Question: Taking a break from Methergine?
Answer:
Full Question:
My husband has tried all of the classes of
drugs to find relief from migraines. He finally found Relpax. This worked great,
but he began having rebound headaches. He has had rebound headaches before and
we didn't want him to have to go through that experience again. So, we went to a
headache specialist who prescribed Methergine. The
doctor said that Methergine was very similar to Relpax, but you could take it
every day without the danger of rebound headaches. It seems to be working GREAT.
My only concern is that she said that he would have to take a break from using
it after 6 months because it can cause vessels to harden. Can you explain this
to me? I know that all medicines have their own dangers, but is this a medicine
that we should be more cautious about? Thank you, Meg.
Answer:
Dear Meg (and husband),
I beg to differ with your headache specialist, but Methergine and Relpax are "similar" only in that they both can constrict blood vessels, presumably to help Migraines. I simply don't prescribe it anymore, as it is an older category of medication. I agree that Methergine should be given a "holiday" because of very rarely reported problems. I'd ask your headache specialist what they are and their symptoms.
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
____________
To visit our directory of recommended specialists and clinics, click
HERE.
To visit our forums for an exchange of information and support, click HERE.
Published March 27, 2006
