Search Results for “ritalin” – The Daily Headache https://www.thedailyheadache.com seeking joy in a life with chronic migraine, chronic daily headache and chronic illness Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:50:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.9 https://www.thedailyheadache.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cropped-TDH-favicon-32x32.png Search Results for “ritalin” – The Daily Headache https://www.thedailyheadache.com 32 32 197655449 Gastroenterologist, Adderall, and Migraine Status https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2015/11/gastroenterologist-adderall-migraine.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2015/11/gastroenterologist-adderall-migraine.html#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2015 20:33:49 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=8905 Gastroenterologist & Headache Specialist I’m sorry to report that I didn’t learn much from the gastroenterologist (I know many of you were eager to hear something that might help you). He doesn’t think it’s a functional GI problem, but is a neurological problem. He said he’d be willing to do the tests if I wanted them.… Continue reading Gastroenterologist, Adderall, and Migraine Status


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
Gastroenterologist & Headache Specialist

I’m sorry to report that I didn’t learn much from the gastroenterologist (I know many of you were eager to hear something that might help you). He doesn’t think it’s a functional GI problem, but is a neurological problem. He said he’d be willing to do the tests if I wanted them. I went in thinking I’d do them no matter what he said; now don’t think I will. After four years of exploring other avenues, I am inclined to agree with him that the issue is neurological. I asked about using preventive migraine meds that would target the neurotransmitters and hormones that are released at the start of digestion. He shook his head and said he was sorry that he couldn’t help with that. I asked my headache specialist the same day and got more information, but still the same outcome—it is impossible. He said that the body is flooded with neurotransmitters during digestion. It would be impossible to pinpoint which one or ones are problematic. Even if we could, it’s unlikely there are drugs that work on those neurotransmitters.

My headache specialist did confirm that there’s a small set of people who have migraine attacks triggered by eating anything. I told him that it almost seemed reasonable to stop eating for a couple weeks. He told me about another patient whose migraine attacks are triggered by eating—she wound up in inpatient treatment for eating disorders because she was so afraid to eat. He also said that she’d been in the week before me and was doing great. He couldn’t remember what drug she was on, but was going to look into it for me. I’m about to call the office now and will report if I get any information.

My chart notes from the headache specialist say, “I told her that it is important that she obviously continue to eat, and that if we find the right preventive regimen she will be able to eat without triggering an attack.” It summarizes much of the appointment. He also made it clear that he understands that my case requires straying way off the path of typical preventives. We’ve been off that path for a long time, now we’re on the verge of proceeding as if there were no path at all. He prescribed Celebrex and Adderall for preventives (more on that in a minute). And, if those don’t work, we’ll try monoamine oxidase inhibitors. MAOIs used to be used a lot for migraine preventive, but require strict adherence to a restricted diet to avoid a life-threatening reaction. Good thing that my ability to adhere to such a diet is so well-established. That drips with sarcasm, as it should, but I’m game if MAOIs are effective for me.

Adderall

What those of you with fatigue want to hear about is the Adderall. My headache specialist has several patients who have had a reduction in migraine attack frequency on stimulants. I tried Ritalin a few years ago. It wasn’t an effective preventive for me, but it gave me energy… for a week. Then it did nothing. I’ve been on the Adderall for just over three weeks now. Whether it’s working as a migraine preventive is still up for debate. What it is doing is giving me enough energy that I’m not glued to a horizontal surface all day every day. It’s not giving me crazy amounts of energy, more like returning me to my energy levels on non-migraine days in 2014. I’ve been terrified that it wouldn’t last, so I’ve been cramming in as much activity as possible.

Three weeks in, it feels a little more like the energy is here to stay, but three months is the critical point for me. I’ve had some drug side effects last that long, then disappear. I don’t think my energy is a drug side effect, but I still can’t believe that it will last. I have had slightly less energy in the last week than in the two previous weeks, but I’m holding out hope that’s diet-related.

I expect Adderall is probably only providing me with symptomatic relief. I’m OK with that, but am hopeful it will also work as a migraine preventive.

