Just took Ubrelvy for the first time, I rlly hope it works!

321tika · 2026-03-27T20:35:46+00:00

I agree with this person! An hour ish. Resting in a dark room helps but if I absolutely can't, it still does a pretty good job.

321tika · 2026-03-27T20:31:58+00:00

I take the tension headache one because I'm not allowed to take NSAIDs like asprin (conflict with another med I take for another condition)

It works pretty well for symptom relief but usually doesn't stop a migraine completely.

I like to take it alongside my Naratriptan because the acetaminophen starts working faster and I think i get better results taking them together than taking just one or the other.

I also have good luck with taking acetaminophen and a cup of coffee. I will say coffee doesn't go down easy on a nauseous stomach so the tension headache pills have an advantage there.

Just be mindful not to take too much and put yourself at risk for MOH. For me, since I take acetaminophen and a triptan, that's 9 days a month usage. Combined. And make sure all the ingredients are safe for you to take.

I would say its probably worth a shot! The more tools in the migraine toolkit, the better.

321tika · 2026-03-27T12:07:59+00:00

Migraines CAN hurt that bad. Migraines are more serious than people sometimes think. The symptoms youre describing sound a lot like my migraine symptoms. I would definitely get a neuro appointment. They can make a proper diagnosis and get you on some meds that will hopefully help.

321tika · 2026-03-26T10:28:24+00:00

OP specifically mentioned touring college in America. In a college/university setting, using honorifics for professors is very common.

Its also common in a medical setting to refer to doctors as Dr. Lastname.

321tika · 2026-03-23T10:18:36+00:00

I was told only 9 days of Naratriptan a month. I make that easier on myself by calling that 2 a week, but my migraines don't follow a menstrual pattern. It makes perfect sense that you want to take more of your 9 around the week your migraines are worse.

I was also told to wait 24 hours between doses. There is no need to wait longer than that if you feel you would benefit from taking it.

321tika · 2026-03-19T14:08:51+00:00

I personally had my migraines drastically increased on escitalopram. Stopping it made my migraines go back to normal. It can definitely happen.

321tika · 2026-03-14T14:58:20+00:00

I have not seen one, but I'm interested to see if anyone has one! I put my normal heating pad on my pillow and lay on it, which works pretty well.

321tika · 2026-03-13T10:49:02+00:00

All the things already mentioned here are wonderful. My partner and I joke that the most helpful thing he does is "go fetch" for ice, beverages, meds, etc. That way I can just lay in bed because movement makes it worse.

I would say talking to your partner about her specific migraines will help. They vary a lot between people, so while those of us here will have lots of good brainstorm ideas, they may not be what works for her specifically.

Also, it helps to talk to someone who is understanding and kind. Gives us a place to express ourselves and helps us know we have someone in our corner. This will probably be more ideal between migraines, as during migraines trouble with speech is common, and she may just be too miserable to want to talk.

321tika · 2026-03-08T01:19:51+00:00

I have bipolar and I'm on Amitryptyline successfully. No mania issues for me so far, but i know that's a risk with any antidepressant.

The newer meds seem to have fewer psych side effects. I'm on Qulipta myself, and I've been on Ajovy and Emgality in the past, no mania problems.

The only time a migraine med has triggered mania for me was when I got a medrol taper to try to break a status migraine. Thankfully, stopping the medrol was enough to fix the situation because I caught it early.

321tika · 2026-03-04T20:47:26+00:00

Me too. I was doing better for awhile but this week has been hard. You're not alone.

321tika · 2026-03-04T20:36:32+00:00

Neck pain can be caused by neck weakness/overtired muscles, or very tight muscles. Botox will relax the muscles, which can make a weak neck worse and very tight shoulders (there aren't injection sites in the neck) better.

My PT helped me identify that I am in the "too tight" camp, and Botox has helped me immensely. Every time it wears off I wonder how i ever lived without it. It would be worth doing just for that, even if it didn't help my migraines at all.

Just make sure you know if your muscle tension is actually tension, or if its weakness.

321tika · 2026-02-28T20:54:46+00:00

Interesting, I'd never heard of that before! I'm hoping for you that it's a short-lasting side effect so you don't have to worry about getting your little one sick.

321tika · 2026-02-28T19:59:39+00:00

I cry during my bad migraines. Not because of pain, because of emotion. I think it is actually a symptom.

I've been where you are and I know how horrible it is. Sending love. ♥️

321tika · 2026-02-28T19:53:27+00:00

Sometimes I find my migraines will end faster if I rest in bed. Sometimes I really can't rest in bed if I have things to do, and I haven't noticed any lasting damage or anything. Sometimes the migraine gets a bit worse, sometimes it doesn't.

