Comments on: Namenda Migraine Treatment

By: Eileen Bradley

Eileen Bradley — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:22:36 +0000

Hi Betsy,
My daily headaches are bothersome, they are somewhere between 3-5 on the pain scale. I normally do not do injections unless the 5 headache is getting worse. Seems like the Namenda is keeping the monster headaches at bay. I did have to do an injection yesterday and maybe another today…..we will see. Thanks for checking in I appreciate it.
Eileen

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:09:39 +0000

Hi, Eileen!

Glad to hear your migraines are at least a little bit better. So even though you still have daily migraines, does this mean they are less severe or bothersome because of the Namenda?

It makes me feel a bit better to hear you say it makes you foggy headed if you take the second dose because that’s how I felt and supposedly it’s not supposed to have that effect… go figure.

I hope you continue to improve!
Betsy

By: Eileen Bradley

Eileen Bradley — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:59:49 +0000

Hi, thanks for sharing about Namenda. I am taking it for migraine and it has helped somewhat as I am not doing as many Imitrex injections right now but still have daily headache. I am on 5mg in the am and can’t seem to do the other dose in the evening as it gives me foggy head and diarrhea. They also put me on anti-inflammatory meds- toradol injections(occasionally) and naproxen which helped me tremendously but upset my stomach that I have had to discontinue ): I will be able to start them again once my tummy is better with prilosec. Anyway thought I would share.
Eileen

By: Betsy

Betsy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 12:56:37 +0000

Hi, Jodi! Are you going off Namenda because of side effects, or are you wanting to try and treat your migraines without meds? Would staying on a low dose be harmful for you?

By: Jodi Rothman

Jodi Rothman — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:08:16 +0000

HI. This is Jodi Rothman again. Betsy – thanks for sharing your thoughts on tapering off. I am at my 3rd try to taper off. Still just taking the night ones but it has been a tough month. Today was the first day I felt better. I’m hoping my body just needs to adjust cause I really want to get off of it.

As to Beth – I can’t speak of what it does for Alzheimer patients, but if your mom is worried about migraines, I can say this. After trying to get off of it 3 times I feel it really does help relieve migraine pain. I hope that helps. Good luck.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:09:25 +0000

Hi, Beth! Sorry I don’t have much knowledge re Namenda and Alzheimer’s. I’m sorry to hear that your mother developed migraines with the Aricept.

The little bit of reading I’ve done about Namenda and Alzheimer’s is that many times people are prescribed both Namenda and Aricept. And I have read that either is most effective if started early, so hopefully they (or one) will help your mother. Anyway I don’t have any personal experience with either drug and Alzheimer’s but I wish you well!

By: Beth Gentry

Beth Gentry — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:32:32 +0000

My mother has just been diagnosed with Alzheimers, and was taking Aricept…but started having migraines…so her doctor took her off the Aricept and she will be starting on Namenda next week. I am concerned…does anyone have an opinion as to the effectiveness of this drug for the Alzheimers. We believe she is in the mild stages of Alzheimers…and want to get her on some type of medication right away, but she is very much against taking anything that gives her migraines. Any help?

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:53:40 +0000

Hi, Jodi!
Yes, I tapered off the Namenda in the same manner I gradually worked up to the dose I was taking, just backward. I didn’t have any problem going off it, but if your migraines are worse taking less, then maybe it was/is helping you(?). Have you asked your doctor yet about going off it? I did not experience more migraine attacks while tapering off it. Hope this helps but of course everyone’s experiences with this stuff are different…
Best wishes!

By: Jodi Rothman

Jodi Rothman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:46:27 +0000

Has anyone ever tried to get off Namenda? I’m trying just because I want to get off some of my medications for migraine and after just being tapered off 5 mg am having terrible migraines. I take 5mg in morning at 5 mg at night. I haven’t even tried to get off the 5 mg at night yet, and my migraines after being off for about 10 days are at a 4 (out of 5) I don’t know if it’s because I need the Namenda or because I’m going through detox. Anyone?

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:20:36 +0000

I was hoping to continue taking Namenda for two reasons (migraine and memory) but my doctor took me off Namenda. Namenda did cause me to feel like I was living inside a wobby fish bowl so I’m glad to be rid of that feeling.

Out of curiosity I tried to find the article my doctor found in the Neurology magazine. I was unable to access the magazine but in the process I uncovered other unsettling news. Medicines for headache pain (Aleve and others) can cause memory loss.