Why I’m Not Writing

For more than a year after I started taking DAO, all I wanted to do was write. I had a million other things I wanted/needed to attend to, but writing was my priority. Now it’s like pulling teeth. It doesn’t feel like I have cognitive dysfunction in day-to-day life, but trying to write tells me otherwise. It’s not enough to interfere with decisions or driving, or even show up in most conversations. But it’s enough that I can’t do my highest levels of mental activity—like reading medical journal articles and writing.

I’m using my physical energy to do the other thing I’ve daydreamed about: work on my house. I’m in the middle of painting the kitchen cabinets and have enlisted Hart’s help in moving furniture. I’m planning which cork flooring I want to replace the bedroom carpet with and choosing color schemes. I’m thinking about which plants will fill our yards. I don’t know how much we’ll be able to do right now (either ourselves or hiring someone), but at least there will be a plan in place that I can execute even if I’m laid up.

Migraine Status

I still have a migraine attack every time I eat, but I only have to take Amerge to stop it (not Midrin, too). The migraine doesn’t knock me out within five minutes of eating; sometimes I can wait an hour after eating before taking the triptan. And the triptan keeps me from feeling anything more than minor migraine symptoms before it does the trick. It seems ridiculous that this feels like progress, but I’ll take what I can get.

I’m still on the same diet—eating anything else results in a migraine that drugs don’t eliminate. Those migraine attacks aren’t too bad, but do sap my energy for the next day or two (even with the Adderall). Since I don’t believe the Adderall will last, I’m not willing to waste a single day. I’m also still eating only once a day. That’s so I only have one migraine a day and can keep an Amerge in reserve in case another trigger, like odors, set another attack in motion. Tolerex (the feeding tube formula) became a trigger this spring; I’m planning to try it again in the hope that a two-week reset will help reduce my food sensitivity.

The Adderall or Celebrex could be responsible for my reduced sensitivity, but stopping the probiotic might be, as well. I have no doubt that my GI symptoms were caused by the probiotic and there’s a good chance my renewed sensitivity to all food was, too. I stopped taking it in late August and my GI symptoms have been slowly resolving since then (they are almost completely gone). It would make sense that I have a gradual reduction in migraine frequency as well. It took three months of a ridiculously high dose of probiotics for the GI symptoms to start and six for the food sensitivity to return in full force. So I tell myself it took six months to get into this mess, it will take at least as long to get out of it.

I’m Not Gone for Good

I’m not sure how much posting I’ll be doing for a while, but will be back soon(ish). I hope to at least respond to comments in the next few weeks. I miss interacting with you all and I miss writing. I am, however, pretty happy with how my kitchen cabinets are coming along.

(I don’t have the brainpower to edit this post. I appreciate you muddling through the typos and hope it makes sense.)


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2015/11/gastroenterologist-adderall-migraine.html/feed 7 8905
A Cold? Nope, Migraine. https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2014/06/cold-nope-migraine.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2014/06/cold-nope-migraine.html#comments Wed, 11 Jun 2014 00:04:57 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=6961 You know that cold that gave me brain fog and fatigue as bad as with my worst migraine attacks? It was migraine. While the mild cold lasted only a few days, I simultaneously developed a reaction to one of my “safe” foods (likely cauliflower). It was triggering migraines that were lower on the pain scale… Continue reading A Cold? Nope, Migraine.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
You know that cold that gave me brain fog and fatigue as bad as with my worst migraine attacks? It was migraine. While the mild cold lasted only a few days, I simultaneously developed a reaction to one of my “safe” foods (likely cauliflower). It was triggering migraines that were lower on the pain scale than usual since I’d restarted Ritalin as a preventive. Since I ate cauliflower daily, sometimes multiple times a day, I was in a pretty much perpetual migraine.

I’m getting it sorted out, but am also pushing to introduce new foods to my diet so this doesn’t happen again (it has also happened with coconut and butternut squash). That means more migraines as I find out what’s OK and what’s not and what rotation schedule my foods need to be on. It’s annoying and frustrating, but I’ve got a good plan in place and trust that if I’ve figured this out before, I can do it again.

