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Meications and rebound migraines. Also headache clinic.

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 1/3/2011 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
What are some medications that are known to cause rebound migraines and how long would they "typically" last?  I know the duration would be different for everyone depending on the medication and how long they were using it for.  My wife was taking (and possibly over using) Fioricet and Dilaudid the most.  She also has tried Summatriptan and Naproxin (Equivelent to Imatrex), Flexeril, Comprazine, and Nubane.  We are comming up to one year of nearly daily rebound migraines and not relief in sight.  The last Dr. wants to send us to a headache clinic in Michigan somewhere.  Anyone familiar with this place?

Keith    

Posted 1/4/2011 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
My nueroligist told me any meds like fioicet and florinal excedrin migraine ect.. anything with caff in them can cause rebound headaches. i stopped taking florinal after pcp prescribed it 2 days later extreme rebound. Took 1 excedrin migraine and next day had to have doc call in imitex. I took fioricet when pregnant due to preclampsia and maybe that was why my headaches where never under control. I didnt know what i know now and thought my headaches were due to the preclampsia and not due to migraines (which will get worse when pregnant)
Posted 1/6/2011 7:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Keith,

Sorry to hear that your wife is struggling so much with the rebound headaches. I haven't had them myself, but I've heard how hellish they can be.

Any over the counter drug and/or pain killer could do it. Excessive use of Tylenol, Asprin, Ibuprofin, etc are the usual culprits. Barbituates like fioricet, and overuse of medications like imitrex can do it to. Really anytime you overuse a medication that is intended to be used a few times a month, and you do so for a prolonged amount of time, you have the potential for rebound headaches.

With regards to the headache clinic in michigan, if it is the Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute your in good hands. They are considered amongst the best headache clinics in the US. Give them a call, tell them what's going on and set up an appointment. Big, well known headache clinics usually have wait lists so don't wait.

Good Luck!
Posted 1/19/2011 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I fully understand the concern you have for your wife as I'm in the same boat she is currently. My fiance pointed out the rebound headache idea and that I have become dependent upon medications. The only thing I can say is I would do anything for it just to go away! I have heard that if you switch off from excedrin migraine to an imitrex type that this will help to breask the cycle?? I have also started to have some unusual other side effects that i have never had and I think it might be from the excedrin time products. Any ideas... anyone??
Posted 1/19/2011 7:11 AM (GMT 0)
During my rebound migraines, rare, for me, I rebound on everything except high doses of morphine. I even rebounded from demerol (which is a migrain medicine). After two weeks of a rebound, same doctor treating me, she decided to drug me with morphine at 60mg. I can remember her telling my Pastor's wife I'm good for nothing but bed. Well, we stop and eat supper on the way home... and stop for the restroom. Wham, it hits me some. I'm in the restroom, looking at my jeans and trying to figure out how to get them off (LOL). I decided, since I'm never this drugged, to have her take me to my folks' house instead of my apartment. I open up the front door to my folks, a split level house, and I'm so drugged at this point that I cant figure out how to walk up or down. So I sat down and scooted down the stairs. I couldnt figure out how to stand... so I crawled LOL. I somehow made it to the downstairs living room and used the couch to help me stand, I muttered to my dad who was in the next room "Morphine. Yes legal. Doctor gave it to me. Time for movie." And I seriously managed to put a movie on then I laid down on couch and I was gone. Didn't wake up til well 4 hours into my shift at the Nursing home LOL. I was going to be fired cuz I was a no show no call, but since I had medical proof that I was severely drugged from a physician the night before they let me off with a warning. After the rebounds started I did a double blind study for Topamax. I knew I had the real thing...and they laughed at my philopsy.. I said "Well, its either one heck of a fake sugar pill or the real pill cuz I average 20 days a month with migraines and after a month of this pill I only get 3 to 4 days with migraines. So I think its the real thing." So preventive medication might be worth looking into
Posted 1/24/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Keith; I've been at MHNI for 8 or 9 years; I was a patient of Dr. Rozen's for most of that time, until he left to head up the headache area at Geisinger in PA.

I see Dr. Gordon now and we're happy with him and how he interacts. MHNI does have their own protocol and, in my mind, it's good to ease out of that asap...I'm talking about the continued use of their psychologists. Granted, a pain or headache psych helps, but when you're going there once a month or less, honestly, what good does that do? If they want you to see their psychs, get one at home and tell them your wife is going there.

In any event; MHNI, Dr. Rozen, was a life saver for me and others..if it's complicated, they take it on. Be prepared to spend 6 to 8 hours there your first day; you will spend hours talking about every aspect of your headaches; if you haven't already, start keeping a diary, write down all the meds that have been taken and the reaction (or lack of).

I am resistant to most treatments, but we keep trying; I suffered through cluster headaches, plus other types that I had never heard before; I was in their in-patient unit for 3 weeks many years ago and it did help. I still have cluster features, but not the suicide pain; we've recently started on Vimpat, another seizure drug and it has helped a lot, however I think weight gain is starting. I still have headache everyday, but I'm not having 5 to 9 a day and the ones I'm having aren't as severe...so keeping my fingers crossed.

I continue to go there and would be comfortable in you seeing Dr. Gordon; he's really quite good. You can send me a message if you would like and I can tell you more of my experiences there.
Janice
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