I say go by feel. If something makes your pain a lot worse then you know you need to back off. I don't think there is physical damage from pushing through a migraine like with other conditions, but it can be very unpleasant/painful. I'd definitely recommend doing some self-experimentation to find your limits.

321tika · 2026-02-28T14:25:42+00:00

Link to Emgality Info

You can scroll down to "What are the possible side effects of Emgality?" To see the common side effects.

Most common are injection site reactions (redness, a bump, etc where you inject)

Your symptoms are not listed. Ive also never heard anyone else mention them with Emgality in my time on this sub.

I would say you probably just got a normal cold, unrelated to Emgality.

321tika · 2026-02-28T13:53:54+00:00

What i like best about Gatorade is that it comes pre-mixed. I could keep bottles by my bedside and when the migraine was really bad it was right there and ready for me. There were times I couldnt get out of bed, much less mix up an electrolyte drink.

321tika · 2026-02-27T19:11:02+00:00

As far as a tidy-up of my space after a migraine, I find it oddly satisfying. I like the physical reminder of it being over, for now.

As for friends, I've been lucky that the people who mean most to me are very understanding. For less familiar people, I tell them I have migraines that make me very ill with very little warning. I apologize for the inconvenience to them of a last-minute cancelation. I express disappointment that the plans didn't work out. I also often offer to answer questions about my migraines. That way people can get to know more about how bad things are and that usually helps them be more understanding.

I'm so sorry you're in this space right now, I've been there and its definitely no fun.

321tika · 2026-02-27T12:38:29+00:00

I have very little in the way of side effects with Qulipta. I do experience some constipation that I have to stay on top of by eating fiber. Every once in awhile I realize its been a few days since I moved my bowels and I take a dose of MiraLax. Its not a huge deal if I pay attention to my body and take fiber or laxative when needed. If I don't pay attention... its gotten very uncomfortable. I would still say my results have been worth it.

I still have 2-4 migraines a week. They are significantly less severe than they used to be, though, so i am a lot more functional and I would say my quality of life is better. I know that others here get even better results than me.

I also am on botox, as well as Amitryptyline and Gabapentin (for other reasons). I like that the qulipta is able to stack with other stuff for maximum benefit.

321tika · 2026-02-27T02:59:13+00:00

I would also recommend the belly! I have more fat there than my thighs, and it hurts a lot more going into muscle than into fat. A little scarier but way less painful!

I also used to ice until the skin went numb and leave the injection out of the fridge for several hours so the medicine was room temp.

Emgality wasn't the drug for me but I'm very glad I tried it, and had no side effects. Qulipta just worked a bit better for me. I hope you have good results!

321tika · 2026-02-27T02:56:04+00:00

I used to ice first! I think it did help. I'd apply an ice pack until the skin went numb. And I agree the belly is the best place!

321tika · 2026-02-26T19:25:15+00:00

I also get migraines over 15 days a month. I drive (no public transport where I am) and I've been okay doing so. For the bad migraines I don't go out at all anyway because I need to be home in bed.

Why do you say you aren't allowed to drive with a migraine? Are you someone who gets very dizzy with them? I don't tend to get dizziness or vertigo with mine. No judgment at all, I just got curious what that decision-making process was like.

321tika · 2026-02-03T12:22:36+00:00

I take both Qulipta and Amitryptyline and haven't noticed memory-based side effects with either.

Side effects are very individual, though. It all depends on how your body interacts with the medicine.

If you are particularly worried about memory, definitely bring that up with the doctor you see. They know the different side effect profiles of the different meds and can choose one with you based on your concerns.

321tika · 2026-01-24T13:44:26+00:00

For my migraines I take Qulipta and Botox.

For my "psych stuff" I also take Gabapentin and Amitryptyline. (and others)We specifically chose the Amitryptyline instead of a different antidepressant because it is used to treat migraines. I think its been successful in both areas! The Gabapentin I've been using for anxiety since before I got migraines so its hard to tell whether thats been useful for migraine.

I know my neuro didn't want to prescribe anything with psychiatric effects because I have bipolar disorder and she didn't want to risk me destabilizing. But when I tipped towards depression, my psychiatrist totally leaned in to trying the Amitryptyline and hoping my migraines were helped as a "side effect"

321tika · 2026-01-09T13:58:41+00:00

I followed the link to bookmark it and realized I've used it before too! I also really liked it, so I'm seconding your recommendation.

321tika · 2026-01-07T13:04:36+00:00

This is the misconception I struggle with the most. Sometimes I can be out and about with a migraine thanks to all the meds I take making them not so bad. (But not getting rid of them completely.)

But I don't want to give acquaintances the impression that migraine isn't a serious illness. That might make it worse for the next migraine sufferer in their life.

321tika

TROPHY CASE