Like many of you I have suffered from Daily Chronic Headaches fo several years now. I suspect they may be rebounds as I have been taking Exedrin DAILY since 1999. Last Spring I had a series of severe headaches..(those nasty one-siders that make you want to DIE!!, and had to go twice to my PCP for shots of Toradol.) I have been on several meds over the years..Midrin, Relaphen, Naprosyn,Inderal, Ultram..tricyclics,etc. Naturally none of this worked. After my last shot, my PCP gave me a script for Vicodin(5/500) & they did an amazing job. When I went back for a follow-up, he indicated that Vicodin was NOT an appropriate treatment for headaches, & e would not prescribe anymore. HE"S THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM TO ME TO BEGIN WITH!!!! I never even ASKED for them!!! He was rather sheepish about the whole thing...like he'd done something naughty..lol. Then he starts going on & on about TOPOMAX & how it's the NEWEST "IN" thing for headaches. Well thanks to this board & my own research, I REFUSED to take it because of the side-effects. He got testy with me!!!!! I tried to explain to him that he KNOWS I take 2 mgs. of Klonopin for Panic Attacks & HAVE for 15 years & I have ENOUGH problems with short-term memory!!! Even my Shrink(who gives me the Klonopin) said that he prescibed TOPOMAX for a couple patients and they called him and said "What are you trying to do? KILL ME!!!" hahaha. So, NO..I flatly REFUSE to even consider it. Sooooo, to make a long story short, he set up a referral with a Neuro, which I canceled because my understanding is almost all of them are throwing Topomax at you. He did FINALLY give in & give me 20 more Vicodin but says there will be NO MORE..
Gimme a break..I'm a 51 year old man who has NEVER abused drugs..don't even drink & I ONLY took the Vicodin when I got one of the NASTY(he believes CLUSTER) headaches. His attitude was rather rude & irresponible as he has been my DR. for 12 years. (And I am transferring all my records to a new clinic!!!) So, what do you folks recommend? Haven't tried Fiorinal or fioricet. And I SWEAR by Exedrin but I know I'm most likely addicted to the caffeine & that it's doing a number on my poor stomach. What to do????? Thanks for reading my Opus...just wanted to vent about how some Drs. are so dismissive about Pain these days(afraid of over prescribings Opiates I suppose which sadly appear to have become the recreationl drug of choice!)

And I SWEAR by Exedrin but I know I'm most likely addicted to the caffeine & that it's doing a number on my poor stomach. What to do?????
I suspect they may be rebounds as I have been taking Exedrin DAILY since 1999.
That is exactly why you are suffering from rebound headaches. You need to be weaned off of Exedrins. Once you are, you will be "headache free".

The weaning process will take a couple of weeks. In your case, may take 6-8 weeks.
My weaning process took 6 weeks. I was also an Exedrin Lover. :eek:


Good luck at the new clinic! :angel:

Thanks Mz. Migraine!!! I think I knew it all along but was in denial & AFRAID of the withdrawl/weaning process!! Wish I'd never HEARD of Exedrin! lol! :eek:

FoiledAgain, I'm not going to lie to you. The first week of my weaning process was murder. :mad:
The second week was not so bad. That was when I started to notice that my headaches were lessening.

My Neuro had me to switch to Alive. Those pills are like "candy" compared to Exedrins. :D But, Alive helped me in my weaning process I must confess.
Have been headache free now for 3 years. Now if only I can get rid of these migraines!!!!! :mad:

Even though I no longer have headaches, I still keep Excedrins around for those "aches & pains" I get when playing around with my grandchild. I am 55. I just don't "eat" them like I use too. :D

Alive??Never heard of that drug.... :cool: I have heard of Aleve though. :cool:

Alive??Never heard of that drug.... :cool: I have heard of Aleve though. :cool:
ROTFLMAOOOOOOOOOOO.

I always mispell Aleve. Thanks. Where is spell check when you need it. :rolleyes:

I guess that is what "Preview Post" is for. :D

It's okay... :cool:

I've read that the Vicodin can cause rebound headaches with the added risk of addiction.

Foiled.......

I'm 55 F and have had migraines all my life...

Sounds like you are in rebound from Excedrin. That nasty little OTC that is wonderful for headaches... if you only get one once a month...

Actually, your doctor has done you a disservice by not referring you to a neuro sooner. AND, you shouldn't assume a neuro will throw topamax at you. What he would probably do is prescribe a migraine abortive and, yes, he might want you on a preventative regime. There are TONS of preventatives for migraines... topamax is one of the many...

I agree that you need to get away from the excedrin. BUT, you were probably taking them in the first place to get rid of a headache.. So, you will lprobably need something to abort them when they occur. Please, see a neuro, preferably one who specializes in treating migraine. I wasted YEARS, and yes, Excedrin years, before seeing a neuro who led me in the right direction.

