Any Help On What I Should Do ?

[miranda]

Its been 7 years of feeling ill, dizzy and headachy.

Doctors told me I have migraine associated vertigo and gave me 2 pills to help with symptoms,

1: propranalol

2: Amitriptyline

I felt 50% better , but still felt ill.

Then 6 months ago It was discovered I had OH and NMH.

My neuro told me to come off amitriptyline because it makes OH worse.

So I came off it and feel terrible all the time , headachy , dizzy and ill again.

Now neuro says abou me going on Topimax for the migraines.

But could the OH be causing the constant migraines ?

if this is the case am I better trying a pill to raise blood pressure ?

I just cant decide what to do next, I am feeling woozy headed and drowsey all the time.

any ideas please

[Christy_D]

My son had taken Topamax to stop his migraines a couple of years ago. The day he started the Topamax, he has not had a migraine since, BUT, the side effects of Topamax can be terrible. We had to take him off because he had trouble speaking complete sentences, bad brain fog, and his nausea got worse. He was on it for 5 months. Since he is still in school, the brain fog issues was terrible. But like I said, he has not had a migraine since, even though he hasn't taken it for 1 1/2 years. The nickname for Topamax is Dopamax and he surely knew why.

Just moniter the side effects, I'm sure they're not that bad for everyone.

[lieze]

Xanax!

I know this is a contraversial drug and when I was at Cleveland Clinic they called it the devil drug but it is very effective on vertigo migraines.

I know that you have dealing with this longer than I have-but vertigo migraines were one of my first undeniable symptoms. I mean it was so bad I felt like I couldn't even walk down a hallway-hallways and the appearance of them made it worse.

I also had a sensation that my head was separating into sections and I guess this is also a symptom of migraines.

I don't get the intense pain usually I guess I am lucky and I seldom get nauseous. I get dizzy and drowsy like you describe.

It's just a suggestion.

[gertie]

Xanax!

I know this is a contraversial drug and when I was at Cleveland Clinic they called it the devil drug but it is very effective on vertigo migraines.

I know that you have dealing with this longer than I have-but vertigo migraines were one of my first undeniable symptoms.

lieze, Do you take Xanax daily or only when you have a migraine? When you say vertigo do you mean the room spinning or just dizzy? I have migraines & I have vertigo & this may be what I need. thanks.

[Noreen]

Its been 7 years of feeling ill, dizzy and headachy.

Doctors told me I have migraine associated vertigo and gave me 2 pills to help with symptoms,

1: propranalol

2: Amitriptyline

I felt 50% better , but still felt ill.

Then 6 months ago It was discovered I had OH and NMH.

My neuro told me to come off amitriptyline because it makes OH worse.

So I came off it and feel terrible all the time , headachy , dizzy and ill again.

Now neuro says abou me going on Topimax for the migraines.

But could the OH be causing the constant migraines ?

if this is the case am I better trying a pill to raise blood pressure ?

I just cant decide what to do next, I am feeling woozy headed and drowsey all the time.

any ideas please

I could not tolerate Amitryptilene at all. The drug was commonly rx'd for fibro 20 yrs ago as it helped sleep so there might be more going on than migraine issues in how the drug is helping you.

I have serious migraine problems. I am on 50 mg of Topamax twice a day. It does help with the frequency/severity. Generally I refer to the migraine as an evil leprechaun and the Topamax at that dosage pretty much keeps him without his hobnailled boots - I still end up taking half a dozen fiorinal a week.

I've had to play with the Topamax dose to make sure it was not the cause of fatigue - it wasn't the dysautonomia was.

I was hospitalized as an adolescent with migraines and have had bad spells all my life. My current diagnosis that are more likely contributing to the migraines are APS and suspected SLE.

Since migraine is your more debilitating complaint, try Topamax - the dose I am on is low as a migraine prophaxylsis. After 6 weeks or so, you can then evaluate where you stand and add the blood pressure med. Make sure you are getting enough salt and fluids - when you are feeling drowsy and lightheaded it is easy to forget how much you are actually taking in. There may also be a seasonal element - for me the fall is the worst followed by the spring - it is just so hard to figure out so I feel for you.

Of course this is just my opinion after years of hard experience.

Good luck.

[persephone]

Mirry I had the worst headaches of my life when I was hypotensive. Now my bp is stable the headaches have disappeared. And I was getting them all day every day. I would cry in pain but now they have vanished.

Have you been in touch with the specialist I told you about? He's going to be able to sort all of this out for you, I reckon. I was in a terrible state when I first got admitted under him. If he can fix me, he can fix anyone!

Good luck

[Guest tearose]

I can not tolerate most drugs so I only have a home remedy that works for migraine on a scale from 1-8 if I get to 9 or 10 I need an IV in the ER.

First, try to see if there is any pattern to them. Are they at a specific time of day? After being exposed to cut grass or mold? After eating something? How is my blood pressure?

I am now better to avoid them because I know the Pre warning signs.

However, if I am unable to avoid one and it is coming on, I do things like: apply gentle pressure on the outside of my scalp, massage, dark room, chanting a soothing sound repeatedly while following my breathing...and a BIG help I take a weak brew of coffee and sip it.