DHE IV treatments

By DenasTrouble Saturday, December 06, 2008

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I have had migraines since I was a small child. I am now 42. I have seen numerous doctors and tried all kinds of therapies including: preventative drugs, abortive drugs, narcotics, OTC drugs, massage, yoga, botox, chiropractic, kicking and screaming and toughing it out. I have had various degrees of success with botox being the most helpful until my insurance stopped covering it. Stress is my main trigger. Now my Neurologist wants to try DHE IV therapy. It will require a 3 day hospital stay so I can be closely monitored. I have not heard of this before and have some reservations. Anyone have any experience??

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Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

12/ 6/08 11:21pm

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

IV DHE infusion is used to break a Migrainous cycle, not used to prevent a Migraine attack. So, if you are in a bad Migraine cycle, or have had Migraine pain lasting longer than 72 hours without a four-hour, pain-free break while awake, this may be an option for you. I haven't had this infusion, but know it has worked for others here.

It probably feels like you have tried every medication out there known to man to prevent your Migraine attacks, but that really isn't possible. There are over 100 medications used to treat Migraines. When we start new medications, it is important to give it a fair trail period. It can take up to three months to see a reduction in Migraine frequency and severity when we start new medications. This article has more information on preventives: Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

We also have a discussion forum that you may want to check out. Especially if you have questions or are looking for information, you may find the interaction on the forum to be quite helpful. To get to the forum, just look for the orange box marked "Manage" and click on the Migraine Forums link. Because our forums are maintained by a third party, you'll need to register for the forum. You can use the same information you used to create your community log-in if you like. If you want to go directly to the forum, you can click HERE.

Along with your personal "My Home" page and the discussion forum, you'll find links to a great deal of helpful information and a spot to sign up for our free newsletter on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them to the forum or send me a message through my profile.

Welcome again,

Nancy Bonk
MyMigraineConnection.com Expert

staceygray

12/10/08 4:46pm

I just had that same treatment done. I researched it online before I had it done and read that it seemed to be very successful. I went in to the hospital on 11/21/08 and was not discharged until 11/25/08. Five days, not the three I was told it would be. Since that time I have had more and worse migraines than I ever did before. I just came back to work today after being out for another five days.

Don't let my experience make your decision for you, I am one who does not respond to medications and that is probably why it has affected me the way it has.

If you have this treatment done, I wish you the best of luck with this.

Good luck & God bless,

Stacey

Lisa

12/22/08 1:40pm

DHE is the ONLY thing that helped get my daily migraines under control. I say absolutely GO FOR IT!!

DenasTrouble

12/22/08 3:06pm

First of all-I want to thank you all for the comments and support. I really appreciate you. I went into the hospital on the 15th for my DHE treatments. They were done through an IV needle that was placed into my arm, but I was not on an IV solution the entire time. I was started on a minimal dose and my vitals were monitored closely. I felt nausea and my blood pressure dropped significantly. But otherwise, not too bad. Then about an hour later my medication was doubled-same effects. After wards, the process was repeated every 8 hours. I experienced the same effects and as the dose increased, the IV began having a burning sensation when the medication was injected. The headache gradual decreased from a 10 to about a 3 on a 1-10 scale. Then I was instructed how to administer the same drug at home intravenously (shots) if and when I should need it. After 3 days and my headache stabilizing at a solid 3, I was released. I have given myself 2 shots since I have been home; each after taking phenergan to prevent nausea. Both times, the migraine has been stopped within an hour or so. I am hopeful that the headaches will stop completely, but for now I believe I have an effective method to stop them at home and on my own. Overall, I would say this was a positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone who suffers the debilitating effects of migraine that I do. I will keep you up to date on how my headaches progress and again, Thank you all! Dena

MLEBEAU

12/28/08 12:51pm

What are DHE treatments? I have suffered for 14 years with migraines and had a hysterectomy to try to see if they would get under control because mine are cause by hormones and stress. They the doctors did say they is no 100% cure, but mine have increase and are severly diblitating more so then they were before if that could be possible.

I have been on Topomax for years and the nuerologist just put me on anti depressents and pain pills because they have become so bad. He cannot give me beta or calcium blockers because of my low blood pressure. I am on a 21 day migraine with no relief even with all the meds. I wonder why he never said anything about this treatment or is this a lat resort?

I am very glad it help you always happy to hear someone is almost migraine free. It makes me have hope.

DenasTrouble

12/28/08 2:10pm

Hi and thanks for writing. DHE is a drug called Dihydroergot, also generic name Dihydroergotamine. It is an ergot derivative used to treat and prevent migraines. I was required to be admitted to the hospital to receive it by IV first to make sure I tolerated it well. Then I was sent home with it in injectable form. It also must be taken with an anti-nausea medicine such as Promethazine, because nausea is the main side effect. But the good news is that it does stop my migraines!! And I have researched it and it can actually stop them completely. I just started taking it, so I am still hopeful. Also, my insurance covered it, so that was a plus. Talk to your Dr and see, but I highly recommend it so far. Like you, hormones and stress make mine worse and are big triggers. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

MLEBEAU

12/28/08 2:19pm

Thanks so much that a big help and I will talk to my doctor about it and ever beter to know that insurance will cover. Good to hear you are feeling better. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again

Teri Robert, Health Guide

12/28/08 3:42pm

One little note here -- DHE is not to be used as a Migraine preventive. It should not be used more than two or three days a week.

Teri

DenasTrouble

12/28/08 4:11pm

Teri,

Thanks for your reply. Although my prescription does limit my use to 3 shots per week, the drug description does call it an ergot derivative used to 'treat and prevent' migraines. That is why I am hopeful it will prevent them over time...as I have read from other users. I appreciate all the info....

Dena

apdallas

9/28/09 8:25pm

Hi Denastrouble:

I wondered if you would give us an update about how you're feeling 9 months after your DHE inpatient treatment? I'm considering trying this, but I'm curious as to the long-term effects. How long does the treatment give relief before the pain returns?

Thanks,

-apdallas

DenasTrouble

9/29/09 12:17am

Hi,

Thanks for checking in on me! I am doing quite well. The DHE treatment stopped my headache cycle and my Neurologist was able to get me on a combination of preventative medicines that have minimized my attacks a great deal. I still get maybe 1 migraine attack a month, and I give myself DHE injections when this happens. The shot stops the headache and it typically does not return. I take Topomax daily, with few and minor side effects. I definately recommend DHE. It worked well for me.

Good luck,

Dena

Anonymous

12/23/08 7:42am

Yes I have heard of it and done it, I strongly recommend you try it. I have had headaches since I was 10 yrs old I'm now 39 and I finally found a doctor that broke the cycle. I take cymbalta daily for the headache and use DHE injections at home as needed. I have to watch the foods I eat but it's worth not getting the headaches. I tried everything you tried it seems. I also tried pressure point needle injections. That was the first thing that broke my tention behind the neck and head. I live in Houston and found a doctor that charges $250 for as many injections he needs to give you. He has treated many professional athletes. You may want to look into that. Stress was my problem, in the hosptital they will teach you how to relex and breath. Best of luck.

DHE IV treatments

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