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I heard you can get a pill to prevent migraines?

Hi

I've got exams coming up this month and I'm subject to migraines. (about once every couple of months if that, but stress seems to always bring one on around exam time. I had one yesterday.)

As the title says, are there pills out there which can be taken in the morning to stop a migraine coming on? I don't mean medication for pain relief once one occurs.

Thanks

Reply 1

beach surf babe

14

I'm not sure if if exists or not but it might be worth speaking to your doctor if your worried about them affecting exams. I do know that some times migraines can be triggered by foods or things like caffeine so that might be worth investigating as well?

Reply 2

Hygeia

14

talk to your gp - explain the situation and say what you've heard! if there is no such pill, ask if your doctor can write a letter explaining that you get migraines which you can take to all your exams and show the invigilators
if you do get a migraine during the exam and talk to the invigilators at the time, you would probably be granted special consideration when you're papers are being marked

Reply 3

high priestess fnord

9

depends whats causing the migraine. i had a friend who was on constant medication because hers were caused by slight swelling of the brain. not as serious as it sounds but very painfull. mine on the othehand are caused by stress and when i last talked to my dr he just suggested a different brand of pain killers

Reply 4

*bobo*

8

they don't work! i came out of my m3 exam the other day due to a migrane despite having taken medication earlier that day. :frown:

Reply 5

Sithius

OP

16

*bobo*

they don't work! i came out of my m3 exam the other day due to a migrane despite having taken medication earlier that day. :frown:

Sorry to hear that. Didn't think these pills were going to be magic should they exist.

Mine aren't caused by food since my diet varies daily and the times I do get a migraine I've eaten completely different things compared to the previous time.

Don't think I'll bother with a doctors note. I just have to hope for the best. If I get one then I'll just have to kiss that paper goodbye.

Reply 6

*bobo*

8

haven't got a clue what causes mine, but they have a knack for coming on at the most inconvenient of times. i wouldn't bother with special consideration, you could just retake it in the summer and get the mark you should.

Reply 7

Sithius

OP

16

*bobo*

haven't got a clue what causes mine, but they have a knack for coming on at the most inconvenient of times. i wouldn't bother with special consideration, you could just retake it in the summer and get the mark you should.

In the summer I'll probably end up with the same chances of one, that's what bothers me.

Reply 8

guitargirl03

13

My brother was prescribed migraleve (spelling?) which helped to deter migraines.

However, it could be worth going to an osteopath. My brother went, and it turned out that his migraines were actually caused by a muscle problem in his neck.

Osteopaths are quite pricey, as their treatment isn't on the NHS, however, my brother hasn't had a migraine in over a year, so it could be worth a try!

Reply 9

Fluent in Lies

2

If you're having one once a month then the sort of thing you're talking abut isn't suitable for you.

Migrane prevention medicines are on a whole pretty inneffective and the ones that do seem to have an effect have hefty side effects (usually drowsyness -not too helpful for an exam). They're really for only if you're having severe migranes every day.

As far as I am aware migraleve is not preventative but palliative.

Reply 10

Sithius

OP

16

Fluent in Lies

If you're having one once a month then the sort of thing you're talking abut isn't suitable for you.

Migrane prevention medicines are on a whole pretty inneffective and the ones that do seem to have an effect have hefty side effects (usually drowsyness -not too helpful for an exam). They're really for only if you're having severe migranes every day.

As far as I am aware migraleve is not preventative but palliative.

Ok cheers for the info.

About it possibly being my neck, I really doubt that, infact the chances are very slim so I won't bother with that.

I use a medication called Paramax when the migraine does appear, it's OK but not fantastic.

Reply 11

guitargirl03

13

Sithius

Ok cheers for the info.

About it possibly being my neck, I really doubt that, infact the chances are very slim so I won't bother with that.

I use a medication called Paramax when the migraine does appear, it's OK but not fantastic.

I wasn't saying that you have a neck injury, but there could be an under-lying problem causing your migraines.

My brother didn't think he had anything wrong with his neck until he had it checked out.

Have you tried cutting out caffeine? Cheese, apparently, can also cause migraines...

Reply 12

Sithius

OP

16

Yep, I'm 99% sure nothing in particular triggers mine. For example:

I've got drunk before and a migraine is the result of that. I've eaten a lot of chocolate before and got a migraine. I've done too much exercise before and I got a migraine.

All of these are a rarity though. If I get drunk the chances of a migraine happening are about 1 in 100. Same goes for the other 'triggers'

Stress is probably the worse though.

Reply 13

Alamothih

I have migraines for any reason you can think of, television can cause migraines if i watch for 30min one night, watch a season of something hte next day and fine.

Its random etc. And yes the drug exists! Well one does, i have a drug to take every morning and night (1 per 12 hours) Though i am a firm believer in not taking medicine unless i have to, so i tend not to take it till i feel a migraine coming.

Not sure if that makes sense but i can tell when a migraine is coming rather than a headache. I also use 4head or whtever its called, i think its brilliant! but it dont work on my mum at all. Try it!.

Also i could name the drug, but i would have to get back to you on that. I know theres more than one as my doctor said we can go through them to find the most effective, as hes a migraine sufferer also (same symptoms as me which is rare as most migraines are unique), so he knows what hes doin :smile:

Reply 14

karate_kat

11

Beta blockers work but you'd have to start taking them a month or so before the exams. All migraines are due to a swelling in the brain, but can be triggered by many different things, e.g. stress, diet, etc.

Reply 15

YAP

If you are getting frequent migraines, talk to your GP about them. They can try you on beta blockers (usually propranolol), and if that fails refer you to a specialist - there are a whole host of options available :smile:

.

Reply 16

***amy***

6

I'm in the same position. the gp prescribed me something that definitely works (cant remember the name right now) but it's vv strong so you only take it if you have to do something e.g. an exam. it does make you drowsy, but its a lot better than actually having the migraine.

Reply 17

frost105

14

I've been prcrived migraleve and paramax before and had no success with either. I've used imagran (sp?) which you can now get over the counter and it definatly does help relieve the symptoms but I also went to an osteopath about 9 months ago and had some treatment on my neck as a possible cause of migraines and touch wood I haven't had one since.

I heard you can get a pill to prevent migraines?

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