Migraines and Epilepsy

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My Son has been suffering from Migranes from the time he was born. He was a colic-y baby and threw up daily for 2 1/2 years. Finally we had an allergist explain to us that he suffered from food intolerances and Migraines. The migraines made the poor kid sick to his stomach. We were surprised to learn that such a young child could have migraine headaches. We went through the process of an elimination diet and found that he had a problem with Legumes (Soy, Peanuts, peas) and reacted to MSG and Aspertame. After a few years we became less strict about what he ate. He ate anything, but we did notice that after long periods (a couple of weeks) of having something with Aspertame as an ingredient ( gum, breath freshener) he would have a 2 or 3 day migrane. Almonds almost always caused a migraine within a day. He developed asthma at about 9 years old. We treated the asthma with a steroid puffer at about 11 years old and it dissappeared.He still suffered from Migraines and began having Auras with them. We did not modify his diet alot at this time but would have him stop eating peanuts, almonds, aspertame and MSG.He had his first TC seizure at 13. He had been having Myoclonic Jerks for perhaps a year before, but we did not know what they were and were not concerned about them.He began taking Lamictal at 14. The pleasant side effect was that he never had headaches. Topamax, and Mysoline and Phenobarbitol all seem to take care of the headaches.For the past few years he ate anything including the forbidden foods.Recently his epilepsy has become a serious problem. He no longer has Myoconic Jerks, but has TC seizures and they have been frequent (~ 2 -3 a week)We have eliminated all sorts of alergens from his diet recently with varying success.We have most recently learned that he should eliminate foods high in Tyramine from his diet, many of which he was still consuming ( pepperoni, salami, bacon).Our nutritionist has recommended the restricted Tyramine diet because he suffers from both migraines and Epilepsy.He still only has headaches after seizures.For the most part, Ibuprofene, will take the headache away for him (including the migraines) and if it is really bad, both ibuprofene and acetaminophene (high dose) will make things bearable.Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Comments

RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by kodankk on Thu, 2005-03-24 - 09:58

I offer this with the caveat that what works for one doesn't always work for others.My son (age 7 at the time) experienced his first and only full seizure last July. After a series of simple partial seizures in October, we made the decision to medicate.After a great deal of reading we eventually agreed with our neurologist and placed our son on depakote. Since October, he experienced only one simple partial seizure, which occured in the period when we were still working to find the proper dosage.Our son also suffers from migraines and we, of course, think they are related to the seizure activity. In our readings, we noticed that depakote is sometimes also prescribed just to help migraine sufferers, a fact that our neuro confirmed.While my son still has migraines, the frequency has definitely decreased.I hope this helps.

RE: RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by mspooh9999 on Fri, 2005-03-25 - 10:18

Kodankk,

thanks for the reply. the one thing I have definitly learned since my epilepsy began (my junior year of college - almost 4 years ago) is that what works for one person doesn't always work for another. research has shown that topamax is supposed to be great for treating migraines, but the cognitive side effects had affected me so severely that I was having problems remembering words, completing sentences and writing my thesis (I am now in grad school). So I felt that I just needed to come off the medication.

I appreciated hearing your story. I am going to do some research on Depakote and bring the idea up to my neurologist.

Aeboyle,

Research has shown that there is definitely a relationship between migraines and seizures. But unfortunately, it is even more complex in women because of our menstrual cycles. I have been taking Zomig once I get a migraine and it really works. However, there are some side effects but overall I have been really happy with the drug. Topamax was the first preventative medication I tried, so I am in the process of figuring out if I am going to try another medication, and if so which one. If you find any helpful research please forward it on, it would be really helpful in my new quest.

I recently came across a new website that was fairly informative - Migraine headache medicines : www.relieve-migraine-headache.com It may be helpful for you to look at the website.

Kodankk,

thanks for the reply. the one thing I have definitly learned since my epilepsy began (my junior year of college - almost 4 years ago) is that what works for one person doesn't always work for another. research has shown that topamax is supposed to be great for treating migraines, but the cognitive side effects had affected me so severely that I was having problems remembering words, completing sentences and writing my thesis (I am now in grad school). So I felt that I just needed to come off the medication.

I appreciated hearing your story. I am going to do some research on Depakote and bring the idea up to my neurologist.

Aeboyle,

Research has shown that there is definitely a relationship between migraines and seizures. But unfortunately, it is even more complex in women because of our menstrual cycles. I have been taking Zomig once I get a migraine and it really works. However, there are some side effects but overall I have been really happy with the drug. Topamax was the first preventative medication I tried, so I am in the process of figuring out if I am going to try another medication, and if so which one. If you find any helpful research please forward it on, it would be really helpful in my new quest.

I recently came across a new website that was fairly informative - Migraine headache medicines : www.relieve-migraine-headache.com It may be helpful for you to look at the website.

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by lala412 on Tue, 2005-04-05 - 05:30

I am SO glad I am not crazy! At least about this. :-)

I was diagnosed with epilepsy 25 years ago - have been on phenobarb ever since. Had problems with migraines for several years about a decade ago - found that if I avoided aspartame and msg, I could avoid most of the migraines. Then, after hurting my knees during my last seizure 5 years ago, I went on vioxx (for the knees) - that pretty much cured both the migraines and severe cramps.

