For prevention I use Pizotifen (a serotonin agonist), trigger point release on my neck (a major cause of tension headache and migraine) and magnesium supplements. Can’t vouch for the efficacy of the magnesium yet, although it has helped a lot with hand tremors.

At their peak I had almost an average of two migraines per day, at the moment I’m down to about one a week.

One benefit to it is that I have lost a little bit of weight while on it! Not much, maybe about 8 pounds or so, but, still…!

And, for a time, I did have some trouble sleeping, but there were other things going on at the same time that could have contributed to that as well, so it’s difficult to attribute the sleep situation to the Topomax…

Overall, on the very minimal dose that I’m on, I can’t say that I have many, or hardly any, complaints about it.

Thanks for asking and I appreciate your commisseration.

Lee

Nitrates make a lot of sense as do any preservative.

What do you think of Topomax? Do you find many or any side affects?

One thing to look into with regard to these nasties in food allergies and, indeed, allergies, in general.

I discovered, to my dismay, that I am very sensitive to nitrites and nitrates in meats, which means that I have serious difficulties with imported hams and some types of sausages, particularly pork and pork roasts, as many of these products are heavily laced with these chemicals as preservatives. If I eat more than one mouthful and I am on the train to a three-day migraine that can be incapacitating, to say the least.

Preventative measures have helped - diet control, particularly, has helped, but so has a very minimal dose of Topomax per day, which seems to keep the neck muscles (part of my triggering mechanism) from going off on me and the use of Allegra-D (prescription level), too, helps.

I came to this when my migranes hit a level of one every 10 days or so about two years ago.

Now, I might have one once per month and those are controllable through self hypnosis, hypnosis CD’s and general pain medication.

Since there are several kinds of migraines, as well as other bad headaches that are even more painful, such as cluster headaches, you might want to look further into the medical side of your condition with a neurologist, if you already haven’t, given your family’s history.

Regardless of whether you get the flashing lights, nausea, sound sensitivity or not, these things suck gravel through a shop-vac and can be precursors to a stroke, so please, if you haven’t, already, get a workup by a neuro-doc.

It could save your life.

Respectfully,

Lee Darrow, C.H.