Question for those who get migraines

[sweetcindy]

I have been fighting a killer migraine since Saturday. I went to my doctor this morning and he wanted to give me an injection of this drug mixed with Benadryl...

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DROPERIDOL is an
Anesthesia, adjunct
antiemetic
antipsychotic

I told him absolutely not and left the office in tears...my head was just killing me.

Ok, my question...I asked him if this was ok for my heart...oh sure he says....oh yeah?? Then why does it say it can cause rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure??? Doesn't he care or what???

So, I am in excruciating pain and this clown wants to give me this antipsychotic drug....UGH UGH UGH....
Any of you ever hear of this???

Is this just a stereotypical thing because I am a woman???

Who knows what could have happened if I took that injection...I can't even be put out because of the risk I won't awake. I am mad and hurting bad and looking for a new doc tomorrow.

[kmarr]

I am not sure I like the sound of this drug either. I treat my migranes on my own because of medications like that. I have found ice to be the best relief. I take Excedrin migrine and lay down in a dark room with an ice pack on the back of my neck and eyes. Usually in an hour or so I have some partial relief.
good luck......

[FALINE]

I work for a Neurologist..........there is a great migraine medication out called Imitrex. Although all migraine meds will to some what makes the heart race a little, but that is because Migraines are caused from blood vessel constricting or opening up to wide. Once the blood vessel is opened up or constricted the blood flows a little fast or slow and the heart has to get use to it.......this is normal. Imitrex comes in pill form or in a shot.....usually only one dose is needed for the migraine. Feel free to ask me anything else, if I don't have the answer I will find out and get back to you. But in the mean time an ice pack and a cool dark room is the best bet........as for the other med he wanted to give you.....I haven't heard of it

[sweetcindy]

Thanks guys!
I am not allowed to take any of the triptans...Amerge, Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc. My cardiologist stopped these meds when I was diagnosed with CHF from the cardiomyopathy. In fact, they are linking heart problems to Amerge, the one I used to take.

All I need is a simple opiate painkiller (no Tylenol in it), I can't risk taking something as dangerous as Imitrex or the Droperidol...can't imagine why he would even suggest that drug...unless he is completely incompetent or just wants to get on the bandwagon of some new "miracle" treatment.
He wanted me to come into the office each time I get a migraine for this injection...oh yeah...throwing up, blurred vision and excruciating pain and I am gonna drive to the docs office twice a week. No thanks.
I need a few operations but they won't risk putting me out for them...but this doc will risk me taking an anesthesia adjunct. UGH

I will go to the ER if this night gets any worse. I can't stand this pain, it is inhumane to make people suffer like this.

[KensLuv22]

Cindy,

This is what I found using a PDR. I think that the only reason he wanted to give you this med is to relax you. I know that when I have a migraine, I take Elavil and it works. But only you know your body and what you can and can't take.

Droperidol
Droperidol (Inapsine)
Droperidol
(droh-PER-ih-dol)
Pregnancy Category: C Inapsine (Rx)


Classification: Antipsychotic, butyrophenone; antianxiety agent


Action/Kinetics: Causes sedation, alpha-adrenergic blockade, peripheral vascular dilation; has antiemetic properties. For other details, see Haloperidol , and Phenothiazines . Onset (after IM, IV): 3-10 min. Peak effect: 30 min. Duration: 2-4 hr, although alteration of consciousness may last up to 12 hr. t1/2: 2.2 hr. Metabolized in the liver and excreted in both the feces and urine.


Uses: Preoperatively; induction and maintenance of anesthesia. To relieve N&V and reduce anxiety in diagnostic procedures or surgery. Neuroleptic analgesia. Antiemetic in cancer chemotherapy (used IV).


Special Concerns: Use with caution during lactation; in the elderly, debilitated, or poor risk client; and in renal or hepatic impairment. Safety for use during labor has not been established. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children less than 2 years of age.


Side Effects: CNS: Postoperative drowsiness (common), restlessness, hyperactivity, anxiety, dizziness, postoperative hallucinations; extrapyramidal symptoms (e.g., akathisia, dystonia, oculogyric crisis). CV: Hypotension and tachycardia (common), increase in BP (when combined with fentanyl or other parenteral analgesics). Respiratory: Respiratory depression (when combined with fentanyl), laryngospasm, bronchospasm. Miscellaneous: Chills, shivering.


Drug Interactions: Anesthetics, conduction (e.g., spinal) / Peripheral vasodilation and hypotension CNS depressants / Additive or potentiating effects Narcotic analgesics / Respiratory depressant effects


How Supplied: Injection: 2.5 mg/mL


Dosage
•IM Preoperatively.
Adults: 2.5-10 mg 30-60 min before surgery (modify dosage in elderly, debilitated); pediatric, 2-12 years, 88-165 mcg/kg.
Diagnostic procedures.
Adults: 2.5-10 mg 30-60 min before procedure; then, if necessary, IV, 1.25-2.5 mg.
•IV Adjunct to general anesthesia.
Adults: 0.28 mg/kg with analgesic or anesthetic; maintenance: 1.25-2.5 mg (total dose).
•IV (Slow) or IM Adjunct to regional anesthesia.
Adults: 2.5-5 mg.

[verwon]

Cindy do you ever have a clue or warning sign that these are coming on??

Often if you do the best cure is just prevention. Take some advil and a good nap before it gets to the worst.

If not, often ice on the eyes and warmth on the back of the neck will help to ease it a lot.

[rselenius]

My doc perscribed Midrin for mine a couple of years ago.

