5 Classes of Drugs Used to Treat Migraines

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Re: Oxygen therapy..David..questions: How did you get a prescription and from whom? Did your insurance cover this and, can I be so personal to ask what kind of insurance you have? Medicare doesn't pay for Oxygen therapy for Cluster Headaches (I don't think). Do you now have an Oxygen tank with you to help ward off these headaches?
I checked out the Mayo Clinic and they do provide O. therapy but I am still unclear if Medicare will approve this therapy...they should.
Thanks for your post.

Myron of NM 11:55PM June 27, 2008

I suffered from Cluster Headaches and went through many treatments. A 6 week series of Prednisone helped preclude getting headaches but breathing pure oxygen for 10-15 minutes aborted headaches for me, even if the migraine came on full force. It was amazing and NO side effects! It took 20 years to discover that!

David of MO 11:09PM June 27, 2008

Having suffered migraine headaches even since preschool age, I'm well aware of the importance of treatment and am glad more and more treatments are becoming available. As an R.N. I've thought a lot about my own situation. Over and over again, I've been aware of certain foods, especially, bringing on a migraine headache. I've found that I can avert a migraine head most times if I take an antihistamine just as soon as I start to have visual disturbances, lights of various colors, etc. Just a little cinnamon or mint ar aspirin or something high in iodine will give me a migraine headache. In reading of the various treatments, you mention, I was surprised you didn't mention antihistamines. It would seem that that might often be a treatment of choice in the case of patients who have allergies.
Thank you for the interesting work being done to help migraine sufferers.

Carla Cocking of CO 10:19PM June 27, 2008

I was on a pain releiver that screwed up my bood presssure back about 26 yrs. ago. for my migraines I went back and forth to Christ Hospital in IL for pain relief. they told me I had to live with it!! I still get tyhe migraines when I am really stressed. I am really interested in this form of relief if it will be available. Migraines are unreal when you try to desccribe them to others.

Jan of IL 7:24PM June 27, 2008

A simple cup of coffee may take care of your headache!

Steven O Shaw BBA LUTCF MSM MSFS of WA 7:04PM June 27, 2008

I have had cluster migraines for at least 40 years. They started occurring after returning from Viet Nam. I can suffer as many as 4 attacks a day on a bad day and it will go throughout the summer months. I was living in Glenwood Springs Colorado and had a doctor that thought outside the box on individual health care.
He prescribed the Vancenase Nasal Inhaler to break the cycle of the clusters and give relief from days and days of torturous pain. While I never got instant relief from the inhaler the migraines would diminish and then disappear within 3 or 4 days. The amazing part is after using the inhaler for about a week the migraines disappear totally and I may not have another attack for several Years.

David Dobbins of OH 3:01PM June 27, 2008

I take Amerge for my migraines. I've suffered with frequent migraines since the on set of puberty and it runs in both side of my family. Unfortunately I also suffer sinus issues so when I get a migraine it also causes pressure on my sinus which makes the pain worse. As per my doctors instructions I take on Amerge and one Advil cold and sinus to deal with migraine pain. Most important though is to take the pain relievers at the start of the headache else the pain pretty much reaches the point of no return. I have tried other migraine meds but so far Amerge seems to work the best for me because there are no side effects and the headache is completely gone within two hours max :)

Lavern 12:03PM June 27, 2008

I have suffered from migraines since I was seven years old and only recently began having my neck adjusted by a chiropractor every six months or so. It has worked well for me and has given me hope for freedom from migraines after trying a dozen different prescriptions that never helped.
I always hated the idea of having to rely on a drug to be migraine free and a lot of them left me groggy.

of SD 10:26AM June 27, 2008

After having migraines since 6th grade, I've finally gotten relief in the last 3 months. I am using the stressEraser to teach me how to not stress so much. It's been night and day... There are also other similar items on the market but I really think for alot of people the key is learning how to relax. More detail is on my blog, juliawitherspoon.blogspot.com

Julia Witherspoon of NY 9:36AM June 27, 2008

I know my mother takes Imitrex for her migraines. It's available in a nasal spray as well as auto-injector forms for those that cannot hold down a pill due to nausea. She swears by it.

Mat of TX 8:59AM June 27, 2008