Dihydroergotamine User Reviews & Ratings

• Anonymous
• February 3, 2011

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I give it a 10 because I was about to jump off a bridge in order to break the 18-day migraine I had up until this morning. It took 3 days of Migranal, but I am FINALLY through the pain. I tried two rounds of steroids, Maxalt up to 3 times a day for 2 weeks, and FINALLY this worked. Although I am cautiously optimistic, this is the longest I have gone in 18 days without the debilitating pain that became so severe I was willing to go to very extreme measures to get it to stop. Thank goodness my neurologist thought of it."

• jax...
• July 17, 2013

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have been suffering from migraines for about 2 years now. I've tried a few different prescription pills, and I've suffered from horrible side effects from each one. I was to the point where I felt almost hopeless because I couldn't do anything to relieve the pain when I would get migraines. My neurologist prescribed me Migranal last month, and I've had 3 horrible migraines since then. Each time I have used Migranal, within 30 minutes they are gone, and I feel great and not defeated by the horrible migraine. I definitely would recommend and consider this a miracle!"

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2012

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have been getting severe migraines for more than 25 years. 99% of the time, they would result in a trip to the ER for a few injections - since I can't keep anything in my stomach, pills were not a solution. Suppositories to control the vomiting so that I could take pills only made me more miserable - in other ways - and offered little to no benefit. Last year, my neurologist prescribed Migranal Nasal Spray. Wow. What a life changer! Within 30 minutes, I am good to go with little to no remaining headache. There isn't even enough time for the vomiting to start. I really want to spread the word on this to other migraine sufferers. It has been an amazing solution for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 24, 2012

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Taste in mouth, burning in throat, stuffy nose, and nausea, which all passed after an hour. Medication effective within 60-90 minutes. Very effective and less expensive than a trip to ER to receive DHE intravenously. TAKE A ZOFRAN!"

• JLH...
• June 1, 2013

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "This medication is a miracle for me! I have had migraines for 26 years and tried just about everything. My neurologist prescribed this in an attempt to get rid of a 3-week migraine. I took the spray as directed and within an hour, I was headache-free. I have no side effects, no bad taste, nothing. It is truly my miracle!"

• MNW...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2013

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "My doctor prescribed me Migranal earlier this year. I've had migraines since I was 6 and have never found anything that helps this much. I prefer the pill I can take over the spray. I've been to the ER before, and they give me DHE (Migranal) in an IV shot, and it's magic. Look into this if you need help."

• mic...
• April 5, 2008

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Works well to treat migraines, but you really need to rest after taking. I get an unpleasant burning sensation in my nose, sinuses, and throat, but it's still worth taking. Also, the bottle is a pain in the butt to assemble-especially when you have a migraine. I have frequent severe migraines (about four times a week), and this medicine is helpful, although my doctor said it should not be used more than twice a week. I am allergic to all the triptans, so this medicine has been a good alternative treatment."

• Rob...
• February 21, 2012

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "My neurologist prescribed the Migranal for me last year when I got into a 2-month-long migraine that was seeming to be impossible to break. I'm also on Nortryptiline and Atenolol as preventatives, and the Migranal is for PRN usage (as needed). As someone else said, this drug does seem to work the best if you use it at the first sign of a migraine. If you wait until your migraine is fully set in, it doesn't seem to work all that well. The downside to the medicine is that it does leave a terrible taste in your mouth, your throat burns, and your nose gets stuffed up. But compared to the severe pain of a migraine, I guess it's worth it. The worst part about it though is the cost."

• owk...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 26, 2014

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have celiac disease, and one of the side effects is migraines that used to last 3 or 4 days until I found DHE 45, which was first done by IV. After that, I was prescribed the shots until the nasal spray came out. After 15 years of research on my own, I have come to the conclusion that either celiac or other allergens are the prime cause of migraines that last more than 24 hours, and maybe those as well; for these conditions cause swelling in every cell in the body, including the neurons. I hope this helps others who suffer from the debilitating pain caused by these episodes."

• ash...
• January 16, 2009

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have migraines usually 3 to 5 times a week, and my neurologist gave me this medicine. I am also taking propranolol and have not noted any side effects. I have found that, for me, it works best when taken at the first signs of a migraine. If I take it when I already have a migraine, it doesn't work. There is a little nausea afterward, but a little food helps. It's a very effective treatment and no rebound headaches."

