[katgalaxy8606]

Hey all,

Hope you all are well. I had to leave work early today due to a migraine, and it's really making me realize how much I need help with this issue. I've been getting migraines for a few years now, and I get them a couple of times a month on average. I'm not taking any medication for them besides Advil right now. I don't get anything aural with it, but I do get severe nausea and a lot of the time, vomiting. I was close to vomiting at work today and just couldn't get through it so I missed about an hour and a half. Really need the money right now! GAH!

One of the issues I have is that I don't have insurance. I have a discount type thing, but if I'm going to get a migraine medication, the only thing I see as possible right now is getting patient assistance for it. I've just got to hope we fall under the income guidelines. Sucks, but that's the way it is.

So, to the readers out there, do you have any suggestions for me on how you've dealt with your migraines medication-wise and otherwise? I just don't see much that I can do at this time without taking a new medication.

I'd like to nip it in the bud once I can feel it coming on.

Thanks for your input!

-KAT

I have suffered with migraines since 11 years old and now that I am an adult I still get them my neurologist prescribed me Topamax and they have cut my migraines down a hell of a lot, I get them less and less now. Sorry that you suffer with then too they are horrible

[Inedible]

Propranolol XR is also used for controlling migraines. I think it might be cheaper than the topamax, which is also available as the generic topiramate. I think the beta blocker might have fewer side effects.

[nicoleb2]

I take verapamil sr to prevent my migraines. My doctor told me that beta blockers can worsen depression.

Since you don't have insurance, have you tried Excedrin migraine? It used to work for my migraines, and if I catch them really early, it sometimes still does.

[katgalaxy8606]

Thanks for your replies, sorry about the delay! I'll talk about your suggestions with my doctor. I need something effective yet affordable!

[buttrfli42481]

I suffered from migraines daily until I had nerve blocks done in my face. I now get a migraine every once in awhile, but I have imitrex to stop them. I also take tramadol if the imitrex doesn't work. Good luck at finding the right treatment.

[jt25324]

Hello, Just had a full blown migraine 3 days ago..God I hate even seeing and talking about the word migraine...but I normally use Midrin...They dont sell it anymore and its the only thing i can take because of the meds im on and it works great if you take it immediately after you start getting a migraine...I have the ingreditients compounded at a pharmacy..I pay a 100 bucs for 60 and it last a yr until expired...excellent though knocks out a migraine in like 10mins...good luck!

Migraines are so awful. Im sorry you have to deal with them. Topomax helps me, and excedrine migraine helps some also.

[Fresia]

I don't know if you met with your doc by now, wondering how you are doing?

I know how disabling migraines can be. I am sorry you are having to contend with this and know how expensive they can be, especially without insurance is a concern. There is some help through PC, there is a prescription discount drug card. The link is in the Psychiatric Drugs section, up above where it lists the Daily Challenge. This might help.

In the interim, like others, I too have found what is equivalent to Extra Strength Excedrin / Excedrin Migraine to work (same core ingredients in both and dose) of: Acetaminophen (250 mg), Aspirin(250 mg), and Caffeine (65 mg). Most stores have a generic available called migraine formula with the same ingredients for less. The Excedrin/generic worked better for me than Advil or any of the others before getting on prescription meds as needed more help with them.

I hope you have some help with them now and things are going better.

[notz]

My migraines are allergy/sinus, lack of hydration and change in barometric pressure related. I know this because I participated in a study at Emory University in Atlanta.

I can't afford Zomig anymore to treat the headaches so I have a "cocktail" that has helped tremendously with my pdoc's help.

Essentially Excedrin Migraine
4mg chlorpheniramine maleate
30mg pseudoepedrine
500mg acetominophen
250mg aspirin
65mg caffeine

or Essentially Excedrin Tension
800mg ibuprofen
500mg acetaminophen
65mg caffeine

If none of that works, I take 100mg of Benadryl and sleep it off

This works for me and may not for anyone else. My headaches have also decreased since I stopped blowing 1 nostril at a time with pressure. I blow with both nostrils open and no pressure.

Some people are subject to food sensitivities. This article will explain. My family Doc turned me on to the food/migraine connection. I adjusted my eating habits slightly and reduced my migraines by maybe 90%. This may help. Good luck to you all.

This is no blarney. Reference the web on this and ask your own doc...I'm surprised this hadn't been mentioned in the thread. The food connection hinges on the chemical tyramine. Look into it. If it's a food trigger thing, you have the power to shut these god-damned things down to a minimum. Without the pricey medications if it turns out to be a food/tyramine sensitivity.

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-heada...-and-migraines

There are longer more in-depth articles with detailed food triggers...they're easy to find. Just Google 'tyramine migraines' and look around.

Migraines are horrible - I've had them since I was a teenager.
Mine have decreased since taking Dothep, Topamax and Xanax daily. I'm on several blood pressure meds daily too, but don't know if they've helped the migraines.

I take Zomig when I get one and it works but its pretty expensive. Have you tried Mercyndol? Its basically Codeine. The night time one has a calmative added.

I hope you find some relief soon.

Migraines are horrible - I've had them since I was a teenager.
Mine have decreased since taking Dothep, Topamax and Xanax daily. I'm on several blood pressure meds daily too, but don't know if they've helped the migraines.

I take Zomig when I get one and it works but its pretty expensive. Have you tried Mersyndol? The night time one has a calmative added.

I hope you find some relief soon.

[katgalaxy8606]

Thank you sooo much everyone! This is great stuff.

I haven't been to my doctor since I started this thread, but I am going to my p-doc next week so I will bring it up with her...not sure if I should bring it up with her since she knows a lot about Topamax, but I'm thinking I might have to make an appointment with a family practitioner to discuss the migraines. I haven't had the money to make it to the family doctor, and I need to. It costs me about $70 without insurance to see a general practitioner.

As soon as I can scrape up some money to get there, I will. Things have been tough since my husband's overtime has been cut, but it's a new year so I will try to save and spend my money wiser so I can afford these important things! Time to take care of myself.

-KAT

[Katielolxxx]

I've gotten migraines for years . Got numerous MRI's cat scans etc.. Nada.
I tried treximet which made me sick and feel high , topamax which I was iffy about , and the only two things that I found that work are sumavel (it's a needless injection) , and imitrex .
If I have neither , I take excedrin migraine Or a muscle relaxer . If the headache doesn't go away, I wake up with it the next morning . I've tried seeing if there was a trigger to them, but I can't find one.

[hamster-bamster]

I have been a migraneur since age 3.

Preventive measures: low dose Amitriptyline, lots of tea/hydration, not skipping meals, coffee at regular intervals in the same doses weekday or weekend.

Abortive measures: Imitrex or Relpax. Imitrex nasal spray is the best, but in the pill form it is much cheaper than in the spray form. Some people prefer the injectable Imitrex, but I cannot deal with injectables.

Imitrex/Relpax need to be taken as early in the attack as possible, so you will need to develop the skill of recognizing the onset of an attack ASAP.