Does anyone have any suggested medicinces for migraine pain? The new "triptans" cause me chest pain.
MSG seems to be a trigger for my migraines and it seems to be an ingredient in a lot of ready made kosher foods. Thanks.

Thanks for the advice. I have seen several neurologists and had two MRIs to rule out other problems.
I use phrenilin for most headaches (it's butabital and tylenol), but that only serves as a partial cover up.
The triptans (I have tried three different ones) give me a pain in the chest and make me very anxious. What else is there besides the triptans and butabital based drugs?

I was also told to try a beta blocker, but my blood pressure is on the low side and I do not like the idea of taking a drug every day.

many foods can trigger a migraine (as well as some other headaches). anything that will cause blood vessel dilation can bring on a migraine. some ex.s are hard cheeses, wine, sulfites, MSG, canned fish (there's histamine in them), certain vegetables (such as pepper, eggplant, peas, beans)etc.

can also consider an alternative-type medicine, called migzelief (sp??) which has no medicine in it, but rather has magnesium and other muscle relaxants in it, for those whose migraines may be caused by tight muscles. for those who do have such heaadaches (and it's theorized that many migraines are caused by this) then there are botox injections as well to consider, with a dr experienced in them.

For me, I have identified chocolate, msg and asparteme as triggers. The hardest to avoid is msg. It is often identified in food as "spices". I often run into problems with pre-packaged kugel/side dishes from the local deli because they use soup mixes that contain msg.

Larry King just had a show on last night about Migraines. He interviewed Dr. Diamond of the Diamond Headache Clinic, and he talked about the use of anti-convulsants for Migraines.
These can be prescribed by a Neurologist or Psychiatrist who deals with pain control.

Sometimes,if you can catch it at the first SLIGHTEST hint (even before an aura, if you get one) taking LIQUI-GELS (ibuprofin) and LOTS of water, can help stop it.

Often other headaches can be misdiagnosed as migraines (even chronic sinusitis.)

Besides for the triptans and ergotamines (such as DHE)
your drug choiced would probably be--
*Antiseizure drugs such as Topamax and Depakote, used to treat epilepsy
*Beta-blockers such as Inderal, used to treat high blood pressure and abnormal heart rate
*Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, also prescribed for high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
*Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), over-the-counter painkillers such as Aleve and Anaprox
*Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil and Norpramin

realize though that each one has its own POSSIBLE side-effects.

Botox injections have been found to help in patients who get frequent migraines.

Have you ever read through the patient pamphlet that comes along with your migraine meds?
I remember reading up on a new migraine med and when I finished reading all the (POSSIBLE) side effects I remmber saying to myself--"what do I need all THAT for? I'll keep my migraine, thank-you!"

biofeedback can be a tremendously useful tool.

Supplements such as magnesium (be careful of diarrhea-and which must be taken for about 4 months until relief sets in) some B vitamins , Coenzyme Q10 and even the herb Feverfew can each be beneficial.

Also, find yourself a doctor who is willing to listen and who keeps up with new research!

above all else, really, daven!

note-if NSAIDs bother your stomach, you can try taking them with antacids/or prescribed ones like nexium.
also, being aware of triggers can really help (in addition to the ones i listed previously, a new one may be splenda.)
also, if NSAIDs do help you, then you'd probably benefit greatly from botox b/c it fully relaxes the muscles, and not just temporarily like an NSAID.
did you ever have a head injury yrs ago after which you began having the migraines??-just asking b/c not everyone with migraines responds to NSAIDs and if you do it seems to point towards an inflammatory factor.
the best results which will hopefully not require botox on an ongoing basis (usually patients can go 3 months between injections. often after a few treatments they don't need it anymore at all. however, studies are going on now at the mayo clinic, among other places->) will probably be combining botox with craniosacral and similar techniques, such as biofeedback. this way once the muscles are fully relxed from the botox,the patient can keep it relaxed by utilizing the other methods. this is what they've found already using botox for other conditions.

Susan,
I highly recommend you see a neurologist. I describe my migraine as if someone is driving a railroad spike into my right temple. When this first started I tried ibuprofen. I ended up later getting rebound headaches from those medicines. I still get migraines, but at least the prescription medicine I take does not make things much worse.

I believe that I get some migraines from reactions to msg, asparteme or chocolate, although I can't prove that except by self-observation. I'm sure stress does not help either.

You should ask a neurologist. I always have the migraine in the same location (although sometimes I also have problems with light, etc too). I have seen several neurologists and have had two extensive MRIs and they have all confirmed that the only problem is the migraine.

I always hear "Oh ya, my friend gets migraines, i get it once in a while..." but I always think, "Oh, for sure, if you think you get migraines, nobody has it as bad as ME"! But what some of you have been describing, sounds like me! Everyone that knows me for a pretty long time knows I get migraines, its so life stopping! However, as I once heard someone say about being in a bus bomb, I feel the same way "If not for these crazy migrainr attacks, I wouldn't have the same connection with Hashem ,and I wouldn't be the same person." It really makes you think: there is no doctor and no individual that controld the world... you can plan and make the grandest plans, but Hashem can make the migraine strike, and "poof" your in bed howling in pain and vomiting instead. (I always pray that on my wedding day I'll IYH be migraine free! On my sister's wedding day I wasn't so lucky) Anyway for me, I found that Imitrex injections work well if you sleep right afterwards for like an hour.... And I've tried an allergy testing diet before, but not so strict, and now I'm on it again (It's my third week) very stricly, I'm off preservatives, wheat, eggs, and eggplant (I definately saw a connection with that and my migraines) and a minimum of dairy products... Did anyone ever try acupunture or chiropractic for migraines? my mom wants me to try that...