• Hon...
• January 27, 2012

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I've been experiencing migraines for over 30 years. I started injecting D.H.E. 9 days ago and haven't had a single migraine. This hasn't happened since I started getting migraines, and I've been on many medications including Botox. I don't expect to never get another migraine, but I'm enjoying this time while it lasts. I do believe that the D.H.E. will control my migraines and keep them to a minimum, which has never been done before. I normally average 25 migraines a month. If D.H.E. can reduce my migraines to once a week, I'll be thrilled."

• Mar...
• January 23, 2016

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I had chronic severe migraines almost daily for 25 years. Some things have sort of worked; most not. Botox made an enormous difference in my headaches. I have been using Migranal for breakthrough headaches, and life is very much better. This year, Migranal, nor its generic (which are made by the same company?), are covered under my insurance. I have Medicare, and I receive Social Security Disability. The generic cost is more than my whole SSD check. My neurologist and pharmacists are out of suggestions. They say maybe I can ask for Patient Assistance Coverage, which almost always is only given to people who already have some kind of drug coverage. Or maybe the doctor can give me samples. I am horrified."

• NYC...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2023

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I've been using Trudhesa for about one year, and it works! Previously used Imitrex/sumatriptan nasal spray for 15+ years, but that went right down my throat, and sometimes the headache came back. The Trudhesa device does the work - don't need to inhale or tilt your head back. If the first spray doesn't work in 45 mins, I take another 2 from the same vial, and I'm set. My neuro explained that it's such a little amount of DHE, and it's safe."

• Cat...
• July 1, 2014

For Migraine "If you suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression, I would be very cautious with this medication. I suffer from chronic migraines and anxiety and depression, and was given DHE on multiple occasions for my acute migraines. As soon as the medication entered my body, I felt restless and anxious. Within 2 minutes, I was having a full-on panic attack; I was completely terrified even though I knew I was entirely safe. The horror consumed me, and I lost my perspective and was convinced that I would feel that way for the rest of my life. I felt so hopeless that I couldn't bring myself to ask the doctor for help. It did help with the acute head pain, but it left me so terrified and anxious that I was back in the ER within 2 days for another migraine."

• Mai...
• February 20, 2020

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Triptans unfortunately stopped working for me, so I decided to try this. First time I took it cut down my migraine by about 50%. Second time cut it down about 90%! Even helped my neck pain. Slight breakthrough pain, but much better. I just hope it keeps working! Only side effects I’ve noticed are tiredness and bad taste. Much better than a migraine."

• Ann...
• February 13, 2018

Dihydroergotamine for Cluster Headaches "I was told about this medicine by an older friend who had horrible, debilitating migraines all her life and was light and sound sensitive. I would lock myself in a room and hope for it to pass. I was prescribed Migranal. The active ingredient is actually a fungus. It has been around since ancient Roman times. (Look it up... pretty interesting.) Yes, the markup is somewhere between 250%, the insurance pays $4,500 for 8 bottles. Yes, there is 'No' generic, and the company that makes it is from France. Yes, if you take it incorrectly, you will taste it in your mouth and swallow it. Please read the instructions all the way! Take it in the first 5 minutes of a migraine, it will be less effective if it's a full-blown migraine. It takes my migraine away about 75%. No high (unless mixed with other drugs), no drowsy or lingering effects. I will continue to take it unless my insurance says no more. Important: stick to the dose and don't go over, as the toxic effects are dangerous, but it's not toxic at the correct dose."

• Lau...
• October 8, 2019

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "This is my first dose of Migranal. I just went to a new neurologist this morning, and he gave me a sample. I have a slightly funny taste in my mouth, but I think it's because my nose is stuffed from the Migranal. No signs of the horrible migraine monster yet, and the first signs of it have stopped. I get debilitatingly severe migraine headaches with panic/anxiety attacks. Triptans have not been reliable, and I cannot afford to pay for a trip to the ER that many times a week. So far, so good, nausea and stuffy, but that's a vacation from one of my headaches!"

• she...
• September 3, 2009

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Migranal nasal spray seems to have helped the migraine (within the 24 hours, not quickly). However, the muscle pain was tremendous for 48 hours following taking the 1st and 2nd doses. I changed from triptans because of the muscle pain, but the pain with the Migranal is worse. I will try it one more time, but if the after effect (excruciating muscle pain, especially in my legs and feet) is as bad as my first experience, I will stop."

