Fioricet is helpful. Any other suggestions?

Hi meczywor,

Thank you for your question. I'm sorry to say pain relievers are not the best answer for migraine attacks as they mask pain, not stop an attack. Pain relievers like Fioricet, Excedrin and/or migraine medications, can also contribute to daily headache pain for those of us who are susceptible to rebound headache if taken more than two to three days a week. Staying away from these medications, whether they are over-the-counter or prescription, may be necessary to help end daily head pain and better manage our migraine attacks. You can read more about rebound headache here; https://migraine.com/living-migraine/stop-rebound-headaches/.

I hope this helps and let us know how you are doing,
Nancy

Hi Nancy,
I generally try to use excedrin less than 3 times a week and I use the Fioricet only for severe pain. Tristan’s do not work for me. And I am on my 4th or 5th daily preventative. As none have worked so far. Amytriptilyne and several beta blockers have not helped. I just started propranolol. Thanks for the info on rebound headaches

Hi meczywor,

Thank you for getting back to me. I know how difficult it is to find a preventive medication that works. It can be a long trial and error period which is very frustrating.

Try not to get too discouraged, there are over 100 medications and supplements that can be used for migraine prevention!! Something to keep in mind is it can take 90 days or more before we see a reduction in our migraine frequency and severity when we start new medications. If you haven’t seen this information on migraine prevention medications take a look when you get a chance: https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-preventives-start/.
Fingers crossed something works soon,
Nancy

Hi meczywor!
I feel like I could have written your post!! It was eerie, thinking it was something that would fit my situation almost perfectly, except like some of the insurance commercials, I have more!! But I remember being at the point you are at, and wanting to rip my hair out (BTW Topamax and another seizure medicine will cause hair loss, except Topamax doesn’t warn you. Also causes a type of aphasia where you can’t think of the word you want to use, but you might be able to describe it. Like for dog I would have said fuzzy four legged pet that say woof. It was horrible, and after many years on it, I still have some of that left.)

I have seen people get so dependent on Fioricet that they were constantly going to their dr to get early refills. My neuro now is like yours I’d guess, because she only allows 5 a week. Not even a day early for refills. And to go with my “more”, my pain management dr that is supposed to keep my back in shape enough so I can move around and maybe play with my 5 year old great nephew, but none of the above happen because the fda or cdc said Fioricet shouldn’t be taken with my pain meds & my pain meds can’t be used with my anxiety meds. So I’m an anxious Migraineur for sure!! I think I’ve decided to try Botox again, which it really helped the first round but not so much the second. I've appealed to my pain management doctor to let me have the Fioricet back, because all off my doctors would have a fit if they knew how much excedrin I take. And I can’t take any triptans because of a heart condition. Other than the new injection stuff you give yourself, there is not anything currently on the market that on or another doctor won’t veto!!! I will check the list here on Migraine.com to make sure I haven’t missed a miracle drug, for both of us!! Oh!! After all the expensive seizure medicine my doc tried me on, he finally tried me on propranolol!! At the time, it was my miracle drug!! Of course I’m on something stronger and different and all of that good stuff, but propranolol for three or four years, maybe even longer. Because of a completely different reason, I might have to go back on it, if my cardiologist can figure out a way to be on it and another way stronger medication without my heart rate or blood pressure dropping to the floor. I’ll tell them all off if they try to convince me speed, even the kind made in labs, is good for me!!