Hi Guys im trying to get a list together of all drug therapies that anybody suffering with an AVM, be it facial, intra-cranial, extra-cranial, peripheral has been given presently or in the past be they a success or a failure and or any side affects. I feel this list coming from AVMers will help us make future decisions and if there actually are drugs out there that help in our AVM struggle . to help me could i have Drug used, Dose , Rough period drug was used , your age affects symptoms, Dr that precribed .Positive or negative response, I will then collate all the info and make a comprehensive list or a sub-group (Thanks Dancermom !) .
Regards
are you dealing with seizures we have had drugs for that but no drugs for the avm we have had radiatin and a typ of glue substance and then surgery to deal with the brain avm finding the right cocktail of meds for seizures is not fun but will happen let me know
I continue to have migraines. I have had three Gamma Knife treatments for my cerebral AVM & have had a craniotomy to clip 2 aneurysms. I had taken Nortriptylene a few years ago to help prevent migraines & started it back after the 1st GK & the crani. I take 10 mg each night. It does help reduced the frequency & intensity of migraines. Side effects--increased appetite. (Stated side effect is increased appetite, esp. for sweets). Between the Nortriptylene & not having engergy to exercise regularly AND keep up with all of the paperwork for my job as a Special Education teacher, I have gained 30 pounds. The nortriptylene was prescribed by my neurologist, who works closely with my neurosurgeon. I take Maxalt when I actually get a migraine. I can't really explain the side effects. It makes me feel a little funky & does something to my sinuses shortly after taking it, but I can still function at work.
On the few times that Maxalt doesn't do the trick, I have to resort to taking a dose of Vicodin or Norco. I had some Vicodin left over from my craniotomy last summer & took it maybe 2 or 3 times in the past year. After GK #3, I couldn't stop the headaches, and the e.r. doc prescribed Norco to take for 2-3 days--but I needed it more like 5. I can't function at work taking narcotices (thankfully it was summer break!) A side effect of the narcotics is constipation.