• AZ ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2015

For Migraine "Is there anyone else who has experienced a huge increase in cost for DHE mesylate (injectable vial)? I have injected with DHE 45 and now DHE mesylate for 17 years since my brain aneurysm rupture and clipping. As of January 2015, United Health Insurance, along with Optum RX, have raised my cost from $25 for a 90-day supply to $1500 to $1700, and this is my cost. Unable to afford this medication any longer, I am left helpless. Thanks for any input regarding similar price hikes."

• Sus...
• October 23, 2012

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have had migraines for 30 years. In the last year and a half, they went from 15 days/month to practically every day. Triptans do not work as an abortive for me. Propranolol is the only preventative thus far that has worked - but it stopped working after 4 weeks. My neurologist prescribed D.H.E. in the injectable form. I do not like the little glass vials the D.H.E. comes in, breaking them open, and using the syringe. That said, almost every time I use it, it breaks the migraine. Unfortunately, it does not always last more than 4-6 hours. I can get this at my local CVS (though they don't carry it in stock). I don't notice any side effects, but I generally take a nap afterward to let it do its thing."

• Joe...
• December 9, 2017

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Migranal works for me 100% of the time, although somewhat slow acting (1-3 hours). I used to get migraines about once a week, with a duration of 1-3 days, sometimes severe. For the past 3 years, I have been taking 10 mg of amitriptyline at night and 37.5/25 mg triamterene/HCTZ in the morning. Under this program, I get the beginning of a migraine about once every 1-3 months, and these events have been 100% controlled by Migranal. Btw, the addition of triamterene/HCTZ was for Meniere's syndrome, and the effect on migraine was a positive, unexpected side effect (amitriptyline alone had reduced the migraines to about 1-2 per month)."

• Aph...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2023

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "Used one time during a migraine episode (7 out of ten pain), the pain diminished in about 10 minutes to a 2-3 out of ten. The device/setup is a bit time-consuming but easy to use. However, side effects started immediately with dizziness, unwell physical and mental sensation, as well as severe burning in the nasal cavity/sinuses. I experienced nausea and abdominal pain (7 out of ten) for the next 2-3 hours. I took 25 mg of Phenergan, yet I still projectile vomited 2 hours after the nausea began. I also experienced tingling in my arms and hands with mild to moderate discomfort. My sinuses became congested within the first hour and lasted the remainder of the night. I was unable to breathe through my nose until the following day. The next morning, I awoke with mild nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and a malaise feeling. Yes, the migraine dissipated and did not return the next day, but the side effects are too much for me to bear. I have had better experiences with other migraine medications, like Nurtec ODT."

• Mac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2022

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "I have chronic migraine, and D.H.E. 45 IM has been one of the most effective rescue medications for me. It has helped stop a migraine attack within a half hour (post-injection) for me. I did not seem to experience any adverse effects from this medication but am aware others have noted nausea as a prominent potential side effect. Another plus for me is even one injection (of 1 ml) can often keep a migraine at bay for over a day. Medication overuse or rebound headaches are not as much of a concern with this either (vs. triptan rescue medications). Assembling everything necessary to inject this can be challenging during a migraine attack. It also comes packaged in glass vials; I have found that putting a (Bic-type) ballpoint pen cap over the top of the vial before “snapping” the glass lid off can be really helpful to accomplish this in a cleaner, safer, and easier way. Worth the extra work for me!"

• Pwr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2016

Dihydroergotamine for Cluster Headaches "For me, with chronic cluster migraines, the dihydroergotamine injections eliminate the migraine within 30 minutes and are best. I also use a cold neck pack, keep it in the freezer, and oxygen, I have an oxygen generator set at 6 ml. I used to use Migranal, similar side effects. Migranal is not covered by Medicare/AARP United Healthcare ($500 retail each), but D.H.E. 45 is. The preferred plan appears to have the best benefits, but it is still expensive. Instead of a 1 ml dose, I cut back to 0.35 ml and get 3 shots from each ampoule, it still works great for me. I fill 3 needles and keep them available. D.H.E. is not available due to a manufacturer shortage (Valient) until January 2017, and they are the only supplier. Waiting 2 months will be difficult, so I have to ration."

• Mol...
• February 1, 2009

Dihydroergotamine for Migraine "My neurologist gave me a sample of this spray during my last office visit. We're going the non-Triptan route, trying to manage my migraines since I previously had a reaction to Triptans. This spray did nothing for my latest migraine at all. In its defense, my migraines are pretty severe, and even hardcore narcotics aren't much of a match for them. The search continues."