[gocubsgo]

Is anyone else waking up with morning migraines from sinus and allergies? Some mornings I wake up with whoppers...I take Sumatripthen and Excedrin to get rid of them. There has to be a nighttime allergy medication to take before bedtime to ward these off.

What do my other allergy sufferers take at night?

[ewstanley]

I suffer from migraines and have taken many things. I have recently tried melatonin before bed and it helps somewhat. I have been having nightmares recently and think it might be a side effect. I have tried many of the OTC remedies as well as prescriptions but didn't like the side effects. It is an uphill battle.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by gocubsgo

Is anyone else waking up with morning migraines from sinus and allergies? Some mornings I wake up with whoppers...I take Sumatripthen and Excedrin to get rid of them. There has to be a nighttime allergy medication to take before bedtime to ward these off.

What do my other allergy sufferers take at night?

Better to ask a medical doctor.

[gocubsgo]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

Better to ask a medical doctor.

I did and she said to take Allegra or Claritin but neither seems to work. It's partially genetic..my father had migraines every day of his life. I remember him coming home from work and literally taking 5-6 Excedrin to get rid of them!!

[graciegirl]

Migraines and allergy headaches are not the same. Migraines are caused by triggers that cause the blood vessels in one side of the brain to dilate. You get a one side of the head headache and sometimes visual disturbance called an aura,(partial obstruction of vision or twinkling lights) sometimes muddled thinking and sometimes nausea and the pain is a....whopper.

Sinus clogged and head stopped up from histamines weeping into tissues and causing them to swell, a sort of defense of the body against invaders and pseudo invaders is another issue. Thet is a allergic response or allergy.Taking an antihistamine will help with those kind of issues, but will not help migraines. Minor migraines can be helped by taking an anti-inflammatory pain medication early in the onset. Migraines do frequently occur in the morning too and as stated before on one side of the head. Migraines FEEL like you have eaten ice cream too fast. They REALLY HURT.

I agree with the poster that the best person to ask is a physician because something can be done to alleviate both kinds of pain and you may need more than over the counter help..

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Migraines and allergy headaches are not the same. Migraines are caused by triggers that cause the blood vessels in one side of the brain to dilate. You get a one side of the head headache and sometimes visual disturbance called an aura,(partial obstruction of vision or twinkling lights) sometimes muddled thinking and sometimes nausea and the pain is a....whopper.

Sinus clogged and head stopped up from histamines weeping into tissues and causing them to swell, a sort of defense of the body against invaders and pseudo invaders is another issue. Thet is a allergic response or allergy.Taking an antihistamine will help with those kind of issues, but will not help migraines. Minor migraines can be helped by taking an anti-inflammatory pain medication early in the onset. Migraines do frequently occur in the morning too and as stated before on one side of the head. Migraines FEEL like you have eaten ice cream too fast. They REALLY HURT.

I agree with the poster that the best person to ask is a physician because something can be done to alleviate both kinds of pain and you may need more than over the counter help..

I agree wholeheartedly!
Since you are waking up with them, also consider that the sleep angle of your neck may be a contributing factor. It may helpful to try an alternate sleep position or different pillow now.
You'll benefit to aim for your neck and head to be in neutral/natural alignment to the rest of your frame (as much as is possible) while you sleep.

Hope you feel better soon!

[ewstanley]

I have suffered from migraines since my 20s. I have gone to several neurologists up north, several MRIs thought out the years and was given several different prescriptions. My migraines get worse during allergy season. My migraines usually start off with an aura. I have tried Allegra, Claritin and had some luck with a low dose of Benadryl. I was on a prescriptions specifically for migraines but I didn't care for the side effects. I was on Nortriptyline and Imitrex and couldn't handle the side effects. Some people do very well with those medicines. Migraines can run in families, my father and brothers also had history of migraines. My father had luck with a drug that has been taken off the market. It is best to ask a doctor to diagnose if you are suffering from migraines. I just recently tried melatonin because my doctor told me to give it a try.

[jnieman]

I have never been one to have headaches. I was having what I thought to be migranes quite steadily a few years ago and it turned out to be high blood pressure. Once I was put on meds the headaches went away.

[BobnBev]

I understand that if you lie down and close your eyes with a wetted, not soaked, facecloth with vinegar on your forehead, that will help. Worth a try, and also acupuncture is supposed to work. Good luck.

[Madelaine Amee]

Have you tried Ibuprofen? It works for me with morning headaches.

[JE Greenwood]

Originally Posted by ewstanley

I suffer from migraines and have taken many things. I have recently tried melatonin before bed and it helps somewhat. I have been having nightmares recently and think it might be a side effect. I have tried many of the OTC remedies as well as prescriptions but didn't like the side effects. It is an uphill battle.

I also suffer from migraine headaches. I have been to numerous doctors including the Headache Clinic at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

I take Zyrtec (well the Walgreens version) and it works pretty well during allergy season for migraines what are triggered by the allergies.

Hope you feel better!

[jtdraig]

Originally Posted by ewstanley

I suffer from migraines and have taken many things. I have recently tried melatonin before bed and it helps somewhat. I have been having nightmares recently and think it might be a side effect. I have tried many of the OTC remedies as well as prescriptions but didn't like the side effects. It is an uphill battle.

I don't get migraines but I do have some tough allergies. I go to the Astha, Sinus, and Allergy Practice on 441. They put me on Cetrizine which seems to work. In high season, I had to take prednesone for a few days which helped a lot. Lots of posters have recommended a doctor...I think you need to go and have them figure it out. Just sayin'

[Bettiboop]

Morning headaches can also be a symptom of sleep apnea.

[TrudyM]

I get many kinds of headaches and as said by others an allergy attack can trigger a migraine. Years ago a doctor suggested I try taking a low dose of 10 mg of propranolol (its an RX) to guard against vascular (one type of migraine) headaches. It has worked for me with fewer side affects than other migraine meds. It doesn't block all headaches but most of the migraine ones I got.

I wake up with congestion and a headache when I sleep in air conditioning that has not been cleaned recently. It is because I am allergic to mold and the airborne spores bother me and most anithisamine meds don't help very much. I always when living in the sough had to keep the vents wiped clean and turn off the air and clean the condenser coils with bleach to get rid of the mold. Take a look and see if mold is growing in your air conditioning unit. Just a thought.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by ewstanley

I have suffered from migraines since my 20s. I have gone to several neurologists up north, several MRIs thought out the years and was given several different prescriptions. My migraines get worse during allergy season. My migraines usually start off with an aura. I have tried Allegra, Claritin and had some luck with a low dose of Benadryl. I was on a prescriptions specifically for migraines but I didn't care for the side effects. I was on Nortriptyline and Imitrex and couldn't handle the side effects. Some people do very well with those medicines. Migraines can run in families, my father and brothers also had history of migraines. My father had luck with a drug that has been taken off the market. It is best to ask a doctor to diagnose if you are suffering from migraines. I just recently tried melatonin because my doctor told me to give it a try.

I can easily tell that some responders have never had a migraine headache. Your expeience is very similiar to mine, 35 years of neurologists, surgeons and many different drugs. At this time, I use Excedren Migraine tablets and if started at the first sign of a headache, does seem to help. I guess migraines is a cross some of us must bear.