1. What have you used to treat migraines associated with Lyme & Co? These were my first symptom but had gone away till now - they are back with a vengeance - any suggestions? Imitrex didn't do much for me.
2. Anyone ever use Ativan for periodic episodes of anxiety? Any contraindications for Lyme with this?
Thanks, Aimee
Posts: 239 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2009
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Sorry your suffering. I am in the same boat right now with the headaches. Nine weeks now...ughh.
None of the traditional meds helped. I have been to the ER 5 times to find relief but have left with the same headache.
I am in no way a pill pusher but this is what is helping me. Now mind you I have SEVERE anxiety. I started taking Klonopin at a pretty high dose a few days ago. It kind of makes me loopy but it has given my body a well needed rest, eased my anxiety and also has relieved alot of my head pain.
This med is not for everyone because it is addictive. My psych doctor decided I was a safe candidate for it and he thought my body needed a break.
Do you have a psych doc besides an LLMD? My psych doc believes in chronic lyme so that is a plus.
I also take paxil. I hate having to take so much meds but it was so bad that I checked myself into a psych hospital.
The only head pain I have now is some tenderness in my temples. Besides being groggy I am functional again. No more shaking and crying.
Find yourself a good psych doctor who can help you out.
Blessings to you, kitkat
Posts: 655 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Jul 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
I have experienced the same results as kitkat with klonopin. make an educated decision....when symptoms are soooo bad, it tends to be a no-brainer.
i have had a continious headache/migraine for 2+ years...no relief with migraine meds or narcotics.
Klonopin takes the edge off.
best, feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Aimee, Have you looked into the relationship of migraines and anxiety to low magnesium?
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
By migraine, what do you mean? Are you having a chronic daily headache, or episodes of migraine? Are you "just" having head pain, or also nausea, auras, feelings of unreality, light sensitivity and so on?
For chronic daily headache, we were surprised at how much identifying food allergies (esp. gluten and dairy) helped. This was after neurologist and pain management doctor and failed trials of all kinds of meds with side effects.
For migraines, there are different types of meds. For pain relief, excedrin migraine (w/caffeine), tylenol w/codeine or butalbital (fiorinal I think can all help, at different levels of pain.
For rescue, you can try Midrin if the triptans don't help. IV magnesium helps some people, as does feverfew.
For prevention, topamax is often the first med tried, then depakote, lamictal, other anticonvulsants. These have side effects but we have found that starting at an extremely low dose (even 10% of the starting dose) and then titrating up slowly, makes it a lot easier to take them.
We have not had any success with antibiotics in touching migraines.
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Both Lyme and Babesia treatment can help with the migraines, depending on what the cause is in your case. Also, detoxing heavy metals with help from a practitioner.
CranioSacral Therapy, Polarity Therapy, Deep-Tissue Work, Trigger Point work, can all help a lot for the migraines.
5-HTP can also help for anxiety.
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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Ativan has been my life saver throughout this. You can take any of the benzos. They tend to help those of us with lyme when other things don't.
I know there are people on the board who warn against addiction. I haven't gotten addicted. I just know that when I herx, I have anxiety that makes me want to end everything. I would rather an ativan addiction than offing myself during a herx.
Kathy
-------------------- Severe neurological problems. Probably sick for years. Became chronically sick in Aug 2007. Undiagnosed for another 15 months. Started treatment for lyme and bart Sept. 2008. Improving, but very slowly. Posts: 515 | From washington dc | Registered: Aug 2008
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