Chronic migraine & Raynaud's disease

Hi all, I'm completely new. Nice to meet you all.

I'm a 21 year old female, and I've had chronic/recurrent migraine for about 6 years, and Raynaud's (circulation problem in the extremities) for at least as long as that as well, but I can't remember exactly.

I am on migraine preventative medication: a beta-blocker (metoprolol, 200mg) as well as a triptan (frovatriptan, 2.5mg) for migraine attacks. The annoying thing about the migraine + Raynaud's combination is that they're caused by essentially opposite things (blood vessel contractions = Raynaud's attack, but great for migraine, dilations = migraine attack but great for Raynaud's), so pretty much it's either one or the other. Both beta-blockers and triptans aren't exactly a great idea for anyone with Raynaud's.

Usually, if I'm choosing between migraine and Raynaud's, I'd rather not have a migraine. But recently, I'm not sure exactly what triggered it, but after taking a triptan during a migraine attack, my Raynaud's has really taken a turn for the worse. This was probably a couple of weeks ago. Previously, it was characterised mainly by cold hands and feet, but more and more often, it is accompanied by pain, which makes daily activities like holding or picking up things, writing, typing etc very difficult. The writing thing bothers me particularly, as I'm a student.

Question time! Is there anyone on this forum with co-occurring migraine and Raynaud's? (I hear it happens often, there has to be somebody.) Is there any migraine preventative medication that doesn't have an adverse effect on Raynaud's? Or possibly something that I can take for Raynaud's alongside migraine preventatives that would compromise? I don't want to waste mine and my doctor's time if there isn't anything, but I'm really hoping there is.

I'd appreciate personal stories and the like. :)

Thank you SmurfyShadow.

He tried me on a different beta-blocker before, I can't remember which one, but I've a feeling it may have been propranolol (cannot remember dose), but it was changed because it didn't do much. I can't say my pulse is lowered that much, a little, yes, but it doesn't interfere. I'll keep an eye on it though, thanks for pointing it out.
In the literature, I have come across metoprolol mentioned readily as a choice for migraine preventatives, so I didn't think it was an odd choice.

I've tried keeping migraine diaries, but one of the problems with chronic migraine in that regard is that when it's occurring every single day anyway, there's not much you can do in the way of identifying triggers. It would be easier if it were a twice-weekly thing or something. I have excluded some foods that I have managed to identify as triggers though, namely apple juice (I don't know what's up with that, I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere as a migraine trigger), mature cheeses and chocolate.

You mention topamax or amitriptlyine: do you know, would they be okay for Raynaud's? Do they work by constricting your blood vessels? That's my main question.

Hello, I too suffer from both chronic migraines and raynauds. However, I've been dealing with raynauds since I was 6, or at least that is the earliest I remember. I started getting severe migraines in 2008. Unfortunately there is no medication treatment for raynauds. Trust me I've been looking. The only way to get medication to treat it is if you have an underlying auto immune disease like lupus or Rheumatoid arthritis. My hands hurt whenever it gets below 40 degrees out. I have to wear multiple layers (including multiple layers of gloves and socks) all year round. It's highly annoying and slightly embarrassing. I would consult your PCP about your condition getting worse. They most likely wont be able to do anything but it always good to double check. Right now Im struggling with getting my migraines under control. My OBGYN this year was the first to make a connection between my raynauds and migraines. Unfortunately I'm not finding any good research on it and my PCP had no idea. I wish I had better news for you. Good luck! Hopefully science will figure out something for people like us soon!

Jess

Have they found out what is causing the Raynaud's, as Raynaud's is USUALLY co-morbid (caused by another disease). As far as treatments for the migraines that will not bother the Raynaud's , my best guess would be Anti-seizure meds, such as: Topamax and Depakote, for acute attacks probably NSAIDS and/or opioids. The triptans MAY have an effect on the Raynaud's, because they work on the blood vessels.
I haven't had Raynaud's, but I've suffered with migraines since I hit puberty, at age 13. When my migraines hit I have nausea, vomiting, I'm SEVERELY SENSITIVE to light and sound. And.... mine always occur at the ABSOLUTE WORST TIMES, for example in grad school during my thesis defense and in vet school, while I was performing my first surgery.
But triptans (Zomig or Relpax), nausea meds (Zofran or Compazine), an opioid (Vicodin or Petcocet), and an NSAID (Ibuprofen or Naproxen) usually do the trick for an acute attack for me, but EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT in what helps them!!
I wish you the BEST OF LUCK in finding something to help you!! :)

Hello Friends,

Let me introduce my case :
I have been with Migraine for last 10 years. I usually get it due to food gaps.(what I observed)
and it will be too severe until I take my medicine. usuall ache will at rear top of head and rear back of ear side.
If I dont take medicine, I feel like vomiting but in recent 5 years I puked only once. As I take tablet to restrict the pain. Tablet I take is - naxdom 500mg tablet. (combination of Domperidone 10 mg, Naproxen sodium 500 mg)
within 20 minutes head ache is gone. and I will be normal. So without this tablet I would have committed suicide. that intolerable pain I get.


This tablet was prescribed to my by a neurologist 10 years back.

1 year back I consulted another neurologist and he advised not to take naxdom as it is pain killer and not good for health. he prescribed two other tablets as preventive to migraine. Which did not show goood impact on me. so I stopped using them.

about other things in me:
I have been with high Blood pressure ( ~ 150/100) for 5 years now.
Never used medicine.
For last 8 years I had Raynods. once in a year kind I used get symptoms. But in last one year it increased a lot.
and now almost every day I have raynods symptoms . fingers get cold and turn white. sometime forefinger aches badly.
no medicine taken yet.

Consultation:
Recently consulted a general physician, and he prescribed Beta Blocker - Ciplar 40mg . half tablet daily after dinner. He said it helps for my blood pressure and Migraine.

Not yet started as I am scared to use it. as it may worse my Raynods.


Waiting to consult a vasscular surgeon to take his opinion on Migraine and Raynods. Then will decide on medicine to use.

My habits:
no exercise.
software engineer
take 1 coffee per day
take 1 tea per day
no diabetes
medium bulit personality.
occasionaly non-vegeterian
5feet 11 inches height
72 kgs weight

I live in Bangalore, India

Any recommendations on consultation of doctors ?