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Medications: These medications are some of the medications out there that might help you. Not all of these are specifically headache pills, some of them are for Anxiety or Depression, but they go hand-in-hand with PCS so they are worth including.
Medications: These medications are some of the medications out there that might help you. Not all of these are specifically headache pills, some of them are for Anxiety or Depression, but they go hand-in-hand with PCS so they are worth including.
The Following are the alphabetical list of medications that I gathered from people. There are injections mixed in with the pills, but they are labeled. There is the name of the medication, a blurb about it, personal anecdote, side effects and similar medications.
- Aimovig (Erenumab) - this injection was approved in 2018. It may not be covered by insurance for kids. It is a preventative headache medication
- Side Effects: usually limited to redness around the injection point. More
- See my instagram for my Aimovig Diaries, I just started the medication 6/21/2020
- Amitriptyline (Chlordiazepoxide)- Listed in the drug class Benzodiazepine, Amitriptyline is used to treat nerve pain, and depression that is associated with anxiety, it is a sedative. It is very dangerous when combined with alcohol
- Side Effects: confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder; pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; a light-headed feeling. More
- Similar Medications:
- Beta Blockers- This is more of a class of medications then one thing but it is very different from the other drugs. It blocks the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) to slow heart rate, it is also used for high blood pressure. HIgh blood pressure can make the migraine/concussion headache worse. It is suggested that you should not drink or eat anything with caffeine while taking beta blockers, so all you Lorelai Gilmores out there may need to rethink the amount of coffee consumed or the choice of medication.
- I was on these for a bit but it didn't work for me, though many people find them very useful.
- Side effects: Fatigue, Cold hands or feet, and Weight gain are the most common side effects. More
- Botox - this injection is well known for chronic migraines. It is said that it will not work if you have fewer than 14 days with a migraine (per month). Upon researching it I learned that it is made of a bacteria that can be naturally found in spoiled food, one that if ingested into the stomach can cause your muscles to paralyze, causing potentially deadly damage. No need to worry about the botox injections though, the are not being sent to the stomach so while it would paralyze the muscles around the injection sites, that's kind of the point so it is good. Results can show in around 2-3 weeks, though sometimes it takes up to three treatments.
- Side Effects: usually limited to redness around the injection point.Mor
- Compazine (Prochlorperazine)- Used to treat migraines, anxiety, nausea, and schizophrenia.
- Side Effects: Dizziness, decreased sweating, mild constipation, dry mouth and more
- Similar Medications:
- Cymbalta (Duloxetine)- Used for many things, including fibromyalgia, anxiety and depression and mood disorders.
- I have not personally tried this one but it is common among the people I have talked to.
- Side effects include Dry mouth, nausea, and sleepiness. More
- Similar Medications:
- Effexor (Venlafaxine)- used mostly for anxiety though it can be used for depression and panic disorders. It has not been determined as safe for children
- Side Effects: Pretty standard, nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, etc More
- Similar Medications:
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)-One of the safest drugs, according to my doctor. It is very common and is used to treat all types of nerve pain. Doses can go pretty high, but you will start out on a small dose. This seems like a pretty common starter medication for people with PCS
- I took this for a long time, it definitely worked for a while, though I am someone that medication doesn't work very long if it works at all.
- Side Effects: nausea, fatigue, vomiting, the usual things that can occur, though with some of these medications you are almost definitely going to end up with the side effects, the side effects listed are not common. More
- Similar Medications:
- Ketorolac- Used to treat migraines, kidney stones, and lower back pain. Very dangerous when mixed with alcohol
- Side Effects: Swelling of the feet, hands, and face, weight gain and More
- Similar Medications:
- Lexapro (Escitalopram)- Used for general anxiety and depression disorders, as well as OCD and Kleptomania, the irresistible urge to steal. (I didn't know that was a thing but it's interesting. )
- Side Effects: nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, trouble sleeping etc. More
- Similar Medications:
- Lidocaine Injections - this injection is used to treat irregular heartbeats but is also used to numb the skin
- Side Effects: usually limited to redness around the injection point.More
- Lunesta- a sedative used mostly to treat insomnia
- Side Effects: anxiety, depression, aggresive behavior, drowsiness, headache, hallucinations or confusion. More
- Similar Medications:
- Maxalt (Rizatriptan)- Used to treat migraines
- Side Effects: Tremors, dizziness, upset stomach, dry mouth and more
- Similar Medications:
Nerve Block- Nerve blocks differ in type and desired effect based on who is doing it. I have had two (and had negative reactions to both, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen a lot) I had one that was supposed to be noticeable by 3 days later and had a numbing agent in it for the in between time. (well my head was so sore I couldn't touch my hair for like 2 weeks but like I said, rare). The second was supposed to be immediate and it was in more places. I felt pretty dizzy and sick after that, but getting stuck with needles in the head after a long day isn't the best way to end the day.
Nortriptyline- This drug is used to treat headaches, nerve pain, depression, joint pain and postpartum depression.
- I have been on this for close to a year. it's okay. Sometimes it makes me sick to my stomach and my hands shake a lot. Sometimes my arms or legs but that doesn't happen as much.
- Side Effects: Shakiness, dry mouth, change in appetite, or More
- Similar Medications:
- Prozac (fluoxetine)- Prozax is mainly used to treat depression, OCD and Panic disorder. While it does not directly impact a migraine/PCS headache, stress, anxiety and depression all can come with PCS and worsen the headache.
- Side Effects: Pretty typical, nausea, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, fatigue. More
- Similar Medications:
- Sumatriptan- Used to treat migraines and cluster headaches
- Side Effects: feeling warm or cold, tingaling, tiredness and more
- Similar Medications:
- Topamax (Topiramate)- Used for a variety of things, seizures, bipolar disorder and migraines (12+). It enhances neurotransmitters
- It does have significant side effects though. It makes you lose your appetite and will cause you to lose weight. It also gives you some tingling/numbness, most people it is just in the hands and feet but for me, it was my entire head and prevented me from sleeping. More
- Similar Medications:
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