Ask the Clinician: Answers to Readers" Questions
Updated April 24, 2015.
- 6) I have been having migraines for about 10 years. I was put on Fiorinal about 7 years ago. I was told that they were because of my BCP so I was taken of them. I still have my headaches about 2 a week. I have taken the Fiorinal so long that I have asked over the years if it is bad to be taking them so long and the doctors have reassured me it is not a problem .I read your articles on your web site and think I may be having rebound headaches from not taking the medication. I I have had headaches at least once a week and have to take the Fiorinal. I have recently learned that I have ocular migraines that do not respond to the Fiorinal but after having so many of the ocular migraines and taking the Fiorinal I have headaches when I don't take the medication. How do you withdraw yourself away from the medication without getting yourself into trouble?
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- 7) I am 26, have suffered with migraines for 20 years. I have taken antidepressants, calcium channel blocker, beta blockers, and anti seizure meds. Nothing seems to prevent these headaches. They are severe, cause vomiting, and at times send me to the ER. I have had several CT scans and two MRI's and all were normal. I was taking triptan meds, for about 10 years, Imitrex, then Amerge, lastly Maxalt. I had some mild chest tightness and was advised to not take them again, due to risk of pulmonary hypertension. I tend to have a headache during the week I have my period, and then at other times, randomly. Recently, they have gotten worse, more random and more frequent. The only medication that works it Dilaudid, and I cant take that forever. It take 4mg every four hours to get rid of it. I am so desperate to be rid of the pain. I have three kids at home, 7, 3, and 1, so I can't just lay around whenever I feel bad. What can I do? Jen.
Click HERE for our reply. - 8) I have had headaches since age 4. I will be 50 in December. I have been out of work since November 02 on short term disability due to migraines I recently went to a new physician and he started me on B2 400mg and Magnesium 400mg daily I can not take triptans is this really going to help I had to stop Topamax due to inability to think or function on a daily basis my blood pressure also increases with episodes of migraines and am on Verapamil 180mg Cozar 50mg also have asthma when I get up in the morning my bp is usually 88/40 but goes up during the day when attempting to do daily routines any other suggestion would be appreciated. Jean.
Click HERE for our reply.
- 9) My mother has been having headaches for the last 7 years. They usually come 2 to 3 times a month, and these headaches make her feel very tired and sick. Whenever she tries getting out of bed, she says her head starts spinning, and feels as if the room is spinning around her, which causes her to vomit. She has been prescribed to use pizotifen and if she gets nauseous, she needs to use cinnazerine. But she has been using them for nearly 2 years now, and it hasn't improved her headaches. She has had an MRI scan, which had declared no diseases or tumours, but she usually get the headaches after a very long journey or during or after a period. Can you please tell me if her symptoms does show that she has migraine, and how, as a daughter, can I help when she does have one. Thank you for taking your time, Hyacinth.
Click HERE for our reply. - 10) Both my daughter and I suffer from Migraines. My daughter is under a lot of pressure and stress right now and on Saturday, she had a very bad headache. She has not had a migraine for some years. When she was younger, we had all types of tests run on her and they determined that she had migraines. The last migraine was different. She woke up with tingling in her hands and jaw. She threw up four times. She was better by Sunday - the next day. My question is - was the tingling in her hands and face/chin an indication of a migraine? I have never gotten tingling before and neither has she. Thanks for all your help. Mrs. Lindsey.
Click HERE for our reply. - 11) I have had headaches in the back of my head everyday for about 2.5 weeks now. They don't go away with Advil, Tylenol, or aspirin. But stopped taking them after about a week. What do you think cause the headaches in the back of the head?
Click HERE for our reply. - 12) Do you think the phases of the moon (specifically full moon) play any part in triggering a migraine?
Click HERE for our reply.
- 6) I have been having migraines for about 10 years. I was put on Fiorinal about 7 years ago. I was told that they were because of my BCP so I was taken of them. I still have my headaches about 2 a week. I have taken the Fiorinal so long that I have asked over the years if it is bad to be taking them so long and the doctors have reassured me it is not a problem .I read your articles on your web site and think I may be having rebound headaches from not taking the medication. I I have had headaches at least once a week and have to take the Fiorinal. I have recently learned that I have ocular migraines that do not respond to the Fiorinal but after having so many of the ocular migraines and taking the Fiorinal I have headaches when I don't take the medication. How do you withdraw yourself away from the medication without getting yourself into trouble?
Click HERE for our reply. - 7) I am 26, have suffered with migraines for 20 years. I have taken antidepressants, calcium channel blocker, beta blockers, and anti seizure meds. Nothing seems to prevent these headaches. They are severe, cause vomiting, and at times send me to the ER. I have had several CT scans and two MRI's and all were normal. I was taking triptan meds, for about 10 years, Imitrex, then Amerge, lastly Maxalt. I had some mild chest tightness and was advised to not take them again, due to risk of pulmonary hypertension. I tend to have a headache during the week I have my period, and then at other times, randomly. Recently, they have gotten worse, more random and more frequent. The only medication that works it Dilaudid, and I cant take that forever. It take 4mg every four hours to get rid of it. I am so desperate to be rid of the pain. I have three kids at home, 7, 3, and 1, so I can't just lay around whenever I feel bad. What can I do? Jen.
Click HERE for our reply. - 8) I have had headaches since age 4. I will be 50 in December. I have been out of work since November 02 on short term disability due to migraines I recently went to a new physician and he started me on B2 400mg and Magnesium 400mg daily I can not take triptans is this really going to help I had to stop Topamax due to inability to think or function on a daily basis my blood pressure also increases with episodes of migraines and am on Verapamil 180mg Cozar 50mg also have asthma when I get up in the morning my bp is usually 88/40 but goes up during the day when attempting to do daily routines any other suggestion would be appreciated. Jean.
Click HERE for our reply. - 9) My mother has been having headaches for the last 7 years. They usually come 2 to 3 times a month, and these headaches make her feel very tired and sick. Whenever she tries getting out of bed, she says her head starts spinning, and feels as if the room is spinning around her, which causes her to vomit. She has been prescribed to use pizotifen and if she gets nauseous, she needs to use cinnazerine. But she has been using them for nearly 2 years now, and it hasn't improved her headaches. She has had an MRI scan, which had declared no diseases or tumours, but she usually get the headaches after a very long journey or during or after a period. Can you please tell me if her symptoms does show that she has migraine, and how, as a daughter, can I help when she does have one. Thank you for taking your time, Hyacinth.
Click HERE for our reply. - 10) Both my daughter and I suffer from Migraines. My daughter is under a lot of pressure and stress right now and on Saturday, she had a very bad headache. She has not had a migraine for some years. When she was younger, we had all types of tests run on her and they determined that she had migraines. The last migraine was different. She woke up with tingling in her hands and jaw. She threw up four times. She was better by Sunday - the next day. My question is - was the tingling in her hands and face/chin an indication of a migraine? I have never gotten tingling before and neither has she. Thanks for all your help. Mrs. Lindsey.
Click HERE for our reply. - 11) I have had headaches in the back of my head everyday for about 2.5 weeks now. They don't go away with Advil, Tylenol, or aspirin. But stopped taking them after about a week. What do you think cause the headaches in the back of the head?
Click HERE for our reply. - 12) Do you think the phases of the moon (specifically full moon) play any part in triggering a migraine?
Click HERE for our reply.