Tammi K Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 We've tried everything else and lately NOTHING is working. Even my beloved Imitrex is giving me the cold shoulder. I've tried every type of prophylactic- anti-epileptic, beta blockers, anti-depressants. If you can name it, I've been on it. But, in the last 6 months noting is helping. The current suggestion is to try prednisone for 30 days and see if it will break the cycle. If that doesn't work, we'll try botox. There are some issues with prednisone that scare me but if you have some anecdotal stories that would be great. I would love to hear the good and the bad. (Just a reminder, I have already tried just about every natural, herbal, and pharmaceutical treatment available. So, while you can mention them, I've probably been down that road before.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I work in pharmacy and haven't heard of it. I can imagine why they think it helps, but haven't seen it used. I would rather take a month of prednisone than take triptans all the time (Imitrex, Maxalt, etc) The one thing that there seems to be little discussion of is "rebound headaches". They most often seen in people who use medication for more than 10 days per month. The medication is a God send in the short term, but the use is actually causing rebound headaches as the med wears off. I had one patient who went off all meds for 1 month and found that the vast majority of her migraines went away. A neurologist was overseeing her care and when they looked at her history, they noticed a steady increase in her use, with very few periods of remission. There was no know cause (had brain imaging, blood work etc) and she was very healthy other than the migraines. She was to the point of using triptans almost daily, ont op of several other pain meds, so she was an extreme case. She had to take a month of work to go off the meds and set her house up for ideal noise/light/sensory input (or rather lack of input). Her husband was basically a nurse for the hours he was home. It wasn't just something that she decided to try, it was under the constant care of the doctor to monitor her situation, with multiple appointments and phone calls. The pain and depression, as you well know, can get overwhelming on bad days and they wanted to make sure they didn't get her to a crisis point. She made it out the other side and was able to go on with a normal life. She still had a migraine or two a month, but it was nothing like the agony she was living in, while she was on the meds. Last I knew, she didn't take pain meds again. She decided to just live with the couple days of intense misery, instead of the constant peak and valley of pain with meds. I know a few people who have tried Botox. It worked for one person short term, but not the others. Absolutely worth a try though. Any thing that has clinical proof of working, is worth trying when you are the point you are. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Yes. I have. I have Addison's, and I take a dose of hydrocortisone every morning and noon. Smaller than a dose of prednisone but if I up my dosage high enough, it's equivalent. When I have a migraine, I "stress dose." This means I double my daily hydrocortisone to simulate the release of chemicals that my body can't create. Usually, that plus Axert and other Rxs end the headache. Once in a while, I get into a cycle that's hard to break. My doc then puts me on a course of prednisone to come out of it. It works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Once in a while, I get into a cycle that's hard to break. My doc then puts me on a course of prednisone to come out of it. It works. That's what I wanted to hear!!! I have tried EVERYTHING. The neurologist suggested this as one last stop before botox. I was just concerned that the risk out weigh the benefits. But, after daily headaches, I'm willing try almost anything. Thanks for your input. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I think it is worth a shot. Fingers crossed that it works for you. Migraines are agony. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyto4 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I was given only three days of prednisone after over a month of daily, debilitating migraines. My neurologist had tried everything. It was to reset everything. I ended up getting pregnant and that stopped the migraines :) I hope you can break the cycle. Julie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 I was given only three days of prednisone after over a month of daily, debilitating migraines. My neurologist had tried everything. It was to reset everything. I ended up getting pregnant and that stopped the migraines :) I hope you can break the cycle. Julie Thanks Julie. But at 53 I hope what stops this cycle is not what stopped yours. I'm a little old to do pregnancy again. But, I'm glad it worked for you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Just good vibes for you that you can find some relief.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHandsAreFull Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I have seen steroids used but 30 days is a long time. Typically 3-5 days no taper. And yes, medication overuse (meaning triptans or Tylenol or other meds you take when you get a headache) are seriously under-recognized as a cause of chronic headaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 My neurologist has given me a script of steroids to take the next time I get in a bad cycle of migraines I can't seem to break. Fortunately I haven't had to try it yet. For the record, I am already on botox every three months, topamax twice a day (100 mg x 2), and Imitrex for actual migraines so mine are definitely chronic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted October 24, 2015 Author Share Posted October 24, 2015 My neurologist has given me a script of steroids to take the next time I get in a bad cycle of migraines I can't seem to break. Fortunately I haven't had to try it yet. For the record, I am already on botox every three months, topamax twice a day (100 mg x 2), and Imitrex for actual migraines so mine are definitely chronic. That sounds just like what I've done. Unfortunately, I couldn't handle the side-effects of Topamax. It was the end of the line for us, as we've tried everything else. Glad to hear it works for you! That gives me more confidence in going forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Botox has been a lifesaver for me. My migraines have cycled in quantity and intensity over the years, starting when I was about 16 years of age. Two years ago I pretty much did not have a life, generally having around 20 a month, spending most days in bed or drugged. Obviously, I couldn't help but be depressed in a sense. On botox, I am now down to 4-6 a month, so back among the living. I still have to stay on the Topamax as without it I just can't knock them out once they start. I have pretty much been on Topamax for at least 15 years so although I did not have a lot of side effects from it (mainly the Dopamax effect), I've had plenty of time to get use to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 My daughter started getting migraines at around 16, and has had them ever since (6 years) daily. Sometimes they are interspersed with stress headaches or different kinds of headaches, but always a headache and often migraines. She, too, tried everything we could think of, and just last year tried prednisone for 30 days. It unfortunately didn't help. We have learned that it's very complex and that her body has probably developed into a pain pattern which feels natural, and there is probably inflammation that has built up for years and will probably not go away quickly in one quick fix. But what did help is to move to a temperate climate. In fact, this has helped better than absolutely anything so far. Between walking a lot, getting lots of fresh air, eating well, living a relaxed life in a very temperate climate, her headaches have ever so slower gotten better, to the point where if she is distracted, she'll forget that her head is hurting. It took about 8 months to get to that point. We're still working on ways to get her to the point of not having them at all. But, she is definitely so much better! I guess it's not very easy for most people to just get up and move though... She did have botox and it did nothing for her, but I know it has helped others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmtzc2009 Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Yes, prednisone works wonders here! I end up doing several 30 day courses over a year period. Botox didn't work for me but I am having great improvement with a Sphenocath SPG block. It's lidocaine injected through your nose back to your SPG. If you can find someone in the area who does it I would recommend it over prednisone. I love prednisone but not the side effects, both short and long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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