I’ll probably be quieter than usual for a bit, since my mind isn’t cooperating with this writing thing right now. I am reading a ton, including lots of health-related non-fiction that I’m eager to tell you about. Take care of yourselves. I’ll be back soon.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2014/06/cold-nope-migraine.html/feed 9 6961
An Almost Normal Life Thanks to an Extremely Unhealthful “Diet” https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/09/an-almost-normal-life-thanks-to-an-extremely-unhealthful-diet.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/09/an-almost-normal-life-thanks-to-an-extremely-unhealthful-diet.html#comments Thu, 05 Sep 2013 10:03:54 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=5655 In April, my migraine frequency and severity finally decreased enough that I began to feel like I had a normal life again for the first time in more than a decade. The pieces have been falling into place for a while: the move to Phoenix, wearing TheraSpecs, starting a high dose of magnesium, taking cyproheptadine,… Continue reading An Almost Normal Life Thanks to an Extremely Unhealthful “Diet”


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
In April, my migraine frequency and severity finally decreased enough that I began to feel like I had a normal life again for the first time in more than a decade. The pieces have been falling into place for a while: the move to Phoenix, wearing TheraSpecs, starting a high dose of magnesium, taking cyproheptadine, attempting a low-histamine and low-salicylate diet, starting Ritalin. I’ve been feeling better than at my worst for a while now, but it wasn’t until April that I began to feel like I could have a consistently almost normal life. The change? I took my diet down to nothing but gluten-free oats, chicken breast cooked in safflower oil, and unenriched white rice. I felt even better after cutting out the chicken and safflower oil a few weeks ago.

I haven’t written about this “diet” — what I eat isn’t healthful enough to constitute an actual diet so I have to use quotation marks — because it is unhealthful and I do not recommend it to anyone. It is an untenable solution and I worry about my nutrition all the time. Yet, I can’t let go of the life that eating this way has given me.

On this limited “diet,” I wake up each morning and know I can probably do what I have planned, rather than knowing I’ll be lucky to mark two items off my list. It enables me to have engaged and interesting conversations with my husband, make plans with friends actually be able to follow through, write regularly for Migraine.com and The Daily Headache, make meaningful decisions for TheraSpecs, exercise most days, go to yoga classes, attend therapy appointments…. In other words, subsisting on oats and rice is the difference between living a fuller life than I have in more than a decade and spending most of my time on the couch, in the unpredictable throes of a migraine.

I know I need nutrition and I don’t plan to eat this way indefinitely. It has yielded some important clues that I hope will further my treatment — I have an appointment with a dietician experienced in food sensitivities in a couple weeks and my naturopath is going to test me for metabolic disorders. While waiting for those appointments and results, I’m slowly testing high nutrition foods to see how I react. I do so with great caution. It’s hard to willingly return to the migraine cage I’ve lived in for so long.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/09/an-almost-normal-life-thanks-to-an-extremely-unhealthful-diet.html/feed 5 5655
Migraine Preventive Wins & Losses https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/04/migraine-preventive-wins-losses.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/04/migraine-preventive-wins-losses.html#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:42:39 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2901 When I write, the words often flow from my fingertips before I consciously assemble them in my mind. I type and suddenly thoughts I didn’t know I had are splayed across the computer screen. This can be an exciting, almost magical experience. It can also force me to face truths I don’t want to acknowledge.… Continue reading Migraine Preventive Wins & Losses


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
When I write, the words often flow from my fingertips before I consciously assemble them in my mind. I type and suddenly thoughts I didn’t know I had are splayed across the computer screen. This can be an exciting, almost magical experience. It can also force me to face truths I don’t want to acknowledge.

Even though I felt pretty good migraine-wise last week, something else always seemed more important than writing. It wasn’t until Saturday when I read a novel in which a teenager who was taking a creative writing class was continually surprised by what her writing revealed that I realized I was avoiding something. That truth I didn’t want to see? Ritalin is not the amazing get-your-life-back pill that it was the first week I was on it.

