Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group TNF Blockers: How common are headaches?

can't comment on the biologics and headaches, but can comment on the headaches and caffeine.

i get migraines. the best thing for me to take for my migraines is caffeine. for me, a cup of tea usually is enough caffeine to curb my migraines.

but, that's when i get them organically, not from a drug. i certainly wouldn't use one drug to mask the symptoms of another.

i got migraines from lyrica and had to stop the lyrica. hope that's not the case for you with the biologic and your body adjusts.

i don't know much about the various injectables, but could it be a preservative in the drug, and not the actual drug itself that is giving you the headache?

i bring that up because sodium benzoate gives me a headache, and so i can't eat or drink anything with that in it. just a thought

PS forget that; humira is preservative free.

Hi Shane: I agree on taking the Tramadol with Tylenol only once a week.

You must be adjusting to the medicine since you are less sensitive to light this time. That is great news .

I will be getting some exercises from a PT next week for my head. I will make sure to get them to you.

Hope you feel well today .

Shari

Shane: How are your headaches? It helped me to take two Extra Strength Tylenol and two Benadryl before my last Simponi shot.

Also, my PT recommended placing two tennis balls in a sock (recline on your back, on the floor, sofa or bed - place under head so weight of head rests on the two balls. They should be symmetrical with respect to midline) which gives the head a nice massage or use an Upledger HealthPlex.

Hope your headaches are a thing of the past Shane.

Shari

I just re-started Remicade and the new protocol for that is to give you a Tylenol and Benedryl and then I get a steroid bag and then the Remicade. I used to get the steroid and then the Remi!

Pea: Glad to hear you were able to go back on Remicade to help your pain. They did the same treatment for me too before my Remicade infusions with the Tylenol, Benadryl and steroids. My key to warding off the biologic headache is taking the Extra Strength Tylenol with the Benadryl and I am still on 7 mg a day of Prednisone so I am sure that helps too.

Are you feeling ok Pea?

Shari

Not quite there yet Shari. Will go to 4 weeks now before the regular 6 weeks and already have a yeast infection. I got thrush the last start up but it was between the 4-6 week! Darn. Will call Dr. tomorrow but have already started treatment. It took months to feel better the last time. Still need the Neurostimulator put in.

I never got the headaches with either Humira or the Remicade. My neck, because it is almost completely fused now will get really tight and give me a migraine. I have to work on it daily with my theracane.

Hi Shari, Thanks so much. They're not really a lot better yet, but they're no worse either!

I saw the specialist who didn't seem too concerned. I have some improvement in some of my joints so it's all headed the right way. I get to see him again in three months, and we're hoping they're gone by then. My headaches, not my joints

Good news Shane if you are seeing some improvement! Yea!!! Hang in there.

Hi Shane: Sorry you are still having headaches. Glad to hear, they are not worse and that your joints are better. Since my doc and your doc are not concerned about the headaches, I am sure it is common to go through this as our bodies are adjusting.

I just went on 10 mg of amitriptylline for my headaches. Mine are coming and going and not as severe now.

Fingers crossed, we will be headache free in the near future and we will be living it up .

Shari

Hi Pea: So sorry you have a yeast infection. Are you on a yeast medication daily to prevent the yeast monster from returning? It is hard to beat the yeast without the yeast medicine when they are pumping in steroids and Remicade. I am on yeast medicine daily and my doc tells me I will probably need it for life. He said just living with AS makes us more susceptible to yeast and then when we add on the meds to treat the darn disease, it makes the yeast problem worse.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Shari