Migraine meds-need quick response

[mommyof5]

Hi everyone, it's me again - mommyof5

I am having a migraine, it's not full blown yet. I woke up with it this morning right after dreaming that I was having a very bad headache. I've been taking 2 extra strength tylonal and 1 extra strength sudafed every 4 hours since this morning and it's not working.

Okay here's the thing: I take 1 x 0.5mg clonazepam-r in the morning (6:00am) and half of that(o.25mg) in the evening (6:00pm) and 1 x 100mg Zoloft at night when I eat (10:00pm)

I have migraine medication that i've used for over 10 years but my migraines haven't been as frequent since I was put on a low estregen birth control pills(allesse) quite a few years back so I haven't taken it since I started these meds in January.

The migraine med is fiorinal (without codeine) and I'm worried about drug interaction. Does anybody take this whole mix of pills? What side effects could I get with this mix?

By the way, spring is in the air and my allergies (they stuff me up) started about 4 days ago AND I started my period 2 days ago so I'm not surprised at the migraine - I just want to get rid of it .

Painfully yours, mommyof5

[almost_there]

Hi, I suffer from migraines too so I know your pain.
You are wise to consider drug interactions. Seeing as it is a Sunday night, my suggestion is to call a local pharmacy and ask to speak directly with a pharmacist. Preferably, the same pharmacy who fills your meds, but any one will do. Just have all your bottles ready when you call.

Hope you get some relief.

[Just-A-Boy]

BAD NEWS THERE IS INTERACTION!

CLONAZEPAM and FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL)
Severity: Major

Description: Taking a BARBITURATE and a BENZODIAZEPINE may cause problems with your breathing.
If you take a barbiturate and are also taking a benzodiazepine, you may have problems with your breathing. Some examples of barbiturates are aprobarbital (Alurate (R)), pentobarbital (Nembutal (R)), and primidone (Mysoline (R)). Some examples of benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax (R)), diazepam (Valium (R)), midazolam (Versed (R)), and triazolam (Halcion (R)). If you are not sure if you are taking a barbiturate or a benzodiazepine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want you to take both medicines. Your doctor may change the amounts of medicine you take. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have trouble breathing. 2. Very slow breathing. 3. You feel short of breath. 4. You have pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin.

TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate

Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) may result in a dangerous effect on your liver.

Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen is not recommended. If you drink several glasses per day of alcohol, it is recommended that you avoid acetaminophen. If you are drinking several glasses per day of alcohol, are taking acetaminophen, and are experiencing decreased appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, chills, fevers, vomiting, yellow skin, itchy skin or rash, dark urine or dark colored stools contact your physician immediately.

FIORINAL (ASPIRIN) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate

Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any products containing alcohol) while taking ASPIRIN may result in losing blood out of your digestive tract.

Drinking alcohol while taking aspirin is not recommended. You should wait at least 12 hours after taking aspirin before drinking alcohol. Certain aspirin tablets that are called enteric coated or buffered are recommended if you will be drinking alcohol. If you are drinking alcohol while taking aspirin and are experiencing blood in your stool (dark or black stools or bright red blood in your stools), blood in your urine, or vomiting blood contact your physician immediately.

FIORINAL (BUTALBITAL) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Moderate

Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or any product that contains alcohol) while being treated with BUTALBITAL may result in slowing down your nervous system

Drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with butalbital, you may experience loss of balance, slurred speech, confusion, changes in mental awareness, or dizziness. Use caution if you will be driving a car or operating machinery.

ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Moderate

Description: Using CONTRACEPTIVES and eating foods or drinking liquids with CAFFEINE in them, may cause more side effects from the caffeine.

If you use contraceptives and also eat foods or drink liquids with caffeine in them, you may have more side effects from the caffeine. Caffeine is in coffee, chocolate, soft drinks and some medicines. Your doctor may recommend that you limit caffeine. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have unusual heartbeats. 2. Your heart is beating very fast or very hard. 3. You feel nervous and jittery. 4. You have a headache and trouble sleeping. 5. You have trouble relaxing. 6. You have trouble concentrating.

ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and FOOD (GRAPEFRUIT JUICE)
Severity: Moderate

Description: Treatment with both SERTRALINE and GRAPEFRUIT JUICE may result in large amounts of sertraline in your blood, which may cause more side effects of sertraline than usual.

Drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline is not recommended. Orange juice may be a safe alternative to grapefruit juice while taking sertraline. If you are already drinking grapefruit juice while taking sertraline and are experiencing nausea, diarrhea, muscle tremor, or dizziness, contact your physician immediately.

ZOLOFT (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) and ALCOHOL
Severity: Minor

Description: Drinking ALCOHOL (or taking any product containing alcohol) while being treated with SERTRALINE may result in decreased concentration or coordination.

Drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline is not recommended. If you are drinking alcohol while being treated with sertraline, you may experience excessive drowsiness or decreased concentration. Use caution if you will be operating machinery or driving a car.

TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH (ACETAMINOPHEN) and FOOD
Severity: Minor

Description: Taking ACETAMINOPHEN (or any product containing acetaminophen) with FOOD may result in a decreased amount of acetaminophen in your blood.

Taking acetaminophen with food may affect how well acetaminophen works for you. It is recommended to take acetaminophen on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

CLONAZEPAM and FOOD (CAFFEINE)
Severity: Minor

Description: Taking CLONAZEPAM with CAFFEINE may result in clonazepam not working as well for you.

Clonazepam may interact with certain foods. These foods containing caffeine include but are not limited to coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine may cause clonazepam to not work as well for you. It is recommended to avoid or reduce caffeine at nighttime if you are taking clonazepam to help you sleep.

ALESSE 28 (ETHINYL ESTRADIOL) and TOBACCO
Severity: Minor

Description: Using TOBACCO products and taking CONTRACEPTIVES may cause a higher risk for heart problems.

If you use tobacco products and are also taking a contraceptive (birth control medicine), you may have a higher risk for heart problems. Some examples of tobacco products are cigarettes, nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine spray, and chewing tobacco. Some examples of contraceptives are Ortho-Cyclen(R), Ovcon(R), Ortho-Novum(R), Levlen(R), Ortho Evra(TM) and Demulen(R). If you are not sure if you are taking a contraceptive or using a tobacco product, call your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor right away for any of the following problems. 1. You have chest pain or discomfort. 2. You have trouble breathing. 3. You have nausea and vomiting. 4. You feel very weak. 5. You have pain in your jaw, shoulders, or arms.

__

Severity rating definitions

What does "major" mean? The interaction may be life-threatening. Call your doctor immediately to discuss whether you should be taking these medicines together. Your doctor may need to change your therapy to reduce or prevent serious side effects.

What does "moderate" mean? The interaction may make your condition worse. Your doctor may need to change your therapy. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about using these medicines together.

What does "minor" mean? The interaction may increase the side effects of each drug. You can usually continue taking both drugs. If you experience any unusual or bothersome side effects, please report them to your doctor.


[This message has been edited by Just-A-Boy (edited 04-13-2003).]

[mommyof5]

Just-A-Boy,

thanks for all that info, may I ask where you got it?

I called my godmother who is a shrink and prescibes these things all the time and she told me to go ahead and take it...so I did, about 45 minutes ago. (she is not the one prescibing for me).

I didn't take my clonazepam tonight as I don't need it for sleeping, just anxiety. So my last pill was at 6:00am but I did take my zoloft.

almost_there,
I did call the pharmacy and the pharmacist told me to contact my doctor because the fiorinal wasn't in my file (that's because my mother and I get 1 prescription and split the bill, or she's sweet and just gives me about 10 pills to keep on hand, which a lot of the time I end up giving them back to her when she runs out...like I said I don't suffer as often as I used to). My mother has only suffered since menopause, I've suffered since I was 6-7 years old I would have to sleep, stay in a dark room and almost always ended up throwing up...ughhh! I don't recall my mom taking me to a dr. back then (I'm 33 so we're talking 1976-1977) and all there was (I think) was baby asperin. When did you start getting migraines???

My migraine is stil here, i've got a hot "bean bag" on my neck and will probably take a hot shower later (I sit in the shower backwards when I'm like this), the steam and heat on my head and neck seams to help as does moving my head slowly from side to side.

It's not nice to have a migraine on a Sunday with 5 kids at home (all that noise!), thank goodness my hubby just takes over caring for the kids. I hope it's gone by morning because there is no school tomorrow either, just the 3 y/o will go to daycare.

thanks, mommyof5

[kat721]

Just guessing, the above information looks like standard warnings that one might find in most medication reference books.
I would think that your phone call to your godmother
might be the clarification that you are looking for.
I'd be more prone to worry about rebound headaches from the OTC meds.
The OTC meds, expecially decongestants can be pretty hard on an already achey head.
Since you have had Migraines for a while you might think of giving some of the Triptan Class of meds a try.
I've taken Fiorect for years and it has always done an exremely good job with my Migraines.
I also had Xanax prescribed with the Fiorecet and with both meds on board I'd sometimes pull out of the Migraine in a day rather than the week run I would have with those things.
We've recently switched from Fiorecet to the Triptans
and amazingly enough, was are also giving VIOXX!!!! a try. Yes, I found it to be absoltuely amazing.
I am needing the highest dose of Vioxx daily so we are no where near proper balance but at least it's a new direction that is having some positive results.
If the Estrogen has made a difference you might want to have a hormone panel run to make sure where your levels are now.
Hormone levels change and we often need to readjust dosage from time to time.
kat