My neurologist prescribed Fioricet (acetaminophen, caffeine, and butalbital) for me about 5 years ago for tension headaches. I only got them 1-2x a month, but they were lasting 3-4 days with nausea, vomitting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Recently, I started keeping track of the headaches and found that I was getting them 2-3 days before my period. So I looked online and found 'menstrual migraines', which are common due to the hormonal changes in women each month. Does anyone else have these? The Fioricet works GREAT for me, and usually a 30-day supply lasts me a year.
~pink

Hi pink,

OH YEAH! For years now. Have done things from taking the birth control pill nonstop to curb the hormone fluctuations (works pretty well) to taking Imitrex to deal with the headaches that sneak through anyway. Hormonal migraines are very common for many women.

Do you ever experience dizziness just before you get a headache? I felt that last month just before my period (I stopped the birth control pills a couple months ago) and I also got the usual hormonal headache. Just trying to see if others experience dizziness related to headaches too.

Terri

i get hormonal headaches two days after i start my period, and it sucks, and then they last for a week, i usually end up in ER or at the dr's office, cause nothing will touch the migraine, not even vicodin, which is what i have for "breakthrough pain", so i know what you are going through...and i'm only 22, and i get these all the time, not just around my period and i can't find anything to prevent them, or to help them, unless i catch it in time, sometimes i will wake up with a full blown migraine, and i can't get rid of it, but i don't know anymore

baby doll,

Have you tried any of the triptan meds like Imitrex, Zomig, or Relpax? They work wonders for me.

T

My neurologist prescribed Fioricet (acetaminophen, caffeine, and butalbital) for me about 5 years ago for tension headaches. I only got them 1-2x a month, but they were lasting 3-4 days with nausea, vomitting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Recently, I started keeping track of the headaches and found that I was getting them 2-3 days before my period. So I looked online and found 'menstrual migraines', which are common due to the hormonal changes in women each month. Does anyone else have these? The Fioricet works GREAT for me, and usually a 30-day supply lasts me a year.
~pink
As a matter of fact I am having one now :eek: Mine change either before, during OR right after. Lately it's been before.
Like another poster... I did the non stop BC. Now I am off the pill all together and that made a huge difference.
I use to take Fiornal but I can't function during the day on that. I take Amerge, Toradol and inderal la a beta blocker,
I take the inderal every single day. Toradol helps me a lot and if it gets real bad I bust out Amerge which is highly recommeneded for Hormonal migraines.

Bell,

You said stopping the non-stop BCP made huge difference. Can you tell me how? Was it a good change or a bad change?

I only stopped the BCP all together two months ago, so I'm still working this out. Typical for me I have the headache on or about the day my period starts. This last one only lasted for a day or two, but I've had them last 3 days and those are the time I live on Imitrex!

Terri

:wave: Bell,

You said stopping the non-stop BCP made huge difference. Can you tell me how? Was it a good change or a bad change?

I only stopped the BCP all together two months ago, so I'm still working this out. Typical for me I have the headache on or about the day my period starts. This last one only lasted for a day or two, but I've had them last 3 days and those are the time I live on Imitrex!

Terri
:wave: It was a good change in that the migraines aren't as intense and not as frequent.
Imitrex is noturious for causing rebound migraines. It gets rid of them but they come back with a vengence. That was the first migraine med I used (nasal spray variety).
I see a neurologist once a year and have tried so many meds. Thus far Amerge is working best with the least amount of side effects. He also gives me valume . I find the PMS and tension in my neck bring them on during that time as well. He will only prescribe 70 a year so if I feel that neck tension start I will take a valume at bed time with the Amerge. This works pretty well for me :)

Bell,

Thanks for clarifying. Even though it's only been a couple months since I've been off the pill, I did definitely notice that the headache I got last month wasn't as severe and only lasted 1 day. That didn't really happen before.

