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Has anyone experienced rebound migraines?

I suffer from chronic DAILY migraines for months now. I get Botox injections every 3 months and Emgality injections every month for prevention. I have been on high doses of pain medication for a shoulder injury that required surgery 3 months ago.

Rebound migraines

My headache Physician has told me I am suffering from rebound migraines due to all the pain meds AND all the triptans (I take about 1-2 sometimes DAILY!!). So I finally took his advice and basically stopped the triptans and only take Ubrevly or Nurtec (which do not cause rebound migraine) and guess what??!!

Relief

I have not had a migraine for the first time in months for 5 days now!!!!! I am soooo happy! My life has felt hopeless, it has been debilitating just to get through my daily living activities so I am now hopeful the Botox and Emgality can finally start to do their work! I have hope of a normal life again!!!!

  1. Hi ,

    YES! You're not alone in experiencing rebound headache. Taking pain relievers and acute migraine medications, whether they are over-the-counter or prescription, more than two to three days a week, can increase our risk of getting into a rebound cycle. I'm sorry you went through this, but good to hear you are on the upswing!!

    I actually got myself into rebound by drinking too much coffee!! Yes, you read that correctly - coffee. There is a small sub set of people with migraine who are sensitive to caffeine, a stimulant and drinking more than one cup a day, can put us in rebound. One cup a day and I'm fine, two cups two or three days in a row may bring on rebound! On the other hand, caffeine can be used to help with an attack - go figure!!

    Please keep me posted on how you are doing!
    Have a great Friday!
    Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator

    1. Thank you for the info because I DO drink eggnog lattes daily during the holidays! But it has taken me months to hear my DR tell me about the rebound migraine’s and until I heard it from the Physiatrist I am now seeing-it finally convinced me to make a change as I am in so much pain and miserable I have to do something different. It is definately paying off. Thank you.

      1. Good to hear! It's a struggle for sure. Taking charge of our health is vital in managing migraine disease!

        Wishing you a low pain day,
        Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Advocate/Moderator

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