But, in September - a week before they recalled vioxx - I had a three day long migraine that nothing seemed to help. I've had them every month since then. In December I finally figured out that they were occuring a week before my cycle started, then again the day it started, so I started charting them (was able to back-chart with my dr's help). I've tried Imitrex, Zomig, and Axert. Zomig didn't work. Imitrex and Axert work, but only if I can take them and go to bed for about an hour - otherwise, they might kick in 3 or 4 hours later, or not at all. I've missed so much work in the last 6 months that my dr finally sent me to a neurologist (hadn't had a neurologist since I moved to Texas). He started me on topamax yesterday - first time I've slept through the night in years! :-) He said he wasn't worried about the side effect since phenobarb is so much worse than anything else, but after 25 years I don't HAVE those side effects anymore.

I knew the migraines were tied to my menstrual cycle, but I had started thinking they were tied to the epilepsy as well - the last few migraines I've had, I've experienced the same thing that I do before and after a seizure - not being able to understand anything that anyone says or what's going on or what I'm doing. Now I think I know why the new neurologist has me set up for an MRI today - after actually researching epilepsy, I think I've had more seizures than I thought I had, and it fits temporal lobe epilepsy (he did mention scarring and wanting to cut it off - I thought he was crazy)... I've only had four "fall-down-go-boom" seizures in the last 25 years, but in the last five I've had quite a few of the episodes where I can't understand anything. Between that and the migraines, I think I'm glad he's switching me over to topamax. I just hope I don't have any bad side effects.

Well, I'm rushed and I hope that still makes sense after a couple of edits. :-)

Laura

I am SO glad I am not crazy!  At least about this.  :-)  I was diagnosed with epilepsy 25 years ago - have been on phenobarb ever since.  Had problems with migraines for several years about a decade ago - found that if I avoided aspartame and msg, I could avoid most of the migraines.  Then, after hurting my knees during my last seizure 5 years ago, I went on vioxx (for the knees) - that pretty much cured both the migraines and severe cramps.  But, in September - a week <em>before</em> they recalled vioxx - I had a three day long migraine that nothing seemed to help.  I've had them every month since then.  In December I finally figured out that they were occuring a week before my cycle started, then again the day it started, so I started charting them (was able to back-chart with my dr's help).  I've tried Imitrex, Zomig, and Axert.  Zomig didn't work.  Imitrex and Axert work, but only if I can take them and go to bed for about an hour - otherwise, they might kick in 3 or 4 hours later, or not at all.  I've missed so much work in the last 6 months that my dr finally sent me to a neurologist (hadn't had a neurologist since I moved to Texas).  He started me on topamax yesterday - first time I've slept through the night in years!  :-)  He said he wasn't worried about the side effect since phenobarb is so much worse than anything else, but after 25 years I don't HAVE those side effects anymore.I knew the migraines were tied to my menstrual cycle, but I had started thinking they were tied to the epilepsy as well - the last few migraines I've had, I've experienced the same thing that I do before and after a seizure - not being able to understand anything that anyone says or what's going on or what I'm doing.  Now I think I know why the new neurologist has me set up for an MRI today - after actually researching epilepsy, I think I've had more seizures than I thought I had, and it fits temporal lobe epilepsy (he did mention scarring and wanting to cut it off - I thought he was crazy)...  I've only had four "fall-down-go-boom" seizures in the last 25 years, but in the last five I've had quite a few of the episodes where I can't understand anything.  Between that and the migraines, I think I'm glad he's switching me over to topamax.  I just hope I don't have any bad side effects.Well, I'm rushed and I hope that still makes sense after a couple of edits.  :-)Laura

I am SO glad I am not crazy! At least about this. :-)

I was diagnosed with epilepsy 25 years ago - have been on phenobarb ever since. Had problems with migraines for several years about a decade ago - found that if I avoided aspartame and msg, I could avoid most of the migraines. Then, after hurting my knees during my last seizure 5 years ago, I went on vioxx (for the knees) - that pretty much cured both the migraines and severe cramps.

But, in September - a week before they recalled vioxx - I had a three day long migraine that nothing seemed to help. I've had them every month since then. In December I finally figured out that they were occuring a week before my cycle started, then again the day it started, so I started charting them (was able to back-chart with my dr's help). I've tried Imitrex, Zomig, and Axert. Zomig didn't work. Imitrex and Axert work, but only if I can take them and go to bed for about an hour - otherwise, they might kick in 3 or 4 hours later, or not at all. I've missed so much work in the last 6 months that my dr finally sent me to a neurologist (hadn't had a neurologist since I moved to Texas). He started me on topamax yesterday - first time I've slept through the night in years! :-) He said he wasn't worried about the side effect since phenobarb is so much worse than anything else, but after 25 years I don't HAVE those side effects anymore.

I knew the migraines were tied to my menstrual cycle, but I had started thinking they were tied to the epilepsy as well - the last few migraines I've had, I've experienced the same thing that I do before and after a seizure - not being able to understand anything that anyone says or what's going on or what I'm doing. Now I think I know why the new neurologist has me set up for an MRI today - after actually researching epilepsy, I think I've had more seizures than I thought I had, and it fits temporal lobe epilepsy (he did mention scarring and wanting to cut it off - I thought he was crazy)... I've only had four "fall-down-go-boom" seizures in the last 25 years, but in the last five I've had quite a few of the episodes where I can't understand anything. Between that and the migraines, I think I'm glad he's switching me over to topamax. I just hope I don't have any bad side effects.

Well, I'm rushed and I hope that still makes sense after a couple of edits. :-)

Laura

Migraines and Epilepsy

Comments

RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by kodankk on Thu, 2005-03-24 - 09:58

RE: RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by mspooh9999 on Fri, 2005-03-25 - 10:18

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Migraines and Epilepsy

Submitted by lala412 on Tue, 2005-04-05 - 05:30

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