Question: On Maxalt, Topamax, and Zofran for Migraine. Seems excessive to me....
Answer:
Dear L.,
There has been a good bit of research released over the last year or so that shows the vast majority of what were thought to be sinus headaches are actually Migraine. Here's some information on that:
- Sinuses Giving You a Headache? It's Probably a Migraine
If you've tried various over-the-counter sinus medications to relieve your sinus headaches to no avail, there may be a good reason: chances are you don't have a sinus headache at all. Nearly 9 in 10 people with sinus headache symptoms likely are suffering from Migraines. - Sinus Headache May Be Migraine
In a recent study, a startling 97% of the participants, self-described sinus headache sufferers, actually had symptoms consistent with migraine attacks as defined by the criteria of the International Headache Society.
What is sadly lacking in our Migraine care is patient education. We have no way of knowing how much your doctor has told you about Migraine disease, so we'll provide you with some basics. Migraines are not actually headaches. Migraine has now been shown to be a genetic neurological disease. The headache isn't the Migraine attack; it's just one symptom of a Migraine attack. As Migraineurs, we have to realize that we have a disease for which, at this time, there is no cure. If we're told we have diabetes, thyroid disease, or epilepsy, we don't hesitate to accept that we need daily medications. Yet, many of us aren't used to that approach to Migraine disease. If we have more than a few Migraine attacks a month, preventive medications such as Topamax are advised to help us reduce both the frequency and severity of our Migraine attacks. Abortives such as Maxalt are prescribed to actually stop the Migraine attack in the brain, thus stopping all the symptoms at the same time.
Whether your treatment regimen is excessive for you is impossible for us to say. Only a doctor who has reviewed your medical history and symptoms and conducted an examination can help you answer that question. If you're uncomfortable with your regimen, try talking with your doctor. If you're still uncomfortable after that, there's never anything wrong with getting a second opinion.
Good luck,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
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