It's funny what you say about Imitrex and the rebound headaches. They definitely get the headache to go away for me (I take a 50mg tablet), but I've def. learned that the window of relief is only about 6 hours before I have to take another (that's the "come back with a vengeance" part). Then it was just an every 6 hour cycle until the darn headache went away. I told my doc that I'd gotten to the point where because I've been taking Imitrex for so long, I can't get anything else (like extra strength aspirin or something) to even budge one of those headaches. She said that was common, that the brain had worked up a tolerance or something, and to try mixing it up. I think she did give me some Amerge and it worked too. I've also tried Zomig and Relpax too. I'm just hoping now, as I go forward, that like you the headaches stay lesser in intensity so I don't have to rely on those abortive drugs too much.

Thanks again,
Terri

Terry-
I hope it helps, going off the pill. It's been a little over a year for me and it was a slow gradual change. Mind you I am not migraine free but one can always hope right?
I had a terrible reaction to zomig, made my arm go numb scared me half to death... I have tried every med out there. Problem is now I have developed a heart condition as well so I have to be real careful, can't take anything that makes the heart race which is pretty much most meds.
You may want to ask also about a preventative, beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. I take Inderal not only for the migraines but to slow down my heart beat. :wave:

Hi Bell,

Yeah, I think since it's only been a couple months I want to let things settle out a bit. I've been on the pill for 20 years with a couple of stints of taking it non-stop like I was until I just quit here in October. So, needless to say, at age 41 I really have almost no idea what my regular cycles are like or how I'm supposed to feel!! So I'm going to see what happens. I think one change I'm going to make, due to what you've shared about Imitrex, is that the refill I need to pick up at the pharmacy I'm going to just let stay there. I think maybe I'll take a break from Imitrex for a while since it's so hard on the rebound aspect. Seems weird after all these years of struggling with this to think that (a) the pill, and then (b) the Imitrex were culprits together in probably making my headaches worse!! Maybe I'll ask my OB-GYN (who, luckily, happens to be a personal friend) for some samples of Amerge and give that a try.

Cheers!

Terri

Hi Terry.
I too am 41!!! I always ask for samples before I get a script. I tried Axert and it worked pretty well but all in all Amerge works best. I get the 2.5 it's more economical that way. What I do is break them in half. They are shaped like cresent moons. I will end up taking a whole pill usually by the end of the day. I also take Toradol which helps a lot it is a anti inflamatory and it's pretty cheap. They give it in shot form at the ER. Also this is a God Send.... Bengay/Icy Hot Or Tiger Balm on the back of the neck and forehead OMG also ice packs are good :wave:

Ladies! :bouncing:
I'm so happy to find this thread, I started migrianes with last pregnancy, after delivery We tried EVERYTHING! In the med department. Imitrex, inderal, we even tried low dose estogen, now Mirena IUD, the only thing that seems to work is Fioracet and Motrin, If it's really bad, I must do the ER trips. I'm going back to Neuro this week. IT is hormonal. I have to take the Fiorcet one to two, every 4 to six hours depending on pain level. Any thoughts? :confused:

Ladies! :bouncing:
I'm so happy to find this thread, I started migrianes with last pregnancy, after delivery We tried EVERYTHING! In the med department. Imitrex, inderal, we even tried low dose estogen, now Mirena IUD, the only thing that seems to work is Fioracet and Motrin, If it's really bad, I must do the ER trips. I'm going back to Neuro this week. IT is hormonal. I have to take the Fiorcet one to two, every 4 to six hours depending on pain level. Any thoughts? :confused:
:wave: Mine started with my first pregnancy almost ten years ago! After the birth they got even worse.
I have been seeing a Neurologist for 6 years now and he says he hears this story all the time with women.
Usually in the ER they give shots of Toradol. This comes in pill form. I just started taking it a few months ago and had pretty good luck. The trick is taking it the second you feel one coming on. It isn't Narcotic so it doesn't have all those side effects.
One of the killers with the Menstral Migaines for me is I crave chocolate , if I eat any it makes it much worse.
Sometimes being a woman can sure be the pitts !

