What do I use if Fioricet is one of the only things that works to ease the pain?

Hi Cortney,

 

Continued daily use of fioricet or Migraine abortive medications such as the triptans or ergotamines -- prescription or over-the-counter -- more than two or three days a week can make matters worse by causing medication overuse headache (MOH), aka rebound. See Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires for more information on this. You may need your doctors help to stop taking this medication so your withdrawal will be slow or you will sentence yourself to a life of head pain, I'm sorry to say.

 

Another problem may be Transformed Migraine. Research has shown the nearly 80% of MOH is a factor in Transformed Migraine. For more information continue reading here: Stopping Medication Overuse Can Halt Transformed Migraine. More inportant information to read is in this article: Transformed Migraine - Risk Increased by Some Medications for more information on this.

 

I hope this helps,

Nancy

Cortney, Personally, I think that just taking one will not be an issue. I have found that Fiorinal 3 is about the only medication that wipes away my migraines. I do not get them daily but after 3 days of NO relief from Imitex or Zomig, etc I had had it. Plus the expense kills our budget! Who has time. That narcotics is NOT a strong either. AS long as you are not abusing it, getting it from your DR, then you are OK. You are smart enough to know what works and what doesn't . I am sure you have tried all the other meds. I continue to, but to be honest if I have to teach and I am hit with a migraine at 3 am I take my fiorinal....I have to. I also have a toddler and am a mostly stay-at home older mom. I had the best neurologist in SD before moving south and she was so understanding. Now, I have been to three in the big city I live in now. NONE of them have ever had OUR PAIN and I am now looking elsewhere. I do use TOPAMAX and I think I have some relief but it is also "STUPAMX" to me....I am more forgetful and confused and I lose things, but less headaches. I have several DR relative, too, and they tell me in moderation its not a bad thing. I would suggest you still try the imitrex, etc....even with some of the side effects...that bothers me....I get very nauseaed and it doesn't totally wipe the headache. BUT, YOU NEED TO TAKE WHAT WORKS, as my SD DR told me. that always stuck when my DR wanted to give me a shot that never works and IV's that were a waste of time and money. I put up a blog up myself. Hopefully we can keep up to date. I wish you the best. I hate pills......but I KNOW WE NEED THEM TO GET THROUGH THE DAY. PEOPLE DO NOT GET IT, TOO BAD, HUH?? hang in there! ~~~~ arty jules ~~~~~