Sorry to hear it is Chronic, but glad to know you are in a specalists hands now. Topamax could take a month to kick in. (Side effects immediate and a while to settle down). Pain pills are just a mask and become ineffective over time and can make matters worse. So to answer you, yes, but careful not to overdue it. More is not better.

Diet is usually a key to watch out for packaged foods/drinks that say spices, natural flavouring, citric acid, yeast extract and of course, msg..

I cope with ice and relaxation techniques. Sometimes muscle relaxer to break the involentary clenching.

Best of luck. Never give up.

Angela

i take ibuprofen..magnesium...and vit b6 sometimes the pain meds dont work and that makes you feel awful

so sorry to hear about your situation. I believe that NO meds can solve the problem. You must get on to a strict migraine diet: no tannins, sulfites, nitrates, tyramines (no processed foods), and you must figure out your trigger profile. I have read so many horror stories about side effects and long term effects from meds. Keep reading the forums for info on what has helped others.

I literally feel your pain. I've had quite a few of those cocktails over the years. I am taking Topomax presently, and it is helping. It may take a little time to get the dose just right. Triptans like Imitrex can be real blessings as well, but sometimes you have to try a few to get the right one.
What's important is to combine meds with a good diary of triggers: environmental and diet. For me it's yogurt, lemonade, sweet perfume, second-hand smoke, stress and a few other things. I've had to learn to avoid these. It really is a full-time job.
Blessings to you--Don't give up!

I sometimes end up with the three day migraine because i'm taking the meds but not able to rest. I have 5 kids ,it's just like that sometimes. Then when I've had enough the ER is my escape, I come back loving everyone.lol I sometimes forget to avoid red dye in food.

I have chronic migraines, I have to say I have never gone in for one of these "cocktails" just because I hate being in hospitals and around doctors and I'd rather suffer at home in my own environment...I am one of those people...and I"ve been in the hospital/around doctors alot the past few years with other health problems I have so I avoid it. But I hear it does help.
Topamax does help some people, so I hope it works wonders on you.
I tried to go off of it for awhile, since I too suffer form the chronic headaches and migraines, every day all day, and had to go back on because they just got worse.
So I take Ibuprofun inbetween Imitrex, and yes I hear Magnesium helps as well as CO-Q010 (my Neurologist said 50mg in AM and 50mg in PM) you have to cut a tablet in half. It is expensive but should help.
Hope this helps and best of luck.
:) Mandy

I also have chronic migraines and when take hold no meds work, i have 3 children one with special needs so cant just lie down and rest, its torture

getting a divorce reduced my migraines quite significantly. i used to take lots of rx meds for them and none of it really worked. now i just try to get comfortable on the sofa with very little light and sound and use a heating pad or ice packs. and sometimes excedrin migraine helps, sometimes it doesn't. i have one today because there is a thunderstorm happening and i slept until 3:30 and took an excedrin migraine and feel a little better. sometimes a glass of wine helps too :)