Migraine Headache Prevention?

Kate-
I have pretty mild rosacea too, though it occasionally flares up. The most
recent bout has also caused ocular rosacea, and I'm on Tetracycline mainly
to help with the eyes, but it and the Metrogel have helped the face as well.

In February, before this latest bout of rosacea, I was diagnosed with
'chronic daily headache'-which is just what it sounds like, I have a
headache ALL the time. Just last week my neurologist typed as a
transformed migraine. I've been given Amitriptyline (an old school
anti-depressant) for the pain. It doesn't seem to bother my face at all,
but yes, it can cause weight gain. It changes your metabolism. I'm
currently doing Weight Watchers and going to Curves 3 times a week, and so
far, I haven't gained, am even losing. However, I may have to up my Amit
dosage, and that may cause problems. My neuro did say we can try other
painkillers as well, though she didn't name any.

In general, the Amit has been a life saver, it doesn't always work, but
usually does. And again, my face has gotten better even taking it and
Diltiazem for hypertension.

Good luck.
Nancy in Ohio

At 11:32 AM 6/29/2006, you wrote:
>I have a fairly mild, well-controlled case of facial and ocular
>rosacea with twice daily Periostat, Protopic at night, and Noritate in
>the morning + 5 IPLs. This combination has been wonderfully
>successful for me. However, I also suffer from migraine/tension
>;headaches since a concussion 6 months ago and my neurologist/headache
>expert is recommending a daily preventative med. After 5 days on 25mg
>of Topamax (the smallest possible dosage) my face became wildly
>reactive and my eyes burned horribly. Things have calmed back down
>after discontinuing the med, however I wonder if any other folks on
>this board take a daily headache med that does not irritate your
>rosacea. I know that the ACE inhibitors are definitely out, and some
>anti-depressants cause flushing as well. That leaves me with things
>like Clonidine, Propranol, Elavil that cause weight gain, which kicks
>;it off my possibility list. I'm already taking the supplements for
>headaches without much success.
>
>If anyone has experience with headache prevention meds that don't
>;irritate your face/eyes and don't make you put on weight - I'm all ears!!!
>
>Thanks,
>Kate

I was on Topomax for about a year or so and even got up to 200 mg.
It never really caused any problems for me, I did lose a little wait
while on it (yeah) but I ended up stopping the medicine because it
didn't seem to really help my migraines. While I was taking it I was
also on medicine for depression, etc. I had a seizure a year ago and
they couldn't find out what the problem was besides stress I decided
to stop taking everything. I did and seem to have less frequent
migraines now. When I do get a migraine I take Imitrex. Every once
in a while I have to take up to 3 but not too often.

--- In rosacea-supportyahoogroups.com, Nancy Tresch <tresch.1...>
wrote:
>
> Kate-
>; I have pretty mild rosacea too, though it occasionally flares up.
The most
> recent bout has also caused ocular rosacea, and I'm on Tetracycline
mainly
> to help with the eyes, but it and the Metrogel have helped the face
as well.
>;
> In February, before this latest bout of rosacea, I was diagnosed
with
> 'chronic daily headache'-which is just what it sounds like, I have
a
> headache ALL the time. Just last week my neurologist typed as a
> transformed migraine. I've been given Amitriptyline (an old school
> anti-depressant) for the pain. It doesn't seem to bother my face
at all,
> but yes, it can cause weight gain. It changes your metabolism.
I'm
> currently doing Weight Watchers and going to Curves 3 times a week,
and so
> far, I haven't gained, am even losing. However, I may have to up
my Amit
> dosage, and that may cause problems. My neuro did say we can try
other
> painkillers as well, though she didn't name any.
>
> In general, the Amit has been a life saver, it doesn't always work,
but
> usually does. And again, my face has gotten better even taking it
and
> Diltiazem for hypertension.
>
> Good luck.
>; Nancy in Ohio
>
> At 11:32 AM 6/29/2006, you wrote:
&gt; >I have a fairly mild, well-controlled case of facial and ocular
&gt; >rosacea with twice daily Periostat, Protopic at night, and
Noritate in
> >the morning + 5 IPLs. This combination has been wonderfully
> >successful for me. However, I also suffer from migraine/tension
>; >headaches since a concussion 6 months ago and my
neurologist/headache
> >expert is recommending a daily preventative med. After 5 days on
25mg
&gt; >of Topamax (the smallest possible dosage) my face became wildly
&gt; >reactive and my eyes burned horribly. Things have calmed back down
> >after discontinuing the med, however I wonder if any other folks on
> >this board take a daily headache med that does not irritate your
> >rosacea. I know that the ACE inhibitors are definitely out, and
some
&gt; >anti-depressants cause flushing as well. That leaves me with
things
> >like Clonidine, Propranol, Elavil that cause weight gain, which
kicks
&gt; >it off my possibility list. I'm already taking the supplements for
> >headaches without much success.
> >
> >If anyone has experience with headache prevention meds that don't
>; >irritate your face/eyes and don't make you put on weight - I'm all
ears!!!
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Kate
>