Stress Center Peer Support

HEY GUYS~
ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE IVE POSTED ON HERE, I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE TAKES AN SSRI AND ALSO A MEDICINE FOR MIGRAINES SUCH AS IMITREX OR MAXALT? I CURRENTLY AM ON 25MG OF ZOLOFT, HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME, I ALSO TAKE MAXALT AS NEEDED FOR MY MIGRAINES, WELL I SAW SOMETHING POSTED ON ANOTHER FORUM THAT MADE ME LOOK INTO POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS BEWEEN SSRI'S AND TRIPTANS(MIGRAINE MED'S) SO I CALLED THE PHARMACY WHERE I GET THEM FILLED AND THE PHARMACIST LOOKED IT UP FOR ME AND SAID YES THEIR IS AN INTERACTION THAT COULD CAUSE SOMETHING CALLED SERITONIN SYNDROME, HE RATTLED OFF SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS AND IT DID NOT SOUND TO BAD SO I ASKED IF IT WAS DANGEROUS AND HE SAID VERY FIRMLY "OH YES" YOU NEED TO TALK WITH YOUR DR. SO I PUT A CALL INTO MY DR. SHE DID NOT CALL ME BACK BUT HER NURSE DID AND SAID THAT MY DR. PUT IN A PERSCRIPTION FOR ME FOR IMITREX. HELLO!! THAT HAS THE SAME POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT! KINDA MADE ME MAD THAT MY DR. DID NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS CALLING, OR THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, I WAS NOT CALLING TO GET A PERSCRIPTION PERSE BUT TO SE IF THEIR WAS A MIGRAINE MED THAT DID NOT INTERACT WITH SSRI! DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY? HAVE YOU HAD GOOD LUCK TREATING MIGRAINES WITH OTHER MEDS THAN TRIPTAN? THANKS ALL FOR HEARING MY RAMBLE!

Hello, there... Let me just tell you, you are not alone, I myself take 50mg of zoloft everyday. To be honest it works miracles, i feel much better since I've been taking it, in fact I just to be afraid of driving my Jet sky, not anymore!!! I just did it this pass sunday.. ohhooo It was amazing, I was a little nervouse, but I still did it.. anyway back to the zoloft. yes Zoloft is one of those medicines that you have to take by itself, and if you need anything for mygraine, you need to make an appoinment with your doctor in order to check what's most important. This morning I called my pharmacist to ask if I could take vitamins, she said B12 is fine, Centrum or one a day.. but she wouldn't recomend taking any other over the counter multivitamins due to the different components. In fact it seems to be that if you are taking Zoloft and you have a headache, you're gonna have to take the headache unless it hard to take then you will need to talk to your doctor, to either come off Zoloft and start another kind of med.

WELL THE FUNNY THING IS I HAVE TAKEN MIGRANE MEDS FOR YEARS NOW, GRANTED I DONT TAKE THEM VERY OFTEN BUT WHEN I GET A TRUE MIGRAINE, NOTING ELSE WILL WORK EXCEPT MIGRAINE MEDICINE, SO ANYWHERE FROM 0 TO 2 TOMES PER MONTH I TAKE MY MAXALT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS, NOW IM JUST WORRIED THAT I COULD HAVE THE PROBLEMS THE PHARMECIST WAS TALKING ABOUT, BUT AM NOT SURE IS I WOULD HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN IT IF I WAS GOING TO YOU KNOW? OH WELL I GUESS I WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE DR SAYS!
THANKS!

Hi ChelleBele. I'm so sorry you have to deal with migraines too. I just got a shot Sunday and the dr said Nortriptyline (probably not spelled right but an antidepressant) was the "newest rage" in preventing migraines. Funny how the side effects list headaches as a possible side effect.
I think the most important thing to remember is that side effects aren't a guarantee that you'll have them. Some people who took those meds had those effects, and it was very rare. Serotonin sydrome is a possible side effect with symptoms to look for:

hallucinations, unusual restlessness, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, severe dizziness, high fever, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitchy muscles

If you're alert to what to watch for, your doctor probably feels comfortable with you taking it. Only they don't always tell us exactly what to look for- just hope you call in if you have a reaction.

But migraines are very commom is people who are also taking antidepressants. My doc explained it that our stress and worry show if physically in migranes, IBS, muscle aches, and a host of other things. And other things cause migraines too. He said the more triggers you have layered on at any particular time affects whether you actually have one. For instance, a thunderstorm may trigger a migraine. Or it might only trigger one if you've ALSO not had sleep, there's a hormonal issue, or something like that.
Here's my list of possible migraine abortive meds:
Abortive drugs-used to stop a migraine attack-include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which may be tried first to reduce migraine symptoms.
Triptans (serotonin receptor agonists). These are usually the first type of prescription medicine tried to quickly stop acute migraine attacks.
Midrin, which is a combination of the drugs isometheptene, acetaminophen, and dichloralphenazone or Dolgic.
Antinausea drugs may also be prescribed alone to treat migraine symptoms.
I've even had a steroid treatment that worked on a stubborn migraine.
Hope some of this helps. Bev

Up until recently I took zoloft in conjunction with relpax (migraine med) and had absolutely NO adverse reactions. I used to suffer approx. 6-8 migraines a month with 1-2 being mild (treatable with Excedrine Migraine) 3-6 moderate (needed 1 dose relpax) , and 7-8 dibilitating (ALL symptoms and bedridden for at least 36 hours and had to take 2 relpax).

