Friday, September 25, 2009 Alaura asks

Q: IV treatment for refractory migraines?

Hey there,

I am on a mission to try and find some info, but so far I am not doing so well. So I thought I may see what you all think. Having been hospitalized 3 times now, my migraines are so refractory, i just don't know what else I can do. A "good" day for me, is when my pain level makes it clear down to a 5or 6 rather than the typical 7 and up. I have 5 abortives and 2 preventatives, but I hardly respond, if at all, to any of them. The only time I have ever responded to meds has been after several days of IV meds. Yet once I am off of them, the migraines quickly take root again and its a loosing battle.

Does anyone know if regular IV treatments is an option for status/refractory migraines? My thought is that if I am able to get regular IV meds weekly or monthly rather than just once to stop the headache. Maybe I could actually interupt this migraine cycle and be able to respond to treatment? All that I find though, is that the IV meds are given in emergency situations and not continued until another emergancy situation.

If this is something that I may be able to pursue looking into, would you know what meds could even be used this way. I have tried DHE, Toradol, Benadryl, muscle relaxers, magnesium, ativan, thorazine, and many many others so I am just not sure what would even be an option...

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Answers (3)

Teri Robert, Health Guide

9/26/09 11:50pm

Alaura,

IV thereapy isn't something you want to schedule on a regular, ongoing basis. If IV infusion is effective, it should give you true relief and a break in your cycle. The Migraine shouldn't come back as soon as the IV is stopped.

IV therapy for intractable Migraine isn't actually emergency treatment. It's interventional treatment.

The best thing I can do is give you our best article on the subject and tell you that this is really a discussion to be having with your doctor. OK? It's not that I don't want to answer, it's just that everyone is so different, that only our own doctors can work on this with us.

Here's that article IV Treatment of Refractory Migraines. There are definitely medications listed in this article that you didn't mention.

Hope this helps!
Teri

sue

9/29/09 11:22pm

I just had IV therapy for 3 days and I was only headache free for one day. The side effects are horrible. I will never do that again. I have had a headache for 21 days and counting. I have an appointment at Duke Headache Clinic. Hope they have somethng new to tell me. I have had severe migraines for 20 years and no one has helped me yet. The preventative drugs do not agree with me at all. Don't know what I am in store for. I have been out of work for almost 3 weeks and hope I still have a job to go to before this nightmare is over. Wish you all the luck because this is definately a journey.

ChristianTodd

10/22/09 1:32pm

Wow ... I amit doesnt have to feel that way receiving IV DHE/DEFACON (Depakote) THIS SECOND! I have b een a few days ... I will put my website on the bottom and read the "My Story" art first -- Ithink you may indentify with a LOT. I am in pain all day, every day too ... it just goes from a 5-6 to a 8-9 all day long .... it better if you look at this site. Kind a a whats happenieng with your medical situaton blog with pictures, updates etc... My circle of people is mostlly christian but it doens't have to if you don't want to go there. Anyway, gotto go try to walk at least once around the hospital wing whcih isn't far but the way I feel right now .... would be a huge achievement. Apparantly the IV stuff isn't really miracle, but works slower on some than others - I even read 9days. But depending on how far you are into your pain, I may be able to help. I did 2 ONS Stimulater trials last year, and Michigan Head Inst. and Diamond Clinic in Chicago can do this ... so I'm hoping toget better soon =) I just hit 10 years with this. NEver a bad headacheor migraine in my life. Slowly, year by year, I lost my life ... now fighting hard to getitback and you will to... Sorry for the longmessage, I just know when I hear people desribe things that I know I have been through also we often share something most people ill never understand but I do.... I hope Ihave been help Full.

Sincerely,

Gregory

Q: IV treatment for refractory migraines?

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