I get menstual migraines on days 0,1 & 2-the day before I start and on the first couple days after that, not the only migraine I get just the most predictable. I take fioricet for ovarian cysts, Relpax, vicoden (only when severe), Advil Migraine and ice packs for the migraines. Usually just go till I can't anymore then find a hole, climb in and pull the hole in after me :). I am 44 and perimenopausal so the ha are even more unpredictable. One thing I did when I could find it was use loose feverfew leaves and make a tea with it twice a day. The herb is pretty harmless-a chrysanthymum type plant-I think. Ask at the health food store if your interested. Good luck
BB -- Magna

I used to have menstrual migraines. I've been seeing a health practioner for a couple of years now. He has regulated my estrogen and progesterone and the migraines have stopped. I went off the pill and he adjusted a little more. The periods are a little heavier, but no migraines. I'm scared to go back on the pill (if i need to for obvious reasons ), it takes about 3 cycles to see how my body adjusts.

I still have sinus problems/headaches. Occaisionally it will go into a migraine, then i use the imitrex nasal spray.. mostly because it helps the nausea. I'm a little screwed when it comes to pain relief.. I can no longer take any type of anti-inflammatory (advil, aleve, excedrin).. one dose tears up my stomach for 2-3 days.

I, too, get a migraine before I start my menstrual cycle each month. I didn't realize the connection until I started keeping a "headache diary". I take 10 mg of MaxaltMLT and 99% of the time, it works. I also have Fiorinal and Phenergan for backup, but hardly ever need it. (You would think that cramps and bloating were enough??!!!!!).

Maybe try switching the type of birth control pills you all are all. There are so many kinds out there. There is a test called FSH that checks your hormal levels to get the right birth control pils for you.The FSH test measures the level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood. This hormone is produced by a gland in your brain. To much or to little and headache or other illness

Jenteal

I get hormonal headaches several days before my menstrual cycle lasting about 3 days into my period, a total of 4-7 days. I wear a estrogen patch which has helped a little, and I also take Axert. I have tried Imitrex and all the other migraine medications but axert kicks in the quickest and lasts the longest. I have heard that the 'nuava ring' which is birth control helps balance your hormones better so next time I see my OB I am going to try that. It is a ring you insert like a diaghragm that delivers hormones slowly and consistantly. Normally, you would take the ring out the 3rd week to have your menstrual cycle and then when it ends put a new ring in...but what my doctor said he is going to do is have me put in a new ring every 3 weeks and not allow my menstrual cycle to happen, keeping my hormones steady. Apparently this is safe and effective for hormone headaches. I will let you know how it works if you would like. The reason most women get migraines is a drop in estrogen, but sometimes the rise and fall of other hormones will trigger a migraine. That is why some of the women get the migraine when the ovulate or other times of the month. You can search the web and find a chart which shows you how your hormones fluctuate every month, and then keep tabs on when you get your headache and try to pinpoint which hormone is triggering the headache and if it is going up or down. Good luck. This is very commen and genetic as well.

I have had menstrual migraines for years now along with many times the rest of the month too. I have tried doing the continual b/c pills but I would always have breakthrough bleeding. I have taken the beta blockers which to me didn't seem to make much of a difference. I have tried probably every triptan which many do seem to work great. Some of them make my chest hurt and my throat feel tight, but I just kept trying different ones. I found that taking a triptan and a hydrocone together work really well. I also took the Topomax, but I got pregnant and had to stop taking it (it does have many bad side effects -except for making me lose weight). During my pregnancy I had hormornal headaches for over 4 months - they were horrible. I was allowed only to take the hydro, believe it or not, it's considered the safest. Now I'm still breastfeeding so I can't really take anything still.

I started having mensrual migraines also. My obgyn told me I was in peri-menopause and the fluctuations of estrogen cause them. I was placed on Effexor xr and bcp, which stopped all the tension and the bloated painful breasts, but still have the migraines mid cycle (when I now have my period). I can take imitrex, but it causes such cardio contriction, that I can't do my usual runs and have coldness in my face, dizziness, and extreme sleepiness with it. so I can't take it till bed time. I have tried fioricet, no help there. Anyone else have this problem. Also extreme sensitivity to light and noise. I want my life back!

