Migraines

I've sporadically suffered from migraines since I was a child; with auras, numbness and crippling headaches.
In the last couple of years, having never had them before, my dad has started suffering from migraines at an increasing frequency until he's now getting them virtually every day. He's in his 80s and has other health issues, so this is really impacting his quality of life.
Does anyone have any insight about migraine that might be helpful?

Not diet-related Jim?

I have suffered from time to time with clusters of migraines auras and headaches without nausea and numbness thank goodness.

About 10 years I was prescribed Pizotifen 1.5mg one a day to reduce the number of episodes. I took them for a year or so, it helped, but not so much that I continued with them.

I just take a couple of paracetamol at the onset and vision is usually normal within half an hour, though the headache lingers.

There is another prescription drug, Paramax which contains paracetamol plus an anti-emetic metoclopramide hydrochloride to deal with the nausea if that's a problem.

There may well be other prescription drugs available now, it's about 50 years since I used to buy chemicals for a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

Obviously he should really talk to his GP to start with.

Stress can also be a trigger, I had a massive one at the hospital when my son was born by caesarian section. Had to leave my car there and get my mum to pick me up and drive me home!

Dark blue Lancis Fulvia coupe, very different to my white left hooker Citroen GS estate.

Thanks Pete and Simon. Dad's been in regular consultation with his GP. He's got some pretty bad chronic back issues that mean he's had a lot of contact with various medical teams. It's certainly possible this has played a part in the migraines as he has (with medical approval) stopped taking any pain relief as it simply doesn't touch his back pain. He is also very savvy nutritionally, so dietary triggers have been explored.
When I lived in France and had more frequent migraines, a friend whose father was a doctor illicitly have me a sheet of Prazepam. It was nothing short of miraculous - if I felt a migraine coming on, I'd take a Prazepam and all symptoms would fully vanish in 10 minutes.
However, as the drug was never licensed for this application, I couldn't get any more.
I wonder if any research has been done into this or other drugs.
I also believe that knowing I had the "cure" in my pocket contributed to the frequency of my migraines diminishing as it wiped out the stress angle.

Jim. Madam Magoo takes a prescribed Almotriptan Biogaran12,5 mg
She can take one on the onset of her migraine and another after 2 hours but that's it for 24 hours. The first tablet normally does the job.

Her migraines are auras or stars,numbness in lips sometimes finger's also.


When I was young I had a torrid time with them and would blackout as they got so bad. A disgusting bottle of iron medicine was prescribed and it was sorted!
Now as an adult I rarely have them but if I do I have to get sorted quick or I'm in trouble and have to take to my bed.

Good luck with it mate. Sounds like dads could be linked to his back nerves maybe.

Thanks Joe. I'll look into what Madame M has been prescribed...

I take zomig which is one of the family of tripan drugs. It's the brand name of Zolmitriptan. There's about 4 or so common triptans although I think zomig is getting on a bit. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sumatriptan/

It works really well as long as you can recognise exactly the right time to take it (too late and it won't work as well, too early as it might not be a migraine and it could be a waste). I only get prescribed 6 a month.

He should speak to his GP as there is one you can take daily (might be the same Pete has mentioned). I know someone who has just had a blocker injection that has worked miracles. However it only lasts around 12 weeks before it's needed again. But this guy had them so bad with them he was on morphine and all sorts, so I think they aren't get dishing this out as apparently fairly new.

It's worth looking at if you Dad's circumstances, stress, diet, sleep etc. has changed as like other's have said there is often a less than obvious link. Unfortunately this link can come and go so even that isn't consistent. Hope he sorts it.

Thanks cyborg. The blocker injection sounds interesting, as well as the other info. Lots to tell Dad! I can't believe his other circumstances AREN'T having an effect...

Recent and increasing onset of migraine is something that i would go get checked out promptly by a GP, hope its just diet or stress!

I used to suffer from hemiplegic migraines which are close to the top of the tree. It starts with aura, then you get the almighty excruciating headache. Sometimes it even effected my speech and I had numbness down one side of my face & arm. I don’t know if it’s a borderline stroke, but we have stroke history on my maternal & paternal side.

My maternal grandad lost his speech & full use of his right arm & leg
I am fortunate to have only a few occurrences of these now, so I am very lucky. Occasionally I get one maybe once every 2 yrs.

My migraine was spotted by a doctor when I was a baby. I kept crying and my grandma told my mum to get the dr out. H said I had migraine on my stomach and it would move to my head when I was older. They thought that was daft until he was proven right. I also used to get bilious attacks in my early 20’s. Same migraines but used to sick up acid bile as well.

In way of help, I’m afraid I can only offer you my knowledge of the condition for what it’s worth, as different people suffer to different degrees with varying symptoms. My mum used to go to bed for up to a week in excruciating pain with a water bottle on her head and heavily dosing up.

She took Imigrin I think it was called. They were on prescription as 4 tabs in a plastic box would cost about £75 if you bought them non prescribed. I used to battle away with Solpadeine +. It used to be called just ‘Solpadeine’when it first appeared. I can only say to have a check of what food you’re eating to see if there’s a trend in times the attacks occur after certain foods. There could be food triggers. I could trigger attacks with :-

Cheese
Chocolate
Raw onion
Citrus fruit (occasionally)
Coffee
Greasy foods

Lack of sleep & stress can effect you too. I would get them with these too.

Sadly you’re going to have to monitor yourselves and your reactions to things. Also each person reacts to drugs differently and what works for one person may not necessarily work for someone else. It’s trial & error I’m afraid. Also (for risk of sounding like a tin hatter) I don’t think the 5G thing has helped at all. I haven’t felt right for some time since they’ve been messing around with it. I get strange feeling headaches now, like the inside of my head has been sandpapered. My headaches now aren’t as intense as the migraines, just weird & uncomfortable. Also, just check to see if you’ve got 5G masts or stations close by. - worth seeing if that has effected things.

P.s, best of luck & you have my deepest sympathies. Migraines are no joke. - God bless!

Has anyone here researched green light therapy for migraines?

Or researched migraine glasses and green glasses?

I started a reply a couple of weeks ago, but life intervened!
Dad had been prescribed "one of the triptans", which seems to be proving unexpectedly effective - to everyone's relief (but especially Dad's).

Back when I got migraines regularly, I was enrolled on the Imigran programme, but found it disappointingly ineffective.
I used to get the body dissociation, visual aura, plus numb fingers, tongue and - once - my speech went. Frightening.

I used to get gradually increasing auroras that made a halo around the centre of my vision - but with an odd effect that although I could recognise individual letters within the field of disturbance, I couldn't *read* anything. That's really frightening...

Fortunately, it's been a while since I had any.