Check the Mayo Clinic website. They do have information on migraines. Also check with a GOOD health food store. Some herbal meds are good, but do check with a doctor specializing in migraines.

I think a key to managing headaches/migranes, is trying to find what sets them off. A lot of people are more dehydrated than they think, some have problems with nitrates or fake sweeteners in foods and don't know it, some take medicines that can cause withdrawal headaches, some have severe dry eyes, etc.. Caffeine can help some people, but it can hurt others.

Only a doctor can recommend what type of medicine is best for you. I think concentrating on 'preventative' medicine and finding out what is setting off your headaches can play a huge role in limiting them.

I'm sure you probably already know your triggers, but below is a list for those that may not be aware of all the things that can set of headaches.

Here is a link that might be useful: Triggers

Hi Joann,
I too get migraines caused by blocked sinuses and have a prescription for Imitrix, both the pills and the shots. I find that if I can "catch" the headache early enough, Excedrin Migraine sometimes works. I do take Sudafed 12-hour (behind the counter) and it also helps me a lot. Also, again if I can "catch" it early, I use my Netipot. My Imitrex is a last resort and I only use it for example on those headaches that I wake up with, in which case it is usually too far gone for any of the other remedies to have an effect. HTH.
Gayle

good thread Joann!! I had a butt kicking migraine that took two immetrex to get rid of on Wednesday night...the last one was over three years ago...I still keep immetrex on hand though and I'm very thankful my insurance covers it! now that I sit here thinking I really can't think of anything that might have triggered it...but it sure nice to know that medicine has finally realized their REAL...it took years for me to get the doctors to even prescribe me immetrex...when I finally got the point across it was such a welcome relief! (mine were very much hormone induced and when I started the change they really subsided!)

Small nightly doses (0.5mg or less) of a melatonin supplement may help prevent migraines.

Here is a link that might be useful: melatonin and migraines

Glaxo-Wellcome, the maker of Imitrex has a patient assistance program for their drugs. I've been using this for years. Their program is called Bridges to Access. You can get your medication for free or for very little. I, too couldn't find anything else that would help with my migranes and couldn't afford the Imitrex either till I found out about this program. You can self enroll to see if you qualify and they will send you a 3 month supply in the mail to start and have refills for the rest of the year. You will have to include a RX from your Dr. I will include a link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bridges To Access

Just as the causes of migraines are very individual, I think effective treatments can vary greatly from person to person.

Of course, you need to sit down with a neurologist--preferably one who specializes in migraines-- to discuss your situation and get his best advice.

However, both my dd and I suffer from migraines. She gets abdominal ones (hours of vomiting, but no headache pain--she was misdiagnosed for several years because of her symptoms). I have traditional migraines--bad headache (sometimes with, sometimes without the advance warning of my aura). We both have good luck with taking a really, really hot, long shower at the beginning of a migraine. That gets the blood thinned out, and moving, so that it isn't pooling in the brain, causing pressure and pain. Once I've done that, I go to bed, keeping my head as warm as possible, and my feet as COLD as possible. That further helps get the blood moving away from the head, but the cold feet help slow it's return. Often that alone is enough to get one on the run. If it's not, I'll take an Exedrine Migraine with some Pepsi. Yes, the caffeine overload makes me a bit hyper, BUT it generally takes care of things. Naturally, if caffeine is a trigger for you, that's not going to work.

But the bottom line is, if you're getting migraines that frequently, you really do need to be consulting with a specialist. It may be that you need to be on a daily preventative, rather than waiting for the symptoms to hit. I do know what you go through, so good thoughts that you get some real help soon. Just be very sure to do a lot of research on any migraine drug you're prescribed. Some have some really serious side effects. One DD used to take as a child was pulled from the market because people were having circulation problems that caused them to lose fingers and toes through using it!

My dd has sinus headaches almost always and on her last visit to her doctor she was prescribed generic Neurontin to take prophylactically. It seems to be working alright, unless she forgets to take it. This poor girl has had headaches all her life and we've never been able to get a handle on them. No wonder she was a rather cranky child!

I get migraines too, with and without the aura, though the aura migraines are hormone related.

I was on Maxalt for quite a while but they would only give me 5 or 10 at a time and the cost was extremely expensive (~$30 a pill).

I too suggest Excederin Migraine. Our next door neighbor, a doctor, told me about it. Up to that point I ignored it thinking the "migraine" in the name was a marketing ploy.
Works every time for me.

Jodi-

Gayle, I try to use Imitrex as a last resort, too. But I've used five of them in the last two weeks, which is just not sustainable!

Liz_ga, that must have been *some* headache. I've had them like that, too. These aren't that bad. I can function, though I'm pretty sick, and I can keep my eyes open, unlike the really bad ones.

My triggers are sensory - light and smells are the worst. I am just now beginning to consider that weather change is a trigger. Apparently, that's generally the case when people get migraines that they think are sinus-related.

Anyway, I bought some Exedrine Migraine to try, at least until I talk to the doctor. Good luck for all of us with these headaches. They really can be quite debilitating.

Mine are often caused by hormones (right before my period), barometric pressure changes, and/or something I ate or drank (alcohol, too many sweets, etc). Another vote for Excedrin Migraine which usually works if taken when one begins and as long as my stomach is not too upset to hold it down.

I wanted to mention something I noticed about Excedrin Migraine... I think it is the exact same thing as Extra Strength Excedrin...