Take care and let us know what you decide to do. Weaning from Excedrin on your own might decrease your now daily headaches, but eventually you will have another headache that will need attention... how you planning on treating it?

I have to agree with the other poster about you needing to be weaned from Excedrin because the same thing happened to me. I was miserable, daily headaches and taking Excedrin just about daily. I was also drinking one 12 oz. can of Mt. Dew per day. I had to just stop the caffeine - no more soda, no more Excedrin. I had headaches straight for about 4 days - but I didn't cave in. I took nothing, drank no soda. I came to one day where I had no headache. Then I had headaches again for another couple days - but finally last week they broke and I went all weekend and the past two days now without any headaches. If I really have to have a soda (like a treat at a picnic) I'll bring my own caffeine free. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I also upped my protein intake per my Dr.'s advice since she doubted I was getting enough. That may have also added to my success. There are protein bars sold in stores that have up to 19 grams of protein, I replaced my old breakfast bar with one of those.

I completely understand! What scares me is I just started a month ago with this pain, and after reading this board, I'm not feeling very optimistic. I'm quite nervous because up until 2 weeks ago, I was a work alcoholic, a mother of 5 kids, etc. I haven't been able to work for 2 weeks, and my life has basically come to a complete stop. I have an appt. with a neuro in 9 days. Any advise? Thanks! Sick and Tired aof being sick and tired!!!

I have taken Fiorinal, and it works wonders for me.Like many of you I have suffered from Daily Chronic Headaches fo several years now. I suspect they may be rebounds as I have been taking Exedrin DAILY since 1999. Last Spring I had a series of severe headaches..(those nasty one-siders that make you want to DIE!!, and had to go twice to my PCP for shots of Toradol.) I have been on several meds over the years..Midrin, Relaphen, Naprosyn,Inderal, Ultram..tricyclics,etc. Naturally none of this worked. After my last shot, my PCP gave me a script for Vicodin(5/500) & they did an amazing job. When I went back for a follow-up, he indicated that Vicodin was NOT an appropriate treatment for headaches, & e would not prescribe anymore. HE"S THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM TO ME TO BEGIN WITH!!!! I never even ASKED for them!!! He was rather sheepish about the whole thing...like he'd done something naughty..lol. Then he starts going on & on about TOPOMAX & how it's the NEWEST "IN" thing for headaches. Well thanks to this board & my own research, I REFUSED to take it because of the side-effects. He got testy with me!!!!! I tried to explain to him that he KNOWS I take 2 mgs. of Klonopin for Panic Attacks & HAVE for 15 years & I have ENOUGH problems with short-term memory!!! Even my Shrink(who gives me the Klonopin) said that he prescibed TOPOMAX for a couple patients and they called him and said "What are you trying to do? KILL ME!!!" hahaha. So, NO..I flatly REFUSE to even consider it. Sooooo, to make a long story short, he set up a referral with a Neuro, which I canceled because my understanding is almost all of them are throwing Topomax at you. He did FINALLY give in & give me 20 more Vicodin but says there will be NO MORE..
Gimme a break..I'm a 51 year old man who has NEVER abused drugs..don't even drink & I ONLY took the Vicodin when I got one of the NASTY(he believes CLUSTER) headaches. His attitude was rather rude & irresponible as he has been my DR. for 12 years. (And I am transferring all my records to a new clinic!!!) So, what do you folks recommend? Haven't tried Fiorinal or fioricet. And I SWEAR by Exedrin but I know I'm most likely addicted to the caffeine & that it's doing a number on my poor stomach. What to do????? Thanks for reading my Opus...just wanted to vent about how some Drs. are so dismissive about Pain these days(afraid of over prescribings Opiates I suppose which sadly appear to have become the recreationl drug of choice!)

LKEENEY

i am now beginning to wonder if that is my problem. TOO MUCH caffene.

i too had drawn back from it. i was drinking a bunch of coffee and atleast 1 whole 2 litre of pepsi a day.

Yesterday i drank maybe half a glass then water for the rest of the day. i noticed a little headache coming on lastnight but i figured since my body was so used to pepsi i would get one from not drinking any.

Today ive done the same thing. mostly water. im gonna start drinking juice or 7 up or something too.

Ive heard most migraines are caused by caffene

Well I went to see the Neurologist for him to tell me that I have Chronic Daily Headaches. As if we didn't already know that. I have taken Esgic for them almost everyday for a couple of years. I've been on different types of meds to try and prevent the headaches. He did want to put me on Topamax until we discussed some of my medical history. Being it doesn't agree with some of my health problems due to its side effects, he put me on Pamelor, the generic is nortriptyline. I take it at bedtime. He said not to take esgic anymore. My question then was what do I take when I get a headache, he said that I could take one of the pamelors. Has anyone taken it before?