My migraine brain is not impervious to cloudy days. The mental fog has returned. I still have a migraine attack nearly every day. Sometimes I’m so fatigued it feels like sandbags are weighing down my body. I do not pop out of bed raring to go after seven or eight hours of sleep, nor do I go nonstop all day like the Energizer bunny.

While I mourn that lost energy and mental clarity, I also feel like an ungrateful brat. After a month on Ritalin, the pain tops out at a level 4 and I’m fairly productive even though I have to push myself hard to get going. Reducing my highest pain level by a full point and being able to get out of the house more? That’s a migraine preventive triumph.

Except that the losses continue to obscure the wins.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/04/migraine-preventive-wins-losses.html/feed 10 2901
Ritalin Three Weeks In: A Turbulent Relationship https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-three-weeks-in.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-three-weeks-in.html#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:17:10 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2888 Like so often happens with love at first sight, the spark I initially felt with Ritalin has faded. That first week, I had energy and a clear head even when I had a migraine. Week two began with a five-day migraine full of fatigue and head fog. Since that attack let up, I’ve had intermittent… Continue reading Ritalin Three Weeks In: A Turbulent Relationship


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
Like so often happens with love at first sight, the spark I initially felt with Ritalin has faded. That first week, I had energy and a clear head even when I had a migraine. Week two began with a five-day migraine full of fatigue and head fog. Since that attack let up, I’ve had intermittent bursts of vigor and mental wherewithal, but also daily migraine attacks, during which I’m back to physical and mental blah.

Despite my freakout, I don’t think Ritalin is directly making the migraines worse. I’m pretty sure the five-day migraine was the result of unwittingly (or half-wittingly) reintroducing salicylates to my body. Since then, the weather has been erratic. My sleep is off, too, which could definitely be a Ritalin side effect.

On top of those issues, whenever one migraine dissipates, I have enough oomph to do something that triggers another migraine. That energy is a positive effect of the Ritalin that I have yet to figure out how to manage. I unintentionally over-exert during yoga or on the treadmill as I try to find the balance point of good exercise without triggering a migraine. Or I go to a place that I don’t know will be perfumed. Or I have sex (damn those orgasm-triggered migraines!).

Could it be that if I went two days in a row without a migraine, the next attack would be less debilitating? As if I need to recharge between migraines to get back that lovin’ feeling even when I have an attack. I also wonder if my body is acclimating to the medication and it is becoming less effective.

Ever a romantic, I still believe Ritalin and I can work through these difficulties and create a loving, supportive long-term relationship. Maybe we’re not meant to see each other every day, but would be better off having fun together a few times a week. I’m sticking with daily for now as I try to manage all the other triggers. That’s always hard work, but not as exhausting as it was before Ritalin came into the picture. Every relationship has its tradeoffs, but the good ones are worth the effort.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-three-weeks-in.html/feed 4 2888
Begging & Bargaining With the Migraine Gods https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/begging-bargaining-with-the-migraine-gods.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/begging-bargaining-with-the-migraine-gods.html#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:54:06 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2849 Day four of a migraine attack and I’m begging the migraine gods that Ritalin isn’t the trigger. Please let it be that I worked too hard in yoga Friday (never mind that those migraine attacks always last two days), or some invisible weirdness with the weather (since the storm cleared on Sunday). If not those,… Continue reading Begging & Bargaining With the Migraine Gods


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
Day four of a migraine attack and I’m begging the migraine gods that Ritalin isn’t the trigger. Please let it be that I worked too hard in yoga Friday (never mind that those migraine attacks always last two days), or some invisible weirdness with the weather (since the storm cleared on Sunday). If not those, let it be the amaranth I ate Sunday night or the 1/4 teaspoon of breadcrumbs I had on Monday.

I will work diligently and mind-numbingly slowly on the treadmill to regain my cardiovascular fitness without triggering migraine attacks. I will only go to gentle yoga classes until I do so. I will eat nothing but chicken and rice for the rest of my life. These are the rational trades I will make. If you need irrational, I’ll give up listening to Dave Matthews forever. Seriously. Last week was that amazing.