This was a while ago and I guess they could have changed the formula, but they used to be the same thing. I thought it was funny that they took the same medicine and just named it Migraine -- Funny how marketing works.

Herbal supplements can be helpful,Marie. There's been a lot of research done on Butterbur, riboflavin and magnesium as a dietary remedy for migraine symptoms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Migravent

Thankfully I have not had a migrain in years, I have gone through menopause, so maybe it was a hormonal thing..whatever the reason I am truly thankful!
Azzalea, I found it intereasting, you find that keeping your head warm helps, I was just the reverse..I would take a shower starting with luke warm water, then gradually make it as cold as I could,to me that cool water helped. A strong cup of coffee helped,along with a Tylonal Migraine, and a Tylanol cold and sinus.. then if possible retreat to a totally dark and quiet room and try to sleep.

It helps if you can figure out what triggers your headaches. Usually for me, its mold spores or mildew.(when someone cuts the grass after a rain, I need to close the windows and doors until the spores settle or Im doomed) The trick is to take whatever med works for you as soon as you feel it coming on. Prescribed meds didnt work for me. Advil Cold and Sinus does the trick for me every time. You have to ask the pharmacist for this. (its one of those meds that they keep track of who buys it). I have heard from more than a few people that Claritin actually causes headaches.

Many years ago while stationed in Germany with the Air Force I suffered severe sinus headaches. One day while at the base hospital I mentioned it to the Flight Surgeon and he showed me a simple mechanical procedure that proves to provide more relief than all the medications I have ever tried.

Take your finger tip and feel on the back of your head at the base of your skull about half way between your spine and the back of your ear. You will feel a slightly pointy bone projection on the base of the skull.

Place two finger tips directly under that pointy spot on each side of your head and press in firmly and rotate your fingers to message that spot. After messaging it vigorously for about 30 seconds place your finger tips over the sinus cavities on your forhead, fingers near the outer end of your eyebrows, press firm and draw your fingers inward toward the center of your forhead.

Repeat that process two or three times and instantly you will feel drainage and pressure releaving in your sinuses. and the headache will generally go away.

It might sound silly, but don't laugh till you try it. it is now forty years later and I still rely on that method before I reach for a pill bottle.

I know every mi grainier is different, but some things my dr has had me do is add daily doses of Vit B2 (riboflavin 500mg), magnesium (1000 mg..but you have to work up to that), and 1000 IU vit D. They seem to help, along with the preventative of Topamax, and the abortive Relpax, AND the occasional Tylenol3. Nothing over the counter works for me. Read the Excedrin Migraine, usually anything "migraine" is just caffeine added (not saying it's bad, just saying), and often extra strength and migraine are the same formula if you read the package.

Good luck, I feel your pain

Vickey-MN

I saw my doctor today (got in early) and she thinks the migraines are being triggered by my allergies/sinuses. The timing is right. I didn't think I had a sinus infection, but she says I do. I never thought much of it before, because my big trigger for the aura-type migraines is flashes of light.

I hope this is it, because it's treatable! And Lazypup, I tried what you said this morning and I do feel better. (I took meds, too, so I'm not sure what helped, but I'll take it!)

I took a low dose of Amitriptyline for many years, to help prevent migraines. Amitriptyline is commonly used for depression, but in low doses, is also used as a migraine preventative. I took 10 mg, then 20, then later 30. Then, as I neared menopause, my doctor had me start cutting back on the dose. Now I am off of them totally and only rarely suffer from any headache other then one caused by sheer exhaustion. As someone mentioned earlier, a lot of headache is hormone related.

I fully agree that headaches are often hormone related.

When her hormones rage I end up with a wicked headache...LOL

I have seen no mention of 'rebound headaches' by any of the responders here. I suffered for many years with migraine, tension, sinus, or just run of the mill type headaches. Then about 25 or 30 years ago, a doctor brought up the possibility of rebound headaches. No, no, that couldn't be the problem with me. My headaches were real, I needed to take something for the pain nearly every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. After years of denying the problem, and tired of the daily pain, I started reading and paying attention to all the info on-line about 'rebound'. For all of you who are self medicating several times a week, do google "rebound headaches". You may find out something that will help free you from the daily pain. It took me 5 or 6 months at least to break the cycle. I still get a migraine now and then for which I sometimes take an rx. Other than that it is very rare that I resort to anything for the pain. I can usually 'tough' it out. Don't want to be caught in the daily excedrin pill trap again.

Ganzania--did you take no medication for those 5-6 months? Dd tries not to take meds very often, but at some point just can't stand it. I wish this would work for her!

Lol at lazypup--me too!!

Sjerin, at the time I was nearing menopause. My migrains were mostly with aura and 2 or 3 times a month. For those I always took rx Maxalt. The other daily headaches I did not treat at all for the first 4 weeks or so. Believe me it wasn't easy. I am sure that my husband suffered. After that the headaches did seem to become less often and less brutal. Then, when an especially bad one came along, I allowed myself just 1 Excedrin. As long as I was busy I was more able tolerate any headache. As I said it took about 6 months to get to the point where I maybe feel a need for some headache relief and even then I still only take one Excedrin unless it is a migraine with aura. Then I take the Maxalt if it is convenient. I have discovered that I sometimes get the aura without the following headache. So I am not too quick to take that pill.

I am very familiar with rebound headaches, and mine aren't that. I am very careful about how much medication I take. Both my sister and my father have suffered from rebound headaches from using too much OTC pain reliever.

Not hormonal either - menopause was over several years ago.

I'm feeling much better today, thank goodness!