Tired of searching the internet for answers ?
Tired of searching the internet for answers ?
It ’ s time to learn from those in the know . In every issue of HeadWise ® , our experts respond to reader-submitted questions about migraine and headache disorders .
MIGRAINE TREATMENT COMPLICATED BY CONCOMITANT DISORDERS
I suffered from migraines for over 30 years . I used to take Cafergot but my blood pressure is very high and was warned not to use it . In fact , I have aFib which gave me a stroke . I have now been using Fioricet with pretty good results . My neurologist said it ’ s no good as it causes rebound headaches . Is this true ? Now I get headaches from Trigeminal Neuralgia and use an anticonvulsant , Trileptal , but this doesn ’ t help with headaches . Any advice ?– Mike S .
The migraines are not related to the trigeminal neuralgia and those drugs will not help your migraines . Because of the high blood pressure , you cannot take anything with any possibility of constricting an artery , such as an ergot or a triptan . You could take Cambia which is a powder which you dissolve in water . If Fioricet helps , you can take it as long as it is not more frequent than twice a week . If your headaches occur more often than that , you should also work with your doctor to use a preventive medication as well , which hopefully would reduce the number and severity of your attacks . Some of these medications also treat high blood pressure .
Mark W . Green , MD Mount Sinai Hospital
New York , NY
HUMIDITY AND HEADACHE Someone said I have possibly barometric pressure headache . I began using a warm mist humidifier in my bedroom , door shut . I awoke in the morning , about an hour after the house heat turned on ( have steam boiler and radiators ). The room was very warm and I could feel some humidity in the air .
Problem : I had a headache . More like the inside of my head was pushing out from internal pressure ( possibly sinuses ?). I felt very groggy and a bit dizzy , it took a day for this to really shake out . I did not use the humidifier later as it has been warm outside . I ’ m thinking maybe the boiling water in the humidifier and the plastic may be a toxin . What is your take on this headache ?
– Linda K
Although it is true that barometric pressure changes , usually rapid drops , can precipitate a migraine attack , high humidity from a humidifier is not the same thing . Some people note increased migraine frequency when they are very hot , so that is not unusual . The question is whether there was a scent or essence which was dispersed by the humidifier , otherwise , this was an atypical observation .
Edmund Messina , MD Michigan Headache Clinic
East Lansing , MI
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14 HeadWise ® | Volume 6 , Issue 3 • 2017