Migraine associated vertigo and pizotifen

Hi everyone, I am new to this site and just wondered if anyone else is similar to me. I am getting quite desperate and don't know who to turn to. Two years ago I started to get mild tinnitus, followed by various other symptoms including pain behing my left eye, sweating and awful brain fog. I also started to forget things and sometimes found it hard to hold an intellegent converstation. Being in the teaching profession, this became very embarrasing. Over the last year I have suffered on and off with vertigo attacks, dizziness and fatigue, often not even getting dressed at the weekends.

I have has an MRI Scan, inner ear test, eye test and all have come back ok. I am just at the end of my tether. The Neurologist has prescribed Pizotifen and although the vertigo has gone, I still have brain fog and am putting on weight very quickly. Has anyone been in a similar position.

I had pizotifen a few years ago for migraine associated vertigo and it gave me my life back, quite literally. I went from being unable to drive, unable to cope with crowds, unable to run - on a bad day unable to get out of the chair - to being pretty much normal within a couple of months. I had to go up to 3mg per day to eliminate my vertigo attacks and after 6 months I was able to gradually wean off the medication. I have been both medication and dizzy free for around 5 years now. Different migraine preventatives work better for different people - I was also prescribed propanolol at one point but had to come off it almost immediately because of severe side effects.

I found the Dizzinews email list to be a wonderful source of support when I was struggling with balance problems and would recommend it to anyone (can be easily found through a google search).

[Hi im new to this site for me it all started 6 months ago when i kept fainting, it would happen anywhere without warning then i start getting dizzy spells which would last for hour or longer along with sickness virtigo, sinus, pain pain behind my ears pain and a felling of fullness in my ears tinnitus, and a fuzzy head and pain behind my eyes I also started to develop lack of concentration, droping things and hearing loss., not being able to communicate wellI was first treated for Labyrinthitis but the symptoms never changed they started to last even longer, Then I was told it might be Meniers's disease. I had and mri scan which came back clear, the virtigo has got better and the sickness has stoped but all the pain hasnt gone. I went back to my GP who prescribed 1.5mg pizotifen he said it may be vestibular damage causing migraines and has requseted i have a CT scan. After taking pizofen i felt much better but after two wekks of taking them the symptoms have slowly started to come back. As i work in a school i have no date to go back which is really frustrating.

Hi. I have just started pizotifen for migraine associated vertigo. I took my first 1.5mg pill last night and have woken up feeling like a complete zombie today. Every muscle in my body aches, i feel so tired i can barely stand and my throat is so sore. Perhaps it is a conincidence and i have come down with flu the same time as taking the first tablet but can people tell me how long before the drowsiness begins to wear off and how long before you started to notice a change in your dizzy symptoms?

I know its different for everyone but it's good to have an idea of what may happen.

Thanks

I'm reading these posts as a registered user of the website in a different area however my husband is the one who is currently suffering. 11 years ago (aged 40) he had an attack out of the blue which at the time took on the appearance of a 'mini stroke' which at the time the ambulance paramedics thought it was. Eventually a few months later, he was diagnosed with 'migrainomous phenomenon' (aura migraines). Initially he was prescribed Propranolol and eventually Pizotifen as the preventative and Sumatriptan when he has an attack. He has fought against weight fain girl years - he is very fit going to the gym at least 3 times a week, mountain biking, hiking and he is a civil engineer who spends a lot of time walking up and down roads and bridges that he builds. So why am I telling you all this ? Since he was diagnosed, he has never eaten any of the usual trigger related foods such as caffeine, chocolate, red wine, cheese etc. bright lights can sometimes be a trigger and I also believe that stress is a trigger for him. I was diagnosed with Bowel cancer over a year ago and have been through treatment and two ops, the last being December 2013 and so now am in recovery. My husband had a bad migraine attack a year ago today when I went in for my major op and then had a week of them in December so could not visit me until the last couple of days that I was in hospital. He came off Pizotifen again in March (he Has tried a couple of times previously as it does make him lethargic and - the weight management is always an issue) He had no more attacks until around April. Since then he has not had another one but in May developed dizziness. So far he has been diagnosed with Labyrinthitus, had five different cocktails of pills, been for various blood tests, been diagnosed now with BPPV (positional vertigo) and now finally been referred to a consultant ( supposedly as an urgent referral) but according to ENT this will be some time in November!  I have suggested going back on Pizotifen but is that the right thing to do, it seems that there are good comments relating to this? Incompletely understand those of you suffering with this. It is more debilitating than the migraine itself and I worry about the Health and Safety aspect with my husband'so job.

Although I've suffered with migraine headaches on and off for years, for the most part I've managed to lead an active lifestyle, hold down a stressful job. During the last 12 months or so things have changed for the worse. I've found that my migraines have become more frequent (often daily) and my anxiety level has risen particularly when in social situations. It feels like I'm using all my brain power just to stand upright as I feel so unsteady during an attack. Last Sunday this culminated in a severe and completely debilitating vertigo attack resulting in an emergency admission to hospital. After a stay of 2 days of not moving from my bed I was discharged (in a wheelchair) pending further investigations. The most likely diagnosis appears to be Vestibular Migraine but is yet to be confirmed. For three days prior to this attack I'd suffered migraine 'pressure' type headache on one side yet on day of vertigo attack I'd felt fine. I'm taking Betahistine three times daily and ibuprofen. My mother takes Pizotifen to prevent migraine and has done for many years - it seems to work quite well. Any hope it would work for me as I'm still more or less bedridden as still feeling so unsteady?

Hi,

I used to suffer chronic migraines in my 20s, on different medications including Imigran injections. However now in my 50s, had fibromyalgia for over 35 years and I am experiencing vestibular migraines frequently. These are not the same type of migraines Ipreviously had. Like everyone else I find them extremely debilitating and am struggling to keep working part time. Medications to try and help the fibromyalgia usually result in weight gain, more dizziness, headaches and even more fatigue! Here's hoping we all find something which will help.

Hi, I was just told by my ENT that she thinks I have migraine associated vertigo and she did all sorts of tests, which have come back fine. But now she wants to send me to a nuerologist for him to look at everything and have him be the one to prescribe meds for me. Has anyone else had to see a nuerologist?

Don't touch it . Did the Dr tell you about the high weight gain. I gained 6lbs in 2 weeks without changing eating habits nortriptyline has worked for me . I would urge you to get a proper diagnosis from the ENT not ur doctors . I've suffered with the same for the last 9 months turns out I have ms I don't want to scare you but they also told me vestibular migraine and stress . Push for hospital appointment . Really the go doesn't always have the correct answear. 

Was your symptons all the time 

Hi, I understand the nightmare you're going through. I'm currently seeing occupational therapists who specialise in neurological problems and am very slowly starting to improve. They have explained that sensory overload can cause these problems and the brain can't cope with so much information therefore causing balance/motion problems amongst other things. I'm being given very basic exercises, and I mean basic like hands moving in time to metronome, to get the brain to connect again. These, together with breathing exercises and learning about the condition is helping it is a long journey and so debilitating. If possible try and see if you can be referred to occupational therapists as they are better than all the consultants and tests I've had. Good luck and take care. Xx