Vestibular Migraines - Alternative Treatment

[Amy R]

Hi,

I have been recommended this forum by a friend who has found success in alternative treatment for cluster headaches and am wondering if there has been any research/ success with treating vestibular migraines?

I have been struggling with vestibular migraines for 4.5 years, initially being treated for vertigo until being diagnosed by a neurologist. My symptoms include a sudden dropping sensation (as if I’m on a roller coaster), feeling like I’m falling, general dizziness and anxiety after an attack. I also have visual issues, usually starting with “static tv” vision. I rarely have pain but regularly have pressure in my head.

I have been prescribed Propanalol, sumitriptan, rizotriptan, amitriptyline, pizotifen, prochlorperazine and Citalopram. Rizotriptan usually helps ease the migraine slightly, but not when I’m having a bad attack. The next step would be to try Topiramate, however I’m a 27 year old female so it would be difficult to be prescribed this on the NHS.

Has there been any research regarding alternative treatment for vestibular migraines?

Any input would be appreciated 

[Bejeeber]

Hi Amy,

I'm sorry this migraine board has been pretty inactive - I'm just a clusterhead responding here who has a general impression that while some CH treatments such as oxygen are ineffective for migraine, the CH alternatives mentioned below can work for migraine, and hopefully(?) vestibular migraine (it's sudden dropping sensation symptom in particular sounds horrible).

 

Busting info is found at the blue "New Users" bar at top of page 

https://clusterbusters.org/forums/announcement/7-new-users-please-read-here-first/

 

And the D3 Regimen is known to be effective for migraine:

https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/1308-d3-regimen/

 

These knuckleheads CH'ers @Dallas Denny, @CHfather, @Craigo are just a few of the CH regulars here who know a lot about this stuff, and who may have further input, so I'm tagging them, thinking they might be alerted to this topic that could otherwise be missed.

[Bejeeber]

And one other thing: Topiramate (AKA Topamax) is actually pretty unpopular with those who have been on it, due to the pronounced cognitive hit that often comes with it, rendering patients 'dumb'.

 

 

 

 

[Craigo]

Thanks @Bejeeber. I would refer to the earlier posts I have shared on this migraine forum in respect my evolving understanding and views of both CH and migraine and the related alternative treatments as to the options that the OP may find worthy of her investigation; not much has changed from my side.

@Amy R, welcome and glad to have you join. I would ask what alternative treatment your friend tried and found success with; whether using psychedelics or the vitamin D3 regimen, both popular alternative treatments you will find well discussed on the CH forums.

It is only my personal view as a CH patient and someone who tries to read as much as I can about headache research that there is an evolving literature suggesting a correlation with gut health / microbial dysbiosis and migraine. Whether this is applicable to your migraine type I could not offer comment although I would say that the vitamin D3 regimen and psilocybin in more recent literature are both shown to shift the microbial landscape in the GI tract towards a less inflammatory profile, reducing systemic inflammatory burden and this may be a contributory pathway that correlates to some of the improvements we see in CH - the jury is still out.

I would encourage you to check out the resources relating to the regimen either here or at www.vitamindregimen.com - download the guides or watch the videos and see if it is something that resonates with you to explore further. One thing that cannot hurt is having a baseline 25(OH)D vitamin D lab test to see what your level is.

As for the approach of busting for migraine, I would only say that my recent experience using psilocybin for CH was both successful and an incredibly fruitful experience for my soul, and as to whether the emotional release of the medicine (only a 1g dose at 5 day intervals) had anything to do with its prophylaxis for my CH cycle is again not something I can offer any literature to support but certainly for me it felt that way. I anticipate to continue with this quarterly as a preventative strategy and spiritual / tension release alongside my continued commitment to staying on the vitamin D3 regimen year round for CH prevention and overall good health, fingers crossed.

Another thing I have found recently to try and release tension and relax a bit more has been to do 2 or 3 TRE exercises per week in the evenings before bed. Strange, funky, odd - not something I would have normally tried had my odd sibling not suggested but weirdly and entirely relaxing! Every time we do these my wife is lights out within 5 or 10 minutes. I have found myself a little more relaxed so far. It is off topic to share this and I apologise but here is a video that explains it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoB9wpuO688

Hope that is of some value, I feel like I have drifted - and its very much a post from the lens of a CH patient not versed in your specific migraine type thus treat with caution and make of it what you will. Wishing you well on the journey of discovery, hoping you find your answers. Cheers, Craigo.

 

[Dallas Denny]

Welcome to the community @Amy R!

As my friend @Bejeeber said, collectively, we don't have much knowledge about migraine I'm sorry to say!

To be completely honest, I had to research "vestibular" migraine as I'd not heard of it.  The symptoms sound horrible!!

Since you mentioned NHS I assume you're in the UK?  

Dallas Denny