D.H.E. 45 User Reviews & Ratings

• Hon...
• January 27, 2012

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."

• Sus...
• October 23, 2012

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."

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

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."

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

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!"

• dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2018

For Migraine "My daughter received this medication through IV while in the hospital. Within 15 minutes after receiving the fifth dose, her vision became significantly altered. We demanded subsequent doses be stopped. She now has 20/200 near vision and slightly altered far vision. At age 13, she started wearing bifocals. Her ophthalmologist now has, after two years without improvement, determined that DHE caused her significantly impaired vision. Please be aware of this side effect prior to taking this drug."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2009

For Migraine "I have had severe migraines for years. I finally was put on Topamax about a year ago, but that wasn't enough, I still had attacks that kept me from doing anything about 2 times a month. None of the triptans worked, so my doctor finally suggested DHE injections. She taught me to give them to myself, so I can do them at home, and now I can stop a migraine when it starts and not miss work for days on end. If anything, I miss one day here and there."

• Nat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2022

For Migraine "Side effects were nausea, vomiting, irritated skin site. Hospitalized for 3 days for 6 IV treatments. Pretreatment is Benadryl 50 mg and Zofran 8 mg. Positive side effects were fewer migraines and side effects of migraines for 10 months."

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2011

For Migraine "I had several days of DHE IVs, a good try for migraines. A few weeks of injectable DHE and it didn't do a thing for me. I wish it worked for my constant headache. I heard a lot of good things about it."

• Ken...
• February 11, 2016

For Cluster Headaches "Excellent. It worked to break the cycle without many side effects."

• Clu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

For Cluster Headaches "Rough side effect profile (nausea, leg cramping, and the injections burn). Have used every day for a couple of weeks to shut down a bad cluster. Worked pretty well."