I’m sad and scared and desperate.

Please, migraine gods, if you have any mercy, don’t let it be the Ritalin. For a week I had my life back. My self back. Don’t obliterate me again.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/begging-bargaining-with-the-migraine-gods.html/feed 5 2849
Ritalin Side Effects https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-side-effects.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-side-effects.html#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:51:49 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2829 With my lighthearted approach toward Ritalin, I fear I’ve diminished the fact that it is a a real drug with potentially serious side effects. Sorting through information on the medication was surprisingly complicated. On one hand, it seems like a relatively mild, safe medication; on the other, there are dire warnings about its risks. I… Continue reading Ritalin Side Effects


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
With my lighthearted approach toward Ritalin, I fear I’ve diminished the fact that it is a a real drug with potentially serious side effects. Sorting through information on the medication was surprisingly complicated. On one hand, it seems like a relatively mild, safe medication; on the other, there are dire warnings about its risks. I assume this is because it is often prescribed to children (many believe it and similar medications are overprescribed) and has a potential for abuse.

The most common side effects, compiled from the FDA-approved medication insert (PDF), WebMD, Drugs.com and RxList, are:

  • nervousness
  • agitation
  • anxiety
  • insomnia
  • loss of appetite
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • dizziness
  • heart palpitations
  • headache
  • increased heart rate
  • increased blood pressure
  • dry mouth

Serious side effects, according to MedlinePlus (from the National Institutes of Health), are:

  • fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • excessive tiredness
  • slow or difficult speech
  • fainting
  • weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
  • seizures
  • changes in vision or blurred vision
  • agitation
  • believing things that are not true
  • feeling unusually suspicious of others
  • hallucinating (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
  • motor tics or verbal tics
  • depression
  • abnormally excited mood
  • mood changes
  • fever
  • hives
  • rash
  • blistering or peeling skin
  • itching
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing

For a complete list of potential side effects and their severity, see this thorough list of side effects of 10 mg of Ritalin from Great Britain’s National Health Service or WebMD’s Ritalin side effects.

Personally, I was a little shaky the first couple days I took it, but less than I would be if I had a cup of coffee. Since then, I’ve been careful to eat 30 minutes after taking it, as the label recommends. My feet also seem excessively sweaty and I’ve lost a couple pounds. Having gained 13 pounds on cyproheptadine, I haven’t minded the weight loss and hope that the weight-related side effects of the two medications ultimately cancel each other out. In case you’re concerned, be assured that my casual approach to the drug is not out of a sense of euphoria, but because I’m so happy to feel like my normal self again. The absence of serious side effects makes this even easier, of course.

The possibility that the drug with disrupt sleep is a big one for migraineurs, many of who already have trouble sleeping. I take it first thing in the morning and haven’t had a problem. Because I don’t use it to manage ADD or ADHD symptoms, I don’t need multiple doses in a day. I’m not sure why, but my energy and mental clarity last all day with only one dose.

Beyond the immediate side effects of the drug, there are concerns of its potential for abuse and the effects of long-term use. You’ll have no trouble finding alarming article on either topic. I’m not worrying about either one right now. By taking only 5 mg a day and using it for a legitimate medical condition, I don’t think I’m at much risk for abuse. If I’m still on it in a year, I’ll look into the long-term effects. For now, I’m just enjoying having the mental wherewithal to write long, research-intensive posts like this one.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/ritalin-side-effects.html/feed 1 2829
A Morning Person After All? A Return to Normal With Ritalin https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/a-morning-person-after-all-a-return-to-normal-with-ritalin.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/a-morning-person-after-all-a-return-to-normal-with-ritalin.html#comments Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:01:12 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2832 When I was teaching public speaking in graduate school, I had a student I called Lawyer Boy who argued about everything. I told the class, which began at 7:40 a.m., that I was not a morning person. He responded, “You’re a morning person, you just don’t want to be.” This was about a year into… Continue reading A Morning Person After All? A Return to Normal With Ritalin


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
When I was teaching public speaking in graduate school, I had a student I called Lawyer Boy who argued about everything. I told the class, which began at 7:40 a.m., that I was not a morning person. He responded, “You’re a morning person, you just don’t want to be.” This was about a year into the migraine attacks disrupting my life significantly (it was actually the last class I was able to teach).

