Migraine auras and antihistamines..

[Pinkcat21]

I am 53 and recently started getting regular migraine auras (as many as 6 a month, since July) after reading somewhere that antihistamines might help, I decided to try them. Strangely enough I was on them for a month and I havent had any. I dont like taking tablets long term, so I have now stopped them and it will be interesting to see if auras return! I do not get head pain with auras (perhaps in the beginning abit of over eye pain).

[Gaia_rising]

I'm on antihistamines all year round, despite my allergen season only being February-September. I stopped taking my antihistamines in September 2016, and was so concerned about the constant visual disturbances resembling a month-long migraine aura, I approached my optician, to see if it was a structural issue that could be remedied with new glasses. No structural issue noted, but he did suggest a referral to neuro-ophthalmology. (which my GP, and neuro-consultant botched, next scheduled brain scan September 2018...)

I resumed my OTC anti-histamines (Unemployed, I am eligible for free prescriptions, but my paying £1.50 a month for a pack of generic Loratadine is saving the NHS money...) the only 'change' factor had been stopping the anti-histamines, and they DID reduce my visual disturbances to a bearable level. (Everything still has a 'wobble' on it, similar to accidentally nudging a magnifying mirror while you're plucking eyebrows or similar.)

Anti-histamines can be used 'off label' for a number of non-allergy issues, I haven't had a migraine attack while I've been on them and I've also seen them prescribed for anxiety disorders. Historically, I always used to have more migraines October-December, I'm photo-sensitive, and the angle of the winter sun tends to trigger me. I'd still suggest a check-up with your GP if the auras are out-of-character for you, I had a horrendous season in Autumn-Winter 2014, and was fobbed off with increased dosage of Sumatriptam, which only ever delayed the onset of the full-blown migraines. I'm not intending to be a scare-story, but I subsequently had a catastrophic brain haemorrhage in February 2015, if I'd pushed for investigation, after something like 26 'silent' migraines, rather than just accepting higher dosage of triptans, my aneurysms might have been discovered before the big one ruptured.

If it's not normal-for-you, please have it checked out.

[Pinkcat21 in reply to Gaia_rising]

Thank you for your in depth reply and yes I have gone back to the doctor and have an appointment with a neurologist, I will take on board what you have said and I'm sorry it wasnt looked into more before your brain haemorrhage.

[Gaia_rising in reply to Pinkcat21]

Good, I know I'm a rather extreme case, but too many of us allow the 'doctor knows best' mindset, if it's not 'normal', it needs checking, brains are too important to risk with the 'it might get better on its own' conservative management.

[clown]

I want to try antihistamines. What dose do

you take?

[Pinkcat21 in reply to clown]

Just one tablet a day

[Bea66]

I've also had some success with antihistamines. I take the one a day non drowsy generic kind, and have found that I can go longer, much longer between attacks, especially if coupled with Diclomax at a hint of approaching migraine. I'm also on slow release propranolol as a preventative/anxiety reducer. It helps more with anxiety symptoms than migraine, but I'll take that!

[Nonnathi]

Would you mind telling me the name of antihistamine that you take so that I can ask if my doctor can prescribe me. That would be thankful.

[Pinkcat21 in reply to Nonnathi]

Im not sure if we can say the name for advertising reasons but I take pereteze