I started having mensrual migraines also. My obgyn told me I was in peri-menopause and the fluctuations of estrogen cause them. I was placed on Effexor xr and bcp, which stopped all the tension and the bloated painful breasts, but still have the migraines mid cycle (when I now have my period). I can take imitrex, but it causes such cardio contriction, that I can't do my usual runs and have coldness in my face, dizziness, and extreme sleepiness with it. so I can't take it till bed time. I have tried fioricet, no help there. Anyone else have this problem. Also extreme sensitivity to light and noise. I want my life back!
I went off the pill all together and that helped me. I still get migraines but not near as bad. One real bad side effect for me from going off the pill is the painful breast, it's horrible. I feel like I am engored with milk for about two weeks a month! I am afraid to schedule a mamogram because they hurt so bad and It is unpredictable. Usually it is two weeks before my period.
I too have the light and noise thing and terrible tension in my upper back and neck. It's a terrible way to live. You start to feel like everyone around you is just sick to death of your mood swings and headaches (which I'm sure they are).
I feel like I am I normal about two weeks a month, the other two are spent with sore breast, migraines, mood swings and my period!

If you are taking birth control pills this is a common side effect of them. The headaches the original poster described are migraines and you need to see the doc again to consider trying some preventative medicine since you seem to get them often. If you take birth control pill it would be wise to consider a different form of birth control pills or at least let your doc know that you are having migraine side effects from them. Many women get them even when they are not on birth control but if birth control is part of the problem then it would be wise to work with your doc to find other birth control options or solutions.

Reading the posts on this website has been such an encouragement. I have had menstrual migraines for years. They were always relatively low grade and were only diagnosed and treated as such in the past year. I am currently using Relpax with a great result. The problem I'm having is that Relpax is dispensed in a package of 6 tablets. My insurance company will only pay for one package per month. I often need more than 6 tablets. I'm 48 and the headaches are quickly getting worse, lasting longer. This month I also had a two day headache when I ovulated. Since it appears that as I move closer to menopause this may get worse, I am researching. I got a lot of ideas from your posts. Thank-you!

What happened to you all when you went off birth control? I have been on it since '98. I has helped my severe anemia, from heavy periods. I no longer even have a period from this miracle birth control.
I am planning to go off BC next Sept. as I will turn 50. But I wondered when you go off, does it effect your moods? I mean I have been on it for quite a few years. I don't seem to get pms like i use to, either. But I am worried I might feel a strange hormonal shift that might effect my moods. Any feedback? I hope my period won't come back too strong, either. I assume since I am not menopausal. My mom also didn't go into menopause till her mid 50's. I think I will be similar.
I also get the headache on the birth control but did when I wasn't on it, too.
I have one today, and I am not sure why. I do use the ice stick ons that you put on your forehead and go in a dark room.
~dagmar

From my experience, I think it's really hard to predict how you will react when you stop BC. After I had my children, I had horrendous PMS. I only felt normal for one week a month. It was then that I started having the menstrual migraines. After trying many different pills, I tried Depo-provera and for two years did not have a period or a migraine. I finally went off Depo when I realized that my moods were so flat. My migraines came back but I have never had any significant PMS since then. Each of us are so different and these hormone treatments effect us differently, even effect us differently at different times of our lives.

Bcp Have Always Given Me And My Sister Migraine Headaches Also When Im Pregnant I Get Lots Of Migraine So I Said Alright I'll Just Get My Tubes Tied Because Those Were The Only Times I Got Migraines Well Guess What Now Every Monyh 6 Days After My Period Ends I Get 2 Migraines One Day After The Other I Feel Theres No Hope

Just wanted to post about menstrual migraines. I tried the pill forms of BC - various forms and still had the side effects - headaches etc. I've since been on the Nuvaring about 8 months and love it. No side effects are felt from me - even the PMS symptoms are lowered for me.

I have had menstrual migraines since I was a young girl and my gynecologist previously had helped my neuro and come up with the Vivelle Dot - the estrogen patch. I always got the migraine on the first day of menstration so would put the patch on 2-3 days before.

The neuro suggested it was because on the first day of menstration, our estrogen levels drop which in turn will cause the migraine - the patch cured the migraines but I, unfortunately, had to stop them after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer since it was the straight estrogen and mom's cancer was estrogen receptor postitive. They also now recommend the BC that elliminates periods - I think Seasonale and Seasoneque?? because it keeps estrogen levels pretty normal - across the entire month. I just did not like the break through bleeding so chose not to continue.

The Nuvaring seems to limit the number of migraines I have related to menstration and you don't have to remember a daily pill...perfect... Good luck! ;)