Too Much of a Good Thing
Wednesday December 3, 2008
People have long thought that anything in excess can be a bad thing. Add narcotics and barbituates to the list. Besides the obvious problem of addiction, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have concluded that many common migraine treatments can actually end up making headaches worse. A study determined that people with episodic migraine (EM) who took narcotics (such as Percocet or Vicodin) or barbituates (like Fioricet or Fiorinal) more often were increasingly likely to develop chronic, or transformed migraine (TM).
The good news is that EM sufferers who had less than 10 headaches per month, and who were taking one of the triptans (Imitrex or Maxalt, for example), were not more likely to develop TM. NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, seemed to prevent TM in those having less than 10 headaches per month, but were also associated with a high rate of transformation into TM in those with more frequent migraines. In the end it seems careful use of medications is, as alway, the best plan.
Read more on the prevention and treatment of headaches.
Comments
While I generally agree, that too much of a good thing is true.I am tired of the media/doctors denouncing opiate painkillers at every turn.They are far safer than NSAID’s if the patient is responsible and works in tandem with a doctor who understands what pain is to begin with.I have had stomach issues from using indomicin, mobic, and aleve thaat still plague months later.My skin itches, my breathing is off at times most likely an allergic reaction according to my doctor this was done with no opiates in my cocktail.Steroids are even worse and while very useful, if your diabetic or suffer from a severe mood disorder your in for heck of a ride.So lets get some positive press, there is a time/place for them, these meds need to be used judiciously based on individual cases and not based on an all encompassing federal guideline.
I, too, am tired of being treated like a drug addict when I ask for fiorecet or something like it.
I cannot take advil, or any NSAID medication due to stomach issues as well. I do, however, exercise caution when taking my fiorecet for 2 reasons: to keep from becoming dependent on them, and to prevent the dreaded rebound migraine.
LEYLEE PANAHLEYLEE PANAHLEYLEE PANAH LEYLEE PANAH LEYLEE PANAH LEYLEE PANAH
I agree… I , also , take fiorcet, and on occassion, percocet. I am tired of the Doctors thinking that I am taking the drugs too much. I , personally , know my pain tolerance level, and I do not always reach for these medications. However, when you have a pain that is so severe, what are you supposed to do? I have had these horrible migraines for years, and if these medications help ease the pain, then isn’t it best to take the medication instead of suffering?
I have suffered from horrible headaches/migraines and fibromyalgia for over 30 years. I have spent many times in the ER waiting to get shots that made me sleep but never really stopped the migraines totally. After living on excedrin just about every day that gave me shakes and tummy problems, numerous other meds with side effects, I was put on fioricet with codiene. For the last decade plus, I still take two twice a day to manage my pain. Without it, and I have had to go without for months at a time, I wanted to die because the pain was unbearable. I am so tired of every time of moving and seeing a new doctor, being looked at like I have no clue to what I go through. I am treated like an idiot/addict. I always try what they want me to try but it always goes back to what worked and what keeps me out of the ER. Expensive, yes, but I would chose being able to stand some pain than to want to end my pain permantley. If those accusers only knew the depth of the pain…..
I agree with everyone above. I’m actually surprised that an article like this, claiming the same old same old ” Narcotics are bad” is even given so much importance on this website (Migraine-Topic)(I’ve been a member here although not active in the past 3 yrs., for atleast 4 or 5 yrs now, and there are MANY more accurate and informative articles that discuss more current studies on the need and benefits of Narcotics when dealing with Migraines. ( The Correct/supervised usage of course)
After suffering for over 40 years with migraines and cluster headaches, I finally tried the one thing I might still be able to tolerate…since I became chemical-sensitive and can no longer take morphine or dilaudid…never could take the migraine meds.
OXYGEN through a mask, not a cannula, at the rate of 8 liters per minute for 10 minutes. It not only gets rid of the cluster headaches completely, but it reduces the migraines to the tolerable-headache level even though according to some doctors, it isn’t supposed to help a migraine.
If you haven’t tried it…do yourself a favor and try it! No side effects, works in 10 minutes, and my insurance covers it for cluster headaches.
Sure beats the drugs!