Suggestions for Headaches/Migraines

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:56 pm

Does anyone know anything OTC for headaches/migraines that is vegan and doesn't contain corn? Typically I would treat a migraine by taking an OTC benedryl or unisom plus ibuprofen or Tylenol. I can't take imitrex or heart meds due to the side effects, they were worse than my migraines. All of those OTC meds have corn, and cause me gas & WD.

Last night, I had to resort to my corn containing med and within 3 hours, WD. I have had Normans all week (yay!!!!), so I would love to find something "safe" for me. I do use pain relief essential oils that I put on my neck and forehead, but it doesn't stop them 100%. My migraine typically starts after sinus/allergy problems then goes into the full migraine when I don't treat it quickly.

Thank you so for any recommendations!

Post by **tex** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 7:14 pm

Martha,

Basically, the only "safe" choices for MC are acetaminophen, tramadol, or one of the true opioids, but virtually all of them use corn starch as a filler. You may have to ask your doctor to write a prescription for a painkiller to be compounded by a pharmacy. The prescription will have to specify safe inactive ingredients (in addition to the active ingredient or ingredients).

You're right on target concerning promptness. Back when I was still reacting, if I took Tylenol soon enough (before a headache became serious) I could stop it, but if I waited too long, I would end up with a migraine, nausea, etc.

Tex

HappyBird · Post by **HappyBird** » Sat Nov 07, 2015 7:23 pm

I have suffered from migraines since the age of nine.

I was taking hundreds if pills a month and having injections to control the migraines until I had a bad reaction to the injections. I had one migraine ending as another started, hardly has a day a week that I as free of headache. I went on a reflexology course and taught my partner a sequence of pressure points to massage my feet whenever I felt a migraine coming on. We worked together and were always together so this worked well. No matter where we were in a restaurant even I'd discreetly place a foot on her lap and the reflexology would happen.

Somedays I needed to have two disprins and reflexology and later the reflexology alone helped. One day I realised I hadn't had a migraine for over a year. I was free of migraines for ten years until my MC flare in July thus year. I resoted to reflexology and a lie down and they have gone again.

I was taking a drug called Caffergot every day to prevent migraines all those years ago - Caffergot is caffeine. Every day for years since I have had two cups of coffee and that has helped keep the migraines at bay along with reflexology and the odd panado or Disprin and reducing my dairy intake.
Jen

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:08 am

Thank you Tex will check into the compounding. I now have a very young PCP and he was very open to my gluten free diet.

Thank you Happy Bird, I will check into that. Mine started at 15, but thank God they are not as bad as they use to be. In my 20s, I was bedridden weekly from them. I use to go to a chiropractor, and that did help. So glad yours are better! That is a handicap for sure!

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:10 pm

I wanted to include this email I received about the allergy med from Puritans Pride. Yay, but I haven't tried it yet to see if I get a reaction to something.

Dear Martha Ervin,

Thank you for contacting us at Puritan's Pride.

This email is in response to your recent inquiry concerning the Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg that we carry. Since Puritan's Pride is not the manufacturer of this item, I went ahead and contacted the manufacturer, Advanced Pharmaceutical Inc. After speaking to one of their representatives, I was advised that the starch used in product number 2960 is not derived from corn.

If you have any further questions, our Technical Product Support Team can be reached toll-free at 1-800-645-1030, Monday-Saturday from 9am to 5:30pm EST.

We truly appreciate your business and want you to continue to consider Puritan’s Pride as the source for your health and wellness needs.

Sincerely,

Cassandra Zettwoch ...............
Technical Product Support Specialist
Puritan’s Pride * Long Island, NY

Ref: 01344592

Post by **tex** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:30 pm

That's good to know.

Thanks for sharing.

Tex

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:05 am

Hi Martha,

I have been working diligently on my migraine history and now that I am no longer on supplemental hormones I am feeling tons better (albeit a few of those nasty heat flushes). I believe Tex helped me find some information on magnesium and migraine correlation it doesn't say how much a person should take but I have been experimenting with 600 mg a day now for the last 3 weeks and am readying for a week of will I get a migraine or what. We had a huge weather pattern come over us yesterday and I could feel it trying to pressure my body into a migraine so I took my Sumatriptan but only one pill did the job (and yes it does kinda mess with my bowel function after the fact, but I deal with it knowing it is temporary).

Here is the link that helped me decide to increase my magnesium as a test for the next couple three months so see if I could get better relief http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22426836

Good luck in your journey finding just the right method that helps you.

Erica

mcardle3 · Post by **mcardle3** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 3:14 pm

Here is my tried and true migraine relief (I also get barometer headaches and this works for those as well.)

1. Run a warm bath
2. Take a large mug of very hot water (I heat it in the microwave, but be careful if doing this for any bubble up) and put 5 drops of peppermint essential oils in it.
3. Place peppermint mug on vanity (this is for smell NOT to drink)
4. Turn the lights to dim, or use a candle to darken the room.
5. Get into the water and place a bag of frozen peas over your forehead and eyes.

Relax and breathe, and when done, go lie down for a wee while. You'll feel lots better, or I do.

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:31 pm

Thank you guys! Will check it out the mag article, Erica. I was hoping my mag oil would help and probably has, but the temp difference this weekend bothered me too.

I will def. try that mcradle!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:17 pm

My 11-yr old son suffers from migraines, mostly from visual stimuli, like playing video games in a dark room, or watching a movie in a dark theater. Dehydration is also a trigger. We were referred to a behavioral optometrist, who discovered he had significant vision issues, despite seeing 20/20. He's far-sighted and has convergence issues up close, so he wears reading glasses now, and it's helping, thank goodness.

Incidentally, he was also a life-long nightly bed wetter. I finally decided to try every remedy out there and took him to a chiropractor. After 2 adjustments, he never peed the bed again. Simply amazing. And disturbing that a young boy's spine could be so misaligned. The theory is that it was pinching nerves that send signals to the brain to wake up to pee.

He takes after mom in so many ways! Poor kid. Celiac gene, Vitamin D receptor mutation/low D, light-related migraines (I get mild ocular migraines this time of year when I drive home from work in the dark).

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:08 am

Interesting about your sons eyes. My headaches started when I started wearing glasses, but it never resolved so I started thinking hormones and/or allergies.

Chiropractor can work wonders, it's very addictive too. If my migraines do start coming more frequent I guess I should go back.

On more thing I'd like to share, talked to a pharmaceutical co about Walgreens Dramamine (wal dram) and they said it was corn free. I am wondering if they are correct or not?? We shall see....

Thank you guys for all your insight!!