I am now taking Depakote for depression and its primary usage is for seizures, secondary is depression and after that is to prevent headaches. What a weird combination of things it does. Don't like my hair falling out though.

R

[sweetcindy]

Yes, I do get the aura...about half an hour before it hits but by that time it is like stopping a train.
I got 10 hours sleep, I feel a little better, the worst of it is over now.
Thanks for your help guys!

[Nancdaught]

This is my first post, so will try to do it right. But I just had to tell you what I found that really helps with migraines. Now don't laugh it works and don't ask why, I don't know. Eat a small piece of fish each day. I read this in a heath book. So tried it. It took almost a month to get enough built up in my system, it does not stop them all together but they are not as often and the pain is not too bad. I found that salmon work the best for me. Also I know they say coffee is a no,no but I found that a strong hot and I mean hot cup of instant coffee (has to be instant)at the on set of a migraine sometimes stops it cold for me. Hope this helps someone else.

[Trace30]

Cindy,

My ob/gyn recommended taking 4 advil (ibuprofen is the generic) when I first feel the migraine coming on. Taking 4 is equal to 1 prescription Motrin. It usually works for me..........unless I let the pain go on too long.

I also use the Migraine Ice patches.....they just have menthol in them, but they seem to help. Kind of like putting a cool cloth on your head.

I've also used Percogesic and they work okay, but they have acetaminophen (Tylenol) in them. So, if you can't have T, then you can't take them either.

Hope you get to feeling better!

[sweetcindy]

Never heard that about the fish? Certainly worth a shot and I am supposed to eat more of it now anyhow on this cardiac diet. Thanks!
I have wondered how the Ice patches are...kinda pricey so I haven't tried them...still have that Vioxx herbal pillow and I keep it frozen for the migraines...it does help.
Coffee...aaahhhh...yes, very helpful but I am not allowed caffeine anymore! A hot cup of tea now for me, not as good but it does help with the pain a bit.
Ibuprofen...tylenol...Excedrin...they will take the edge off but the tylenol is hard on my liver and no more Excedrin because of the caffeine...I cheated today and did take 2 Excedrin...ssshhhh...helped my headache for sure but I am so jittery.
Over the counter stuff is not really more helpful than tic tacs for me. I also have a sinus polyp and they can't remove it because I can't undergo any surgery so it feels like a knife in my eye when that flairs up. Almost as bad as a migraine, but not quite.
Still looking for a new doctor, family doctor, not new cardiologist...I like my cardiologist I have now.

Thanks for the info guys! Like most of you, I have been dealing with migraines for a long time 16 yrs now. Gee, that is half my life!! I am 32!! UGH!

I never thought twice about any meds before I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. Now with my heart at 20 EF (ejection fraction) I am super careful with any new meds. I am already on 14 as it is and he wanted me to start on those injections for migraines...nope.
My cardiologist said on my first appointment....your case is so complicated I have an hour of reading to do in your chart when you leave here...so that is why I get docs who are just guessing and throwing meds at me. To be honest, not too many docs want to touch me with a ten foot pole because my prognosis is so bad. But I am sure I can find a family doc who will go the extra mile for me. I am not going back to my current doctor...except to get my records.

[gmvalentine]

I had migraines every once in a while until I got to age 35 (classical ones with the aura), and these I could usually dull with a dose of aspirin. Since age 35, I have had migraines increasingly more frequently, and these are not classical, just excruciating pain on one side of my head, going behind my eye and ear and radiating down my face and neck and sometimes into my shoulder blade. These hurt so bad it would make me extremely nauseous and keep me up at night. When I felt one coming on, I would want to cry because I knew I was in for 2-3 days of misery. No amount of OTC medications helped these headaches. I went to the doc when I felt I could not deal with them anymore because they were interfering with my life too much (I had 3-day spells 2-3 times a month). I tried Imitrex and it did not work. But, thank God, I discovered Maxalt, and it worked beautifully! One 10mg tablet keeps me feeling good for about 8-10 hours...I noticed no side effects. But this stuff is expensive if you do not have insurance.

[sweetcindy]

Just want to warn you guys on the triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Amerge) They are linking serious heart problelms to these drugs now...if you get a lot of migraines (like I do) and you use the triptans a lot...you can't know what you might be doing to yourself, I sure didn't! I used the Amerge for 9 months or so...was allowed to take 2 pills per day and I did most days...one month I had 17 migraines. All the while my doc said this was safe.
Now I am going to need a heart transplant sooner or later because my heart is at 20%. Never had any heart problems and although they have told me it is from anything from the flu to diet pepsi...they still don't know for sure. I am furious I ever took that stuff.
I can't say for sure that is what caused my heart problems but I can tell you that I got chest pains and my throat tightened up and my doc said..don't worry. So I kept taking the Amerge. And here I am. Still with horrid migraines and much worse.

[miriama59]

I grew up with my mom having migraines all the time. I would come home and the curtains would be drawn and the house was SOOO quiet. I remember thinking that I never wanted to get them.

I never got any until I got pregnant. Now I have them about once a month. I hate when the little flashing lights start up, cuz I know it is coming. I usually get some of those eye packs that you heat in the microwave and put them over my eyes, take a Naproxen and lay down. If it's a REALLY bad one, Bill will heat the packs (we have two sets ) and when one gets cold, he will trade and then go reheat the other one. He is very sweet that way.

I couldn't do without them. What was really cool was that i got each pair for a couple of bucks at a clearance sale a couple of years ago.

[sweetcindy]

Yep, I get the little silver specks flashing and I know I am in for it...ugh...
Yuck, the things we put up with huh?