While I have not taken it, I have taken what the docs say is the "next generation" of it, Lyrica. It was great for headache control, I didn't gain weight, it also helped with nerve pain and some other things. in my opinion this is well worth a try. I know a LOT of people from chronic pain support group who have taken neurontin for migraine control with excellent results. Recently a neuro told me that they think migraines are a sort of seizure in the blood vessels around the brain. Neurontin is a seizure medicine, es is lyrica, and can give him his life back.
In a lot of ways he probably feels the migraines are stealing his life, or his enjoyment of it. I know I did for a LOT of years. If it would help to hear about this from someone who not only has had them for at least 38 years and isn't his mom, and who has tried one or another version of a LOT of medicines for them, have him pm me or let me know and I will pm him. I am sure Jess would also be willing to write him either with email or facebook or text message or even talk on the phone. She has had them since she was 4. All of my kids have them, and I know how hard they are to cope with.
A couple of years ago I gave you a list of the different types of medications used to control migraines (info I have gotten from several neurologist - same list from each of them, not a bit from this doctor and a bit from that one). Diet also plays a HUGE role in migraines, so maybe he needs to research migraine triggers. They can come just because, or they can be triggered. Most people can figure out their triggers by keeping a diary of what they eat and do. I discovered that if I have more than 2 servings of processed meats (bacon, bologna type stuff, chicken from most any fast food restaurant and many other restaurants, etc...) I get a migraine. But it is tricky because the migraine is 2 days later. Around 50 to 60 hours later. Had I not had to keep a diary for a study I was in, I would not have learned this. I enjoy ONE serving when I eat that type of thing, and wait a few days between servings (when I eat it at all).
If you don't have that list of medications, it is probably in the archives somewhere, or I can try to type it again. hand issues might make it a few days.
difficult child needs to understand that he has CHOICES in dealing with his migraines. He can change his lifestyle and it wll help but likely not eliminate the problems, and he can learn to control them. He will most likely NEED medication to fully control them. If he isn't willing to keep a log of his food and activities, and then in a couple of months take a look and see what he can find out about his triggers, he could just eliminate all things thought to control migraines. Or he can work to find the medication that works for HIM and maybe not be so strict with the diet/lifestyle.
But at his age, he has to KNOW that his choices are going to be the key in handling the migraines. What has the headache doctor given him to help stop a migraine after it happens? I was one of the earliest users of imitrex and it still works well for me. If the doctor rx'd treximet, it is supposed to work even better but is simply imitrex plus aleve (naproxen sodium). the naproxen helps the imitrex (sumatriptan) work better. As I think I remember you having insurance that is a PITA about some medications, it would likely be a LOT easier and cheaper to get generic imitrex and have him take 2 OTC aleve with it. I can't do it because I get an awful rash from aleve.
At some point he will have to realize that docs don't have a crystal ball and they don't knwo which medication will work or not work for which person. All they can do is give you one medication, and if it isn't working or has side effects, then change it to another.
From what I have been told, neurontin does work well with lamictal (we discussed it with a neuro for J's migraines, if the lamictal didn't control them - it helped enough that we didn't need neurontin. (gapapentin is the generic name for neurontin) She has other problems that are a larger concern, and we didn't end up using neurontin. At least not yet.
in my opinion your son needs to learn exactly how many people get which side effect, like the kidney failure. So that he can put it in perspective. If he is going to get all upset, he should at least know how likely something is to happen. It might give him some sense of control. I know he gets freaked out by side effects and you can't keep him from finding them. So maybe learning about how likely it is to have that side effect, and what can be done to stop it, would be helpful. Add some reason into the upset. But you are his mom and if you think it would make him more Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)/anxous about it, then go with your gut.
If he won't take the medications then he needs to do something else to take control. IF he won't, then hard as it is maybe you should start insisting he do as much as he can when he has a migraine. Sometimes that push, the lack of sympathy and flat out telling someone that if they won't try to fix the problem then they can't have sympathy or days off will push them into working to find a solution. It SEEMS hard hearted, but would it be nicer to give sympathy and let them just keep having the problem because they are afraid of the solution? I can't say if this is right for your son for this problem at this point in time. I know that at some times it has been right for one or another of my kids, and at some times it has been wrong. Again, you have to go wtih your deep down gut and some cold hard practicality to see what will accomplish the solution.
Is it possible for them to do a baseline lab workup to see what his vitamin levels are at when he does NOT have a migraine, and then to have an order and get him in when he does have one? The first bit of help I got for my migraines was that study in college, and that is a big part of what they did. While it doesn't prevent them, it does at least help me to reduce the intensity and length of a migraine to take supplements of two vitamins when a migraine hits. the earlier I can get them in me, the better it works. (triptans like imitrex work better if taken at the very first sign of a migraine also). One of the things the study learned is that some people have the levels of some vitamins drop significantly when a migraine starts - and they don't come back up until it is over with-o taking a supplement. For me it is B12 and pantothenic acid. But that was not the most common vitamin/nutrient to have drop. I don't know what the others, esp the common ones, are because it was twenty some years ago. But it was interesting and while it doesn't prevent, it sure didn't hurt me.
You need to stress that he CAN make changes and choices, including to NOT make diet/lifestyle changes and take medications. But the choice to not try to help the problem will likely result in getting more migraines, and less sympathy from you. Reward him for making those choices that help. If he really really doesn't want to try this medication, consider asking to try a beta blocker. It will largely depend on what his blood pressure is because these medications lower them. But there are MANY old, dirt cheap beta blockers and for many many people keeping the blood pressure low is hugely helpful. Until some time after I had Jess, I could tell you if my blood pressure top number went above 108. keeping track of it daily, and taking it when a migraine hit, let me find that that was MY number - it is different for everyone. Lower than that I had very very few problems. Beta blockers make you drowsy at first, takes 2 weeks or so to adjust unless the dose is just too huge. Then you have to cut it back or you just sleep. The reason I suggest it is because the older a medication is the more we know about how and why it works and what the side effects are and how to treat them. So in many ways they are safer.
I am glad he is getting some help as I know how awful they are. I spent a LOT of years having them 2-3 times a week and sometimes having them last a week up to a month. So I know how upsetting and frustrating and life stealing they are!
