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advice needed: 16 yr old w/ poss. migraines

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Posted 3/15/2006 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

My 16 year old has been having chronic headaches since xmas break.  She has had ct scan and bloodwork done in ER initially and all came back fine.  Dr has tried elavil and naprosyn which only helped a little, so he thinks now she has migraines rather than tension headaches.  Dr changed meds last week to inderal and imitrex (as well as naprosyn still) but she is doing worse.  I thought imitrex was supposed to be good for migraines but it isn't helping at all.  I would appreciate any advice as we try to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Thanks!

worried mom

Posted 3/15/2006 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Heatmiser, sorry that your teen is suffering so, as the Mum to a 17year old I understand where you are coming from. I have Imitrex(Imigran in UK) injections that I administer myself which have been invaluable to me, but unfortunately the drug (sumatriptan) does not suit or work for everyone, I am just very glad it works for me. My teen has been diagnosed with Migraine with Aura but because he also has Asthma the Imitrex or Inderal would kill him. Thankfully his attacks are infrequent at the moment and I hope they stay that way.

The inderal should have a fairly immediate effect, I take it this has been prescribed as a preventative so it is taken daily and the Imitrex only when needed to abort an attack - please correct me if I am wrong here. The only adivice I would give is to keep going back to the doctor, and maybe take with you a Headache Diary which is a daily account of how the headache is and what drugs are taken and when and any other symptoms that may go with it. I was not taken very seriously until I did a Headache Diary because then the Doc saw how I was suffering - I have had Migraine for 30 plus years!

I wish you all the best, please let us know how your teen gets on, take care Ann.
Posted 3/15/2006 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was first diagnosed with migranes at 16 yr of age and am now 29...When imitrex was first tried on me My migraines got worse. However I have had luck with a drug called Midrin. They have just recently found the cause of my migraines..A condition known as Basiler Arterial Migrane Disorder..This was diagnosed after tests ran by a neurologist and an MRI. The Migraines I have can manifest themselves in diffrent ways...So you might consider an EEG and MRI to see if they can find an underlying cause for the migraines..And as for the Midrin..it is not a preventive...But is one of the safest drugs there is and the doctor assures me it is safe to use on a every day basis if needed. I have been on Midrin for about 6 yrs now. I hope this has been of some help and hope your daughter will be pain free soon!
Posted 3/17/2006 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. Sounds like it may take awhile to get to the bottom of this. She has tried midrin already with no luck. The only thing that worked was when we first took her to the ER and they gave her toradol and benadryl. It gave her a few hours relief, then it hit again. We'll keep trying.
Posted 3/17/2006 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. Sounds like it may take awhile to get to the bottom of this. She has tried midrin already with no luck. The only thing that worked was when we first took her to the ER and they gave her toradol and benadryl. It gave her a few hours relief, then it hit again. We'll keep trying.
Posted 3/19/2006 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
hey, elavil meds can be used to help decrease the severeity of tension headaches. if triptans such as imitrex dont work for her maybe its not migraines. You should try and get a prober diagnosis from the symptoms such as wether the headache feels like pressure or is it a pulsating throbbing...  as this is crucial in finding relief.
Posted 4/2/2006 8:40 AM (GMT 0)
It can take a while to figure out the right combo of meds, but keep trying different ones until you find one(s) that work. What a lot of migrainers are just beginning to understand are the "rebound" effects of many drugs like asprin, motrin, tylenal, etc. Try not to take any drug for more than two days in a row. Your MD should be able to explain all this, plus there are books and resources on the web that talk about 'rebound" headaches. I've found that this is my most common trigger - the rebounds if I use too many drugs too often.

It is all very confusing and is a lot of hard work figuring out triggers, the right drugs, how often you can take them, etc. You really have to be your own advocate and detective, but a good migraine/headache specialist can help.

