Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Rose asks

Q: IV dilaudid is the only medication that works for migraine

Since my Hysterectomy last March, I get migraines once a month during ovulation time frame and these migraines are super excruciating and dibilitating and they can last for at least a week or 2.  I finally went to the ER this past Saturday for the first time for this migraine as they are getting progessively more painful and frequent.  Unfortunately, I am allergic to NSAID, barbituates, imitrex, ultram or any caffeine based medicines.  The only medication that I can tolerate and completely relieves my migraine attack is with Narcotics called Dilaudid.  The ER Dr. treated me with 2 separate doses via IV of 2 mgs of dilaudid within a couple of hours apart along with Zofran for the nausea. Unfortunately for me as well, I am allergic to every kind of nausea medication available but Zofran.

 

Please advise!

 

Rose

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Answers (1)
Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide
9/30/09 11:05am

Hi Rose,

 

It is quite unusual to be allergic to all those different classes of medications. Narcotics are not the best solution for long term Migraine prevention, because ANY use of opioids or barbiturates and frequent use of triptans and NSIADs are associated with increased risk of transformed Migraine. See Transformed Migraine - Risk Increased by Some Medications for more information on this. 

  

There are other options other than the ones you've mentioned to break a Migraine cycle. Sometimes, the best treatment for intractable Migraines that aren't responding to medications is IV infusion therapy to get the cycle broken. For more information, see IV Treatment of Refractory Migraine.

 

A single Migraine that lasts 72 hours or longer with less than a solid four-hour pain-free period, while awake, is termed status Migrainous. You should see your doctor or go to the emergency room if a Migraine lasts that long. See Status Migrainous - The Basics for more information.

  

Anyone who has three or more Migraines a month needs to be talking with their doctor about prevention. It may seem like you are allergic or have a problem with every drug for Migraine prevention but narcotics out there, but there are so many medications that can be used that it's literally impossible. You can find a list of potential Migraine and headache preventives in Migraine preventive medications - too many options to give up!

 

Good luck

Nancy

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By Rose— Last Modified: 12/04/10, First Published: 09/29/09