Daughter has severe headaches lately, worse than before. Has been on minocycline and was doing better. Last two days just terrible. Woke up and could not enunciate words correctly....lead to an ER visit. They suggested a spinal tap but we declined since we know she has neurological Lyme. IV Rocephin will be started in a week or so. Until then, what do you do about the severe headaches? Do anticonvulsants help? Anyone take Lamictal for them? What helps because Advil doesn't. And when do you head for the ER?
Thanks, Shark
Posted by kidsatlast (Member # 4308) on :
Minocycline can occasionally cause severe headaches from raised intracranial pressure. If you stopped the mino for a few days and the headaches improved, it would be a clue.
If you do a google search on minocycline and headaches, you will get some more info.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shark: Do anticonvulsants help?
Low dose Phenytoin (Dilantin) can help.
I found that Wobenzym, a systemic enzyme, helped significantly.
Carol
Posted by joshzz (Member # 23526) on :
I would inquire as to whether he could put her on something for the time being. Zithromax? biaxin? ceftin?
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
I second the info about mino causing headaches.
Just for pain, could the dr rx low dose Vicodin for when the headaches are bad? Just 2.5 mg of the hydrocodone with acetophinomen (tylenol) added can help a lot. And I add Ibuprofen to it. But ask your dr.
If they are migraines, she might need migraine meds---but if this is new, that may be jumping the gun. They may be from the mino.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Definitely report this to your LLMd as soon as you can. Mino in a small percentage of people can cause fluid build up on the brain. It happened to a friend of mine, her daughter was 17 and had to be hospitalized and have fluid removed from her spine to release pressure from her brain, of course they stopped the mino and she did ok after that.
Not trying to scare you, it may not be that at all. But you need to be aware of this drug inparticularly and see what your LLMd has to say.
Take care.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
How old is she ?
Any previous history of previous trauma ? Like falls, auto accidents ? Etc ? Anytime in the pasr ?
Looking for mechanical reasons or contributing factors.
Good point, lymebytes. Some people produce too much fluid in their brain + spinal cord + need to have it drained off. That should be checked.
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
When my daughter's headache was worse on mino, her LLMD said we should have an opthamologist examine her for signs of intracranial swelling or go to a neurologist for a spinal tap.
We had her eyes checked and it seemed that intracranial pressure was not the problem.
Her headache got bad enough that I took her to the ER and she ended up getting a spinal tap there which confirmed that her pressure was ok.
She ended up admitted to the hospital but they were no help. I'm not sure I would ever take her there again for her headache unless I thought she was in danger of dying.
Depakote did not help her headache. Elavil did help it for a few years but doesn't any more.
Since she is on mino, I would check out the possibility of the i/c pressure one way or another.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
She needs her Platelets checked. If low it could be very serious.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Headaches are dangerous when it's the worst one you've EVER had. Could be a stroke at that point.
Hope she is relieved of them soon! I used to have terrible migraines.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
If platelets are bottomed out a headache or any kind of ache can kill quick.