This is the first week that I'm not taking zoloft (slowly tapered from 100 mgs. to 12.5- now 0!!!). Frankly, ssri's have never helped me- my psych. simply put me on one in hopes it would aleviate my anxiety (it did not- I currently take .75-.5 mgs. klono 2x daily).

I began seeing an acupressurist in early May and have only had 1 migraine since (moderate but did not take Rx only Excedrine Migraine; I was also "functionable" by evening and back to work the next day). I no longer even keep a script for relpax. I still get headaches- mostly from bing dehydrated (I drink A LOT of H2O! I've been told a 120 lb. woman needs 80 oz. daily and for every 20 lbs. add an additional 16 oz.)

My acupressurist has been a true blessing! But I would recommend that if you do consider finding your own- find someone who already goes to this individual. I saw an acupuncturist last Dec. and it took me about a week to feel physically well- she was a quack! I finally found my current acupressurist through my massage therapist (he was her instructor and owns the local massage/alternative therapy school). Now he's working to treat my acid reflux in addition to general "well-being".

I hope this is helpful; feel free to pm if anyone has q's. Migraines are miserable, and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy... well, maybe one- *evil cackle* ;*)
Blessings,
fischee

what is the diference between acupressurist and acupuncturist? my mom goes to get acupuncture so I know what that entails Im assuming acupressure deals with certain pressure points in the body? I hate migraines! I wish I did not have to deal with them at all, but it is what it is, I have gotten them since i was in 7th grade and I will be 30 in a few months! how ever they have drastically tappered off in their frequency and for that I am truely grateful! I realized what alot of my triggers were, if my sleep cycle gets disturbed, if I eat corn, or sometimes wheat and sometimes chocolate. Lately I feel like im on the verge of getting one, but it just never starts, luckily I am one who gets the classic aura warings, I get bad vision disturbances 30 min. before the migraine hits, which has always given me plenty of time to take my maxalt and lay down with a cool cloth on my forehead. Now im wondering if I should continue to take it knowing that their may be a possible dangerous drug interaction. I am also wondering if the interaction was going to happen would it have happened already? what do you guys think?

I agree, Chellebelle- migraines are a beast! I can't believe you started getting them in 7th grade... just out of curiousity, do they coorespond to your cycle? Mine did in the past. If yours do, I wonder if anything can be done to alter this? (I'm currently on Seasonique and only get my "ick" 4xs a year).

Acupuncture deals with needles, where as acupressure is just that- pressure. Both share the same concept with pressure points/meridians (frankly, I think the meridians are a bunch of bs- my acupressurist always talks of the muscular and nervous system). It can be pretty intense (frequently I have bruises), but I've always liked deep muscle massage. How does your mom like acupuncture?

I really don't know what to tell you about your meds ???

You did mention that a cool cloth on your forehead helps. Did you know that at the base of your skull there is a major neurotransmitter associated with migraines and if you place an ice pack on this spot it will shrink the vascular swelling/pressure and help shut down your migraine faster? It feels good, too- just make sure you wrap the ice pack in a washcloth or you'll wind up with brain freeze .

I've also read that aromatherapy helps- are you familiar with Yankee candles? Evidently, one scent that supposidly helps prevention is Macintosh Apples. My sister-in-law swears by this; she keeps a plug in by her desk at work (?).

I know I know other "natural" treatments but can't think of them right now. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.
Blessings,
Emily

thanks for the input, yes I am famiilar with yankee candles I actually sell gold canyon candles, which are quite similar,(but better :p) I wonder if our apple would have the same effect? sometimes my migraines are around my cycle, but I normally just get regular headaches with pms, I cant do BC, used to do it in the past, not a good thing for my hormones, made me more anxious and depressed! besides I dont have to take them since hubby is fixed ! If you can think of anymore natural remedies let me know, thanks!
Chelle

Hi Chellebelle,

I don't have migraines, so I can't share much about them with you, but you mentioned headaches showing up around your pms. You might want to check out these web sites and read about hormonal issues relating to migraines.

<A HREF="http://www.power-surge.com" TARGET=_blank>www.power-surge.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.womentowomen.com" TARGET=_blank>www.womentowomen.com</A>

This is also a great web site for guided imagery meditation. Very helpful for many health issues. I think they have something here for migraines.

<A HREF="http://www.healthjourneys.com" TARGET=_blank>www.healthjourneys.com</A>

Also, about the meds concerns, you might consider a professional naturopathic physician. I have been on herbal therapy for many health issues since May of this year. They have been the only help that I can find for my health issues. No meds over the past 15+ years have helped me. The herbs have been the only source of relief I have found. My health issues are anxiety/panic, IBS/GERD, fybromyalgia, and now I think I am entering that wonderful perimenopause/menopause place in my life - YAY! Everything is pretty much either gone or almost gone. I'm working on the hormone fun now. It is much improved as well. This program has also been extremely helpful. I've needed this kind of cognitive therapy for years. Thank God it's here!

Hope this helps,
Eileen

Thank you for the links! I will check them out!