[dsfrankl34]

I did regular ECT treatments from 02/2015-07/2015. Despite the crippling side-effects it worked wonders on my mood. My memory now is better and the muscle spasms are virtually non-existent. However, the headaches haven't gone away at all and it's been almost two years! I have God awful headaches 24/7. I went to my psych about this and he sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist blew me off as a psych patient who needed more meds. What can I do about the headaches? They respond to Tylenol but I'm taking 2x the daily max every. single. day. I fear that my liver will be in failure by the time I'm 25! Is there anything I can take that will be as effective as the Tylenol but less damaging? Or something to get rid of them all together? I'm going to another neurologist soon and want to have ideas ready.

[Bird Feeder]

Was your specific neurologist recommended by your psych? Over the years I have had to see neurologist for terrible headaches. When I went to one just out of the book the stigma of being a psych patient was alive and well. When I finally went to someone recommended by my psych (I believe he called him first) I was treated with respect........finally.

They found I had sleep apnea and a malformation in my brainstem. I had both taken care of and I no longer have headaches even after having ECT every 2 weeks for the past 3 1/2 yrs.

The key is getting a neurologist that knows your psych I think.

Good luck!!! Headaches are the worst!

[still_crazy]

i dunno. I didn't have headaches after shock, but I did have all the cognitive problems and memory problems. --ugh--

I used to take this stuff, Midrin. Its old school. Part tylenol, part stimulant, part sedative. I read somewhere that it works just as well as some of the newer anti-migraine drugs, if you take it --before-- the headache gets out of control. Timing is key.

The other old school options would be fioricet or fiorinal. Fioricet is a lot like midrin, but it uses a low dose barbiturate as the sedative, caffeine, and tylenol, but I think there's a version with aspirin or ibuprofen. Fiorinal is that same thing, with a little bit of codeine.

There's tramadol and the lower dose tramadol mixed with tylenol. Then there's new headache drugs that I know nothing about, except they tend to be expensive and they can interact with a lot of psychiatric drugs.

I hope the next "professional" does something constructive.