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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Recurring Migraine, Eases With Codeine And Cannabis, Get Withdrawal Headache With Cannabis. Reason?

Hi, I am prone to migraines in general. However, they have become a near-weekly occurrence recently and I am getting tired of it. The problem is that I have only found 2 solutions to the pain - codeine and cannabis . If I take codeine for too long, I get withdrawal headaches , but if I smoke cannabis, I smoke it with tobacco, which may in turn lead to more headaches. I have tried an e-cigarette to cut down on cravings during the day, but since getting it I think the headaches have worsened. Is this possible? I would love to be able to give up smoking entirely, but the pain in my head and my previous bad experiences with codeine withdrawal headaches keeps me smoking cannabis. I don t know what to do. I think the excess cannabis is making me depressed.
Wed, 20 Nov 2013
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Welcome to HCM!

I have gone through your query and from that it it evident that you have migraines, and you get relieved by cannabis; codeine too works but you get withdrawal headaches. Now you suspect cannabis for making you depressed.

Let us start with cannabis, YES, it can lead to depression and many other psychiatric disorders, which are difficult to treat, so, you must think of stopping it now.

second is codeine--- it is good that you realised that it gives you withdrawal headaches and don't use it anymore. There are better options available!

third--- e-cigarettes getting you more of migraines? this is a difficult question, as it depends on other factors also, may be that it's just that migraine is becoming more frequent by itself due to lack of proper treatment.

fourth---is how to treat migraine?

--. Everyone who has migraines have some precipitating factors, identify yours and try to avoid them.
- you have not mentioned your age, but if you are below fifty years age, had I been treating you, I would prefer to give you TCA eg., dosulepin in a dose of 25- 100 mg once a day. along with this you can take a pain killer as soon as you develop an attack of migraine.

I find amlotryptan/ rizatryptan /or naproxen sodium to be effective in aborting the attack of migraine.
One does need an antacid for some days initially, like rapbeprazole with domperidone.

It is not as diificult as you think it is to curb migraine. Donot loose Hope at all, it is well teratable, but your way of doing it is dangerous.

Please see a doctor and get routine blood tests done and start the medicines.

Hope you get well soon
Feel free to ask more queries.
Dr. Manisha Gopal.
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Recurring Migraine, Eases With Codeine And Cannabis, Get Withdrawal Headache With Cannabis. Reason?

Welcome to HCM! I have gone through your query and from that it it evident that you have migraines, and you get relieved by cannabis; codeine too works but you get withdrawal headaches. Now you suspect cannabis for making you depressed. Let us start with cannabis, YES, it can lead to depression and many other psychiatric disorders, which are difficult to treat, so, you must think of stopping it now. second is codeine--- it is good that you realised that it gives you withdrawal headaches and don t use it anymore. There are better options available! third--- e-cigarettes getting you more of migraines? this is a difficult question, as it depends on other factors also, may be that it s just that migraine is becoming more frequent by itself due to lack of proper treatment. fourth---is how to treat migraine? --. Everyone who has migraines have some precipitating factors, identify yours and try to avoid them. - you have not mentioned your age, but if you are below fifty years age, had I been treating you, I would prefer to give you TCA eg., dosulepin in a dose of 25- 100 mg once a day. along with this you can take a pain killer as soon as you develop an attack of migraine. I find amlotryptan/ rizatryptan /or naproxen sodium to be effective in aborting the attack of migraine. One does need an antacid for some days initially, like rapbeprazole with domperidone. It is not as diificult as you think it is to curb migraine. Donot loose Hope at all, it is well teratable, but your way of doing it is dangerous. Please see a doctor and get routine blood tests done and start the medicines. Hope you get well soon Feel free to ask more queries. Dr. Manisha Gopal.