I’ve wondered since if I really am the morning person I remember being as a kid, but the migraine attacks and fatigue were causing me to sleep more than usual. Now, on my seventh day of Ritalin, I have to admit that Lawyer Boy was probably right. I fall asleep at 10:30 or 11 p.m. and wake at 7:40 without an alarm clock. Before Ritalin, I’d sleep until 10:30 a.m. on a good day. On a night I had a migraine (which was most of them), I’d sleep until at least 11, often noon or even 1 p.m. Then I’d lie in bed for an hour or two, mucking about on my phone and gathering the energy to get up.

It doesn’t feel like Ritalin is amping me up, but is restoring my rightful self. This morning, when my head was throbbing at a level 4, I was still up at 7:40. I popped out of bed and started writing immediately. Even better, the head pain decreased to a 3 within 30 minutes. Reduced fatigue, a clear mind, less head pain, minimal side effects*. . . . I hope this lasts.

*For me at least. I’m working on a post about side effects and potential problems of Ritalin.


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/a-morning-person-after-all-a-return-to-normal-with-ritalin.html/feed 3 2832
Trying Ritalin for Migraine Prevention… and Loving It https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/trying-ritalin-for-migraine-prevention-and-loving-it.html https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/trying-ritalin-for-migraine-prevention-and-loving-it.html#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:03:37 +0000 http://www.thedailyheadache.com/?p=2814 Wait-and-see-if-it-goes-away is my method of dealing with house problems. Not because I want to see if a minor issue will develop into a major problem, but calling someone and meeting with a service person is an exhausting proposition when you have a migraine all the time. So yesterday when Hart told me the shower was… Continue reading Trying Ritalin for Migraine Prevention… and Loving It


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
Wait-and-see-if-it-goes-away is my method of dealing with house problems. Not because I want to see if a minor issue will develop into a major problem, but calling someone and meeting with a service person is an exhausting proposition when you have a migraine all the time. So yesterday when Hart told me the shower was backing up, he was astonished when I immediately asked if I needed to call a plumber. That’s just not how we do things around here.

Until now. Now my mind is clear(er), I have more energy, and my migraine pain is improving. Today is my fifth day on Ritalin (methylphenidate). My headache specialist suggested it after a number of patients reported a decrease in their headaches and migraine attacks after starting it for ADD or ADHD. Though I’m taking it primarily as a migraine preventive, the fact that it is a stimulant definitely adds to its appeal — the fatigue has been more debilitating than the migraine pain since I started cyproheptadine. The reprieve from my mental fog was entirely unexpected, but so, so welcome. Carrying on an intelligent conversation and following complex tasks without trouble is blissful.

Oddly, the frequency of the migraine attacks is still the same — of the five days I’ve been on Ritalin, I’ve had migraine attacks on four of them, including today. A couple times I wasn’t even sure I had a migraine. The pain was only at a level 3, but I was having trouble staying awake, which indicates a migraine attack for me. I was able to “sleep off” the worst of those attacks with hour-long naps. The overall throbbing pain I’m so accustomed to has diminished, so the pain is mostly localized and stabbing, but mild.

This is a strange and exciting new world and I’m loving it!


Studies show TheraSpecs migraine glasses can reduce migraines up to 74%, relieve painful sensitivity to light (photophobia), and protect you from fluorescent lights. Best of all, they are drug-free so there is no risk of medication overuse headache. Learn more and get your own pair at www.theraspecs.com.

]]>
https://www.thedailyheadache.com/2013/03/trying-ritalin-for-migraine-prevention-and-loving-it.html/feed 16 2814