Pink and yellow sweet relief (Migraleve)

Member Name: Tracy_1127

Product:	Migraleve
Date:	08/11/08 (195 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: work well, inexpensive, no prescription needed

Disadvantages: slight side effects

I've had migraines since I turned about 20 so I've been getting them for about 15 years now. I usually get one every couple of months and 2 days before the migraine hits find I'm exhausted, which ought to tell me a migraine is on the way but I never seem to realise until the pain and nausea start then I realise that's why I've been so tired.

The cause of migraines still isn't completely clear, some say it's a nerve problem, some say hormonal as women are more prone to them, others a chemical change in the brain and then there's the red wine, chocolate, caffeine and cheese angle and finally hereditary. I must admit several other family members do get migraines but I'm not sure of the exact cause, and neither it seems are the scientists.

My symptoms are pretty bog standard except for the extreme fatigue, banging pain in the head usually one side, slurred speech, trembling, lack of co-ordination and nausea that rapidly turns to vomiting if left untreated. Bright lights hurt alot and loud noises are a big no and with a migraine you really don't want to be reading or staring at a computer screen.

As soon as I get the headache with the telltale nausea I reach for Migraleve. The Migraleve I buy are the mixed 24 pack. This contains 16 pink tablets and 8 yellow tablets. The pink tablets are the ones you take first, 2 at the first sign of a migraine, and contain 520mg Paracetamol, 8mg Codeine and 6.25mg Buclizine hydrochloride. The paracetamol and codeine are of course painkillers and the codeine acts like a mild muscle relaxant too and the Buclizine is an anti-sickness drug which should prevent the nausea becoming vomiting.

The tablets are normal capsule size and shape but in tablet form, the pink ones are a bright pink. They work quite quickly, reduce pain and nausea within half an hour but I find they very rarely remove all symptoms so I end up having to go onto the yellow tablets too.

The yellow tablets are the same size and shape as the pink ones but bright yellow so even with a migraine it's easy to figure out which is which! The yellow ones only contain the 520mg Paracetamol and 8mg Codeine as they are just to give you longer pain relief. I have been known to take 2 doses of the pink before starting the yellow though if I still feel very sick. It does not say to do this in the leaflet though so that's just what I do not what I advise you to do!

The idea is you take 2 pink tablets as soon as you realise you have a migraine then every 4 hours after that take 2 yellow until it's gone. The maximum does is 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Side effects can include a dry mouth, drowsiness and constipation which are all Codeine side effects I believe. As long as you sip plenty of water and don't drive you should be ok as these are a short term fix and should not be taken for extended periods. Obviously before you take Migraleve you should consult your GP first.

Migraleve are very effective painkillers, the pink tablets do help with the nausea too and both the pink and yellow tablets considerably reduce the pain of a migraine. Personally I find the drowsiness caused by these tablets useful to help me sleep when I have a migraine as sleeping with a thumping headache isn't easy.

They are available in a variety of pack sizes, some all one colour and others mixed, but the one I always buy is the 24 mixed pack which costs £7.99 from Boots, no prescription needed. You can also get these on prescription from your doctor in larger size packs.

Highly recommended for migraine sufferers.

Summary: Always have some handy if you get migraines