Good luck and don't hesitate to reach out. The people on this site are very helpful and generous with their advice and time.
Posted 4/3/2006 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
hi heat- sorry you are having to go through this and watch her suffer so. i tried imatrex awhile ago and did not react well to it at all. my sis, a doc, gave me a sample and i seriously wanted my stomach pumped. it made me so tired and it felt like my brain stem was on fire! it was a horrible feeling and i have not tried it since. i like axert and relpax but naturally, my ins. won't cover them. i think they are in the same class as imatrex but they are life-savers for me. don't know what happened with the imatrex though!
Posted 4/6/2006 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
They've taken her off all drugs at this point and are referring her to a neurologist and an ophthamologist. They redid her ct scan and that came back normal thankfully. I just wish it wasn't taking so long for her to get some relief.
Posted 4/6/2006 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
They redid her ct scan and it came back normal. Now they have stopped all meds and are referring her to a neurologist and an ophthamologist.
Posted 4/7/2006 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
  I was also 16 when i was dianosed with migraines. I am now 28 years old and still have them. i have had ct scans and MRI that came back negative also. I was also on midrin, imitrex,nuratin,pamalor, zomig,indernal,duroden,and countless others. Nothing ever worked until I was put on Topamax. Topomax is the only thing that has helped with my migraines. I also know a few other people who say the same thing about Topamax One problem I have with Topomax is the side effects I have with them. I went off Topamax due to the side effect but, had to go back on it due to the severity of my migraines.  I have friends who are on it and have no problems. Maybe ask her Neurologist about it. Let us know either way. I hope she finds somthing to help her out.

Tracy27

Post Edited (TRACY27NY) : 4/7/2006 5:28:14 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2006 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks.  She saw an eye doc yesterday and he says she has some possible eye problems that could be the culprit.  She has a muscle imbalance in her eyes that could be corrected with new lenses and also her current rx is a bit too strong.  The problems are slight so he suggested we wait until she sees the neurologist before ordering new glasses. 
Posted 4/13/2006 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

I was diagnosed with migraines around age 15 as well and after trying a host of different medicines Amidrine/Midrin finally seemed to have provided some relief for me.

I guess it really depends on the person as to what works.

Posted 4/27/2006 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
I have had migraines since about 14 and am 48 now. Imitrex has never worked for me nor has anything else. You name it I have been on it. Until Topamax came out I had no relief. I basically lived with them constantly to varying degrees. With the Topamax I have maybe 1-2 a month. I found out today that we are done increasing my dose because it is playing havoc with the diabetes. So the 1-2 migraines a month I am going to have to live with, but much better quality of life than 6 months ago.

Hope you daughther finds the relief she needs.
Posted 5/8/2006 3:47 AM (GMT 0)

Hi new member and Life long migrainer.  Migraines are and can be as individual as the person especially at a young age. Being only 16 years only the medications that are going to be given to your daughter are going to have to battle hormones, and her monthly cycle.  these are factors also.  this time of year is another problem, spring.  which is a trigger in itself.  I'm not going to bore you with the techincal names but my body runs the gambit from a common type migraine to stroke like symptoms that last for days.  My advice is get with a neurologist you are comfortable with.  One that is willing to talk to you. Not dictate to you.  I've seen many doctors, quote the best in the area and top in his field....well I know my body and especially if a doctor is not willing to listen to you.  he can't help you.  Your child and family must understand the warning signs of the migraines.  The first couple there really are no warning signs just a sudden onset.  once the body "gets into the grove", it will start to show a pattern.  With females, as in PMS, sorry to coin the phrase, but the week before or during my be her most active time for them to occur at this age.  You have to take notes.  weather, physical activity, days before cycle, on cycle. 

switch to decaffinated drinks, with the onset of a migraine try the caffine it can ease the symptoms in children.  No chocolate, Cocoa is ok., this is an aboundance of info her and on the internet.  read it access it and apply it to your own.  The one drug you mentioned your daughter was given is a blood pressure medication, inderal.  Now depending on the type of migraine she is getting there is another called verapamil, and  verapamil sr, these are more for a hemispherical (stroke like symptoms)  sorry using laymens terms on these for you.  Everyone wants to throw immitrex at you...the orals don't work for everyone and can cause rebound headaches especially in one so young.  I'm assuming you are getting this from you primary care or family doctor.  You need to see a pediatric neurologist.  The immitrex injector as mentioned by below great stuff if you catch it just right.  but it can be hard on your heart.  If she gets more than 5 a month I would not recommend.  I was using upto 7 injections in a month and that was just for the bad migraines and I thought that was rediculous.  PS try to limit the antidepressants being taken in one so young. for some of us they work...but too much going on in a young body... any question email me direct good lucks

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