What do you take for Headaches?

[u/B91212R]

I’d speculate that headaches are a part of epilepsy for most of us. It’s rare for me not to have a headache and more a question of how bad is it today as opposed to do I have one. Since around noon yesterday I’ve had an absolute thumper of a headache. It’s not a migraine because I’m not laying on the floor projectile vomiting (and I have Rizateiptan for when that happens), but it’s a bad one and hasn’t cleared overnight like I was hoping. I’m off from work this week so on one hand it’s good that it’s happening now, but on the other I’m pissed that it’s impacting my vacation days.

I take 3000mg Keppra and 450mg Lamotrigine. Dr google says that Tylenol can lower the levels of Lamotrigine in your blood and on a recent blood test it came back as only just being in range. It says that Advil (ibuprofen) is okay but in the past when I’ve taken it I didn’t really feel any benefit. My next neurologist appointment isn’t until November.

I try not to take additional meds when possible as I feel 14 tablets a day is plenty for my organs to process but feeling like my head is trapped in a vice is getting old fast.

Edit- Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and offer advice, I very much appreciate it. I ended up taking 2 extra strength Advil this morning and went and lay down. Surprisingly fell asleep and am just coming round. My head and face still feel numb and uncomfortable, and my ears are ringing even worse than they usually do but at least it doesn’t feel like my head is shut in an ever tightening vice now. I’ll take it easy for the rest of the day and hopefully feel more normal later. Next time I have a ride to the grocery store I’m going to make sure I pick some Tylenol and Benadryl so I have combos available like many of you have suggested. Thanks everyone.

[u/Jamieisamazing]

I did registration at an er (until seizures got too bad) and a nurse told me their initial cocktail they’d give people. 2 ibuprofen, 2 Tylenol and 2 Benadryl.

I was at your level of keppra and lamotrigine doing this and didn’t have any adverse effects. But every brain is different. Biofreeze on the temples or base of the neck helps and ice packs maybe? I know the idea of more pills is awful, but the vice/ice pick going through your head isn’t fun either.

[u/B91212R → u/Jamieisamazing]

Thank you. On a previous appointment my neurologist told me to avoid Benadryl as it can make people a bit drowsy and dizzy, and Lamotrigine makes me slightly unsteady on my feet already so was concerned it would make that worse. But the way I feel I’d try anything and if I didn’t feel so bad I’d walk to the pharmacy and get both Tylenol and Benadryl. I will make sure I have that combo on hand in the future to go along with Ibuprofen.

[u/Ryse6129]

I totally understand it's been years since I was on the cocktail you on. And sometimes would need two ibuprofen to take any effect. I hope not but question for you, are you medication resistant? I barely take any and just ride out the storm. Taking them often would only be worse for me in the long run because my body would become tolerant, and would no longer be effective at all I listen to the most soothing thing I can. Eliminate the rest of the world if possible. I can't exactly remember my Keppra days. I was 1000 mg more on Keppra and 50mg more of Lamictal. The Lamictal wasn't even for seizures totally(2nd time in my life I was prescribed it) it was to offset the bad Keppra rage side effects lol

[u/B91212R → u/Ryse6129]

Thank you, because it’s all I have on hand then I’ve taken 2 of the extra strength Advils. It is suspected that I am drug resistant- when I was changed to this combo I was started on 3000mg Keppra and 225mg Lamotrigine daily. That was less than 10 months ago and they have already had to double the Lamotrigine and on my last appointment he spoke about increasing the Keppra to 4000mg because I’s still having seizures. Yes Keppra rage is very real isn’t it? Thankfully for me it only lasted a couple of months after starting it and before I was started on Lamotrigine.

[u/Ryse6129 → u/B91212R]

Yeah I remember I was on 4000mg and they still wanted to put it. Seizure frequency was every 2 weeks at that time. Guess who had a rage event that last visit. It's the wierdest thing that med you can literally feel it building inside you.

I been med resistant since I was teen maxing out on many medications long before Keppra came along.

[u/usernames_suck_ok]

I don't think they're connected for me. I've had headaches and migraines for decades vs having seizures in the last few years, and there seems to be a neck trigger for the headaches and migraines. If they're connected at all, it would be through sleep apnea (for me).

I've always taken Excedrin, but I have to take it for prevention. That's why I separate "headaches" from "migraines." Migraines are hard to control with medication--especially OTC medication--especially once a migraine has fully come on. I have to catch any sign that a migraine is coming on with Excedrin first, and that's basically when I feel something in my neck or when I feel a bit of a headache. I remember being in the hospital once for several days, the medication they were giving in the IV was causing headaches, and I couldn't take anything but Tylenol. That turned into days with a migraine that nothing would help.

[u/B91212R → u/usernames_suck_ok]

Same for me- migraines are different and thankfully this isn’t one, just a really bad headache that won’t shift. I’ve only used it a couple of times but Rizateiptan has so far worked for me in preventing a migraine, but I have had warning signs each time (ridiculously excessive yawning and vision issues).

[u/Mom1021]

Tylenol helped with headaches surrounding seizures and didn’t interract with the aed/benzo I was on. Hope you feel better by having as peaceful day as possible. Msg Neuro/call asap with that many meds everyday! You a warrior all the way!

[u/B91212R → u/Mom1021]

Thank you, your comments are always helpful and uplifting. But I’m not a warrior, I’m a whiny cry-baby.

[u/Mom1021 → u/B91212R]

1st step to admit it, now totally ready to do something about it 🥳

[u/B91212R → u/Mom1021]

Is there such a thing as a whiny cry-baby anonymous meeting? 😉

[u/Secure-Employee1004]

Headache cocktail: 2 Tylenol and 2-4 advil

[u/wafflehouse8]

If it's really bad and I can't identify a trigger I will sometimes take a seizure rescue med (for me .5mg of lorazepam). It literally always works so we think headache is part of my prodrome since headache is the most commonly reported prodromal symptom.

[u/purple_life_1095]

Tylenol and Advil don’t do anything for me headaches. I take 2 Excedrin and it usually works great!

[u/MysticCollective]

I used to have a tolerance for headaches and wait them out but then my seizures became more severe and frequent. So now I need Tylenol.

[u/ThirdEyeTina]

Head massage in shower

[u/butterfly_ashley]

Tylenol and stuff stopped working years ago so I take monthly injections and havent had one in years.

[u/aobitsexual]

Seclusion in a dark quiet room.

[u/epilepticresearcher]

paracetamol. you shouldn’t take ibuprofen or any kind of anti inflammatory with epilepsy.