Early report on new preventative

Hi all,

My migraine pattern had jumped recently from about 1 per week to 2 or even 3 or 4. I believe part of the reason is that a new neighbor below me smokes and I am very sensitive to smoke. But the doors and windows are closed due to winter, so I am not sure how much could be attibuted to that alone. I couldn't really smell the smoke (although I usually detect even the slightest hint of it) , just was pretty sure it was seeping up into my little sanctuary.

Anyway I had an appointment with a new neuro here who does just headaches and migraines about two weeks ago. At about the same time I bought two air purifiers for my apartment and have been running them 24/7.

The neuro listened to my concerns about side effects of some of the more popular preventatives, like Topomax, and agreed to try the most benign solutions first. Loved that! I am already taking 50 MG of Pamelor as a preventative through my primary care doc, and he said I could stay on that. (It really helps me sleep.) But he added Lisinopril, a blood pressure med, at 10 MG a day. The usual side effects are dizziness and a dry cough, and I was not worried about those. He said that I could see results almost immediately, but that it would take 5-6 weeks to really evaluate the effectiveness. To date I have not been dizzy and have had only occasional dry cough episodes - no biggie.

So my "test" is not pure in that I started the new med and bought the air purifiers almost on the same day. But I can tell you that I have not had a migraine for 9 days, and have only had one in the past 15 days. I am so hopeful - and wanted to pass this on just in case it might help someone here.

Molly

Glad you're seeing some great relief!! Enjoy it!!

If after awhile the curiosity gets to you, you could do a few days/weeks without the air purifier, to see which was giving the results, the air or the med. That would be easier than starting and stopping the med. But I would say...let curiosity be, and IF ITS WORKIN...DONT CHANGE A THING!!

I am glad that your migraines are at a level that you can be choosy about which one you try based on side effects. I know some of us are so impaired that the side effects are nothin compared to the misery of most days of our lives with complicated migraines, and we are willing to try ANYTHING for some semblance of a normal pain free life.

I'm really happy to read about your up-swing. It's refreshing to read of people getting great results. Wish there were more posts like yours!!

I'll be thinkin of ya and crossin my fingers that your fabulous results keep on keepin on!!

I'm really happy to hear about this - for you first and for me second. I just recently started taking Pamelor (20 mg) and Topamax (50mg). I'm going back to the neuro in two weeks and I'm hoping she'll increase both.

As for curiousity - remember that's what killed the proverbial cat. If something's working for you, stick with it.

I like the air purifier idea. Wouldn't that be something if all of our migraines were attributed to bad air. Sure put a damper on the drug industry. At least that is a preventative that can only be healthy--no side effects. Let us know if anything changes.

glad you are getting some relief, it is always uplifting to here that,

Yahoo! I'm happy for you regardless of what it is from! I agree with Jess though, if you ever want to know just switch the purifiers off and do a little experiment. Hey less drugs are probably good, right? If the air purifier is doing the job then why bother with the pills. If the pills help though, by all means take 'em!!

Hi all,

I started this thread a few weeks ago shortly after I had started a new preventative (see initial post), Lisinopril. It was prescribed by a new neurologist when I requested that we start with one with few side effects and then work up if needed. This is a blood pressure med, and the only side effects are limited dizziness and a dry cough. Both are very manageable for me.

Since starting the drug on January 27 I have had only one migraine! And, today is day 14 with no migraine at all. I also installed air purifiers at the same time so the test is not completely pure, but I feel sure that the drug is a huge factor. Before I started this I was having 2-4 migraines a week.

Hope this might help someone else. I am 61, have had migraines for over 20 years, and my other preventative is 50 MG of Pamelor at bedtime, which I am still taking. My abortive is Maxalt.

Molly