My 13-year-old daughter has severe headaches for 7 weeks, with no relief

has been suffering from.severe headache for 7 weeks, with no relief
Posted 3 minutes ago
Hello.My daughter had two episodes of severe headaches last year, starting at 9/3/2016 The first episode had lasted a little over 2 weeks, followed by 2 weeks when she didn't complain and then a second episode which lasted over 3 weeks. In this time, we visited three different neurologists. She had her mri done, which was clear. She went through several medications, which included Synflex, Zeegab, Sibilium and Topomax. However, it seemed that more than due to aby medication, relief came with time. She was unable to sit for her Grade 6 Final Examinations last year.

In general, she is an extremely active and athletic girl. She does competitive swimming and has recently started rowing also. Though generally bright, she is not given too much pressure over studies, and does not take much stress over them. After the episodes last year, she had 10 months with no complaings as such.

However, she has been suffering with severe headache on the right side of her head from 20/2/2017. She was at first given Panadol extra, and then repeated with Brufen 400 for two days.

On 22/2/2017, the family physician prescribed her with the following: Topamax 25 mg (0+0+1)

Panadol extra (2+2+2)

Gravinate (1+1+1)

The pain did not subside, and she was unable to sleep, go to school or do much else.

On 25/2/2017 the physician prescribed her with xanax (1/2+0+1/2), to help her sleep.

On 26/2/2017, xanax was increased to a full tablet, twice a day. It didn't help her get neither sleep nor relief. In fact, she would wake up at 3 am due to a pounding headache.

On 1/3/2017, the physician increased xanax (1+0+2), which didn't help either and we stopped that after a day.

The physician then recommended giving her medicine for sleep (3/3/2017), and she was given Somnia 10 mg (Zolpidum Tartate), which made her sleep for 6-7 hours, but she was very restless.

On 5/3/2017, we had to rush her to ER at 11 pm because the pain had increased, and she was crying with pain. She was given several painkillers through I.v. (5 different ones) before she finally fell asleep at 2:15 am. She was admitted for observation under the neurologist, where she stayed for two nights. During the stay she received the foll medication:

Tab Inderal

Tab Epival 250 mg

Cap Neogab 100 Mg (300+300+600)

Inj normal saline

Inj Falgan

Her medication on discharge(7/3/17) was as follows:

Tab tryptanol 25 mg (0+0+1)

Cap Neogab 300 mg (1+1+2)

Tab Inderal (1+0+0)

For the next two days she was extremely dizzy and drowsy, and her headache had not subsided.

We went for followup visit to the Neurologist on 10/3/2017. He changed medication as follows:

Hitop 25 mg 1+0+1

Tryptanol 0+0+1

Neogab 300 mg 0+0+1

On the night of 12/3/17, her pain again started becoming severe. She was given Zultracet, with motilium, followed by Neogab 300 (in addition to her night medication). The pain did not subside and we had to get her a voltralol injection (intramuscular)

By the night of 13th, pain had not subsided, Neogab 300 mg had been increased to 1+0+1, and the neorologist advised to give her 2 tablets tryptanol, to help her sleep. He also advised to get a full brain mri 3T done.

We got that done the next day, and went back for followup on 13/3/2017. The mri was all clear. We were told this is a chronic migraine. Her medication was changed again as follows:

Hitop 50 mg 1+0+1

Tryptanol 0+0+

Lyrica 1+0+1

The first night she was also given Zomig. There was no relief

22/3/17 we went to another neurologist. He made her take inj Epival 1 gram in 300cc normal saline immediately. Medicines were prescribed as follows:

Cap sibilium 5 mg 0+0+1

Tryptanol 25 mg 0+0+2

In case of pain:

Tab Synflex 550 mg

Cap Risek 20 mg

Tab sumatec 50 mg

On 28/3/17, sibilium 5 mg increased to 0+0+2, and Synflex 1+0+1

On 5/4/17, the neurologist started her on a 3 day steroids course, via iv (solu medrol 1000 mg). He hoped that this would break the cycle. However, it did not, and now he suggests admitting her in the hospital and carrying out a lumbar puncture.

Please advise