps.
Response:
To clarify my reference to "Excedrin Migraine (I know, I know)" – this newsgroup has pretty much agreed that this OTC med doesn’t work for most of us. Many of us find the Excedrin advertising irritating and misleading especially when a well meaning friend or relative thinks they’ve heard about something we haven’t that will help our heads. I merely meant to indicate that for me, when I take Excedrin Migraine with a dose of Fioricet or Imitrex, it sometimes helps.
Response:
The "I know, I know" may also refer to the discussions we’ve had on this board about whether there’s a rebound effect from analgesics. Most of us think that’s hooey that the dr’s who don’t have answers prefer to trot out. Does hooey trot? Can hooey be trotted out? Rosemary
Response:
Georgia: Caffeine is NOT easy to get off. Your method is good, but I still felt like hell when I went off, using Exedrin instead of No-Doz pills, cutting them up and decreasing over a week to 10 days. I still had to nap everyday and felt like crap. This was while decreasing the coffee slowly along with it. Cheryl B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something wrong with it. I use it with some success if I take it as soon as I feel a headache coming on. Absolutely nothing wrong with using it. As a matter of fact it is similiar to fiornol, esgig and those prescription meds. Some people have the attitude that using excedrin equates to not having true migraines but excedrin didn’t get to claim help for migraines with out some pretty vigerous testing. It claims to help "mild migraines" but, in my case, helps with some of my worst ones (it is my first line of defense against menstrual migraines). Of course, you don’t have to buy the excedrin migraine–you can get generic tylenol, aspirin, and caffiene pills which usually say something about "extra strength pain reliever on them". For people who can’t take tylenol, anacin has aspirin and caffiene (and a few store brands have this formula). I do have to pay for aspirin free excedrin for my kids since you generally don’t want to give aspirin to children and, so far, no one makes generice tylenol and caffiene. I priced caffiene pills with generic tylenol and it was actually cheaper to just get aspirin free excedrin from the discount drug store. Some times I give a coke with tylenol to them. The only thing to watch out for is over use. Whether you believe in rebound or not, caffiene addiction is real and for some people it only takes a couple of days for it to build up. For anyone who cares, caffiene is fairly easy to get off of–just figure your caffiene use and use generic no-doze pills to go off slowly. Or you can just cut back on the use over time but I find that it is easier for me to cut out the caffiene drinks and replace them with non caffiene ones and then be a bit "clinical". Probably a psychological thing but who cares. Georgia (whose back on caffiene as she gets use to a very low dose of elavil again to treat her fibro)
Response:
Ahh, I see…. Well it can’t be Dexedrine as Dexedrine is an amphetamine. Do you mean acetaminophen? I have no problem with them changing the name. It was a marketing ploy and since I own Bristol-Meyer-Squibb I think it’s great and to tell you the truth I never tried it for migraines until they changed the name. Besides I have other things to worry about in life….. Cheryl B. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something wrong with it. I use it with some success if I take it as soon as I feel a headache coming on. Absolutely nothing wrong with using it. As a matter of fact it is similiar to fiornol, esgig and those prescription meds. Some people have the attitude that using excedrin equates to not having true migraines but excedrin didn’t get to claim help for migraines with out some pretty vigerous testing. It claims to help "mild migraines" but, in my case, helps with some of my worst ones (it is my first line of defense against menstrual migraines). Of course, you don’t have to buy the excedrin migraine–you can get generic tylenol, aspirin, and caffiene pills which usually say something about "extra strength pain reliever on them". For people who can’t take tylenol, anacin has aspirin and caffiene (and a few store brands have this formula). I do have to pay for aspirin free excedrin for my kids since you generally don’t want to give aspirin to children and, so far, no one makes generice tylenol and caffiene. I priced caffiene pills with generic tylenol and it was actually cheaper to just get aspirin free excedrin from the discount drug store. Some times I give a coke with tylenol to them. The only thing to watch out for is over use. Whether you believe in rebound or not, caffiene addiction is real and for some people it only takes a couple of days for it to build up. For anyone who cares, caffiene is fairly easy to get off of–just figure your caffiene use and use generic no-doze pills to go off slowly. Or you can just cut back on the use over time but I find that it is easier for me to cut out the caffiene drinks and replace them with non caffiene ones and then be a bit "clinical". Probably a psychological thing but who cares. Georgia (whose back on caffiene as she gets use to a very low dose of elavil again to treat her fibro)
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Woops ! Of course, I meant Exedrine, not dexedrine. My spell check thought it knew better what I intended – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(Extra Strength Dexedrine) …(Dexedrine Migraine) .
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The "I know I know" is probably referring to the long discussions on this board about this OTC medication. Mostly people have objected to the old medication (Extra Strength Dexedrine) getting a new name (Dexedrine Migraine) without changing the ingredients. The same formula is also available in store brands named things like extra strength pain reliever. In all cases, it contains acetaminophen, caffeine, & aspirin. You could also take the same formula using Tylenol, aspirin, & coffee. So nothing is wrong with the medication (It does indeed help many folks), except for the way it’s advertised. " What does the Exedrin Migraine (I know, I know) mean. Is there something wrong – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – with it. I use it with some success
