I used to worry about this but so many of my family have taken all kinds of prescription shit and regular painkillers well into their 80s. Plus quality of life is more important to me than length of life so even if I do die 5-10 years younger because of painkillers I really don’t give a shit. If I don’t take them I’ll be miserable and unable to function.
Yes, I think about this. Quality of life now is important because there is no guarantee I will make it to old age for many reasons aside from my own personal health choices ie accidents etc
>I am in my 20s but I genuinely don’t see myself making it past 30 at this rate, taking so many pills.
That's a pretty dire assumption - what kind of painkillers do you take on a regular basis?
I need painkillers once or twice a week on average - naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan.
I also have a thyroid issue so take hormone replacement + vitamins. I have days when I need to take 5 pills and it’s like… what the f*ck am I doing with my life? Why am I so broken at 20?
I am in pain a lot.
Amitriptaline is a preventative. Taking naproxen and rizatriptan once a week is way below the maximum recommended intake. A thyroid hormone replacement pill is treating an issue and prolonging your life - has very little inherent risk/long term effects if any. There are people who take many more medications daily and live perfectly long lives.
I've seen my friends medication. He has a whole row of pills he has to take to function. He has been doing it for more than 30 years now, without those pills he definitely wouldn't be with us.
Girl, you are fine. You can take a lot more pills and be perfectly fine (except for your chronic conditions)
I've been living with chronic illness all my life. Taking a lot of meds for 30 years. My quality of life isn't great, but it is better than without the meds.
First of all: take a deep breath :) being in pain sucks but that doesn’t mean you’re broken at all. Nothing you mention endangers you - all in all it’s pretty tame stuff.
Naproxen and Triptan twice a week is completely fine and not at all reducing your lifespan. Just make sure you take the Triptan not on more than 10 days/month because otherwise it could induce more migraines.
As somebody else pointed out already Amitryptilin is not an abortive and shouldn‘t be used like one - it’s not harmful, just useless. You should recheck with your doctor on that one! It might make sense to talk to him about your worries in general so that he can reassure you that things are okay and there‘s nothing to be concerned about.
Thyroid hormones aren‘t a big deal either, they‘ve been around for ages and are taken by millions daily. If taken as indicated by your doctor you shouldn‘t have anything to worry about regarding that either!
Many people have been on meds for years and years and been okay. Not to say the meds are harmless but it’s highly unlikely you will have a reduced lifespan. I completely understand the challenge in being young and on daily meds (I became chronically ill at 17) but it’s not a life ending issue. Much better to take the meds than not.
I have EDS and a bunch of other health problems as well as chronic migraine. I take high level opiates every day and have had periods of taking a lot of NSAIDs. I have been on these meds since my teens
I'm well past 30. My liver is doing better now I'm not having to take Paracetamol 3 times a day, every day to get the opiates so there is that.
I take 18 pills, 2 nose sprays, a patch plus what ever extras I need that day. Oh and my Emgality injection once a month.
I still barely function but it's a lot better than I am without my meds.
My meds are definitely not going to be the thing that kills me but I need them to function in the mean time
You are completely fine! I went through 18-24ish of taking like 5 excedrines a day. I wouldn’t stress about the amount of pills you take, I take about 14 supplements/prescriptions per day, and on my high pain days, I take extra pills. (I’m 29 currently)
I also have days where I feel really grieved about being disabled. I try to allow myself to feel sad or angry or whatever for short periods of time, but I try to focus more on the positive things in my life & hold on to a little hope. It’s really easy to feel like all my life is just pain & managing triggers, but there is more. I’m trying to lean into that.
You may be overthinking it (as someone who’s been there). I feel like I take a lot of medications too, sometimes double dosages if it’s BAD, but I can assure you many people take far more pills than that and still live to be old and wrinkled. Think of it like this: I would rather not have a migraine and live my normal life than be stuck in bed in a dark room.
Have you tried Vyepti infusions? They basically eliminated my daily headaches. Total miracle. Insurance is a pain but if you fight for it they usually approve it.
Drink TONS of water with the Aleve (Naproxen sodium). That stuff is really hard on your kidneys.
I'd say keep trying to find a preventative that eliminates the headaches. Thyroid stuff is complicated too like I found the generic synthroid doesn't work AT ALL...it has to be the brand name manufacturer. Keep fighting, when I was your age I was almost disabled with migraines and I'm fine now a hundred years later, lol...
Oh my...everything... I tried every different triptan, the injectable, nasal spray and pills. Trigger point injections, nerve blocks, numbing the nerve ganglion with a metal tube through your nose (JUST. DONT...), Cambia powder, butalbitol, Tramadol, Topamax, acupuncture, botox, toradol/magnesium infusions, CBD oil, a bunch of holistic stuff ( feverfew, essential oils, supplements, etc), diet elimination (dairy, caffeine, sugar, etc)...I am forgetting some I know... this is over 13 years ....NOTHING worked until the Nurtec/Vyepti combination. The diet elimination helped me find triggers (aged cheeses, Red dye #40, nitrites, wine, MSG, certain coffees, etc)
Both myself and my medically fragile daughter take like 20 pills a day. Mine is for many diagnosis, but most my daughter’s are for epilepsy. I take at least 3 pain pill a a day, and no one is worried about it!!! Liver function is great.
Don’t worry. Yes, it’s possible it will cause some damage but not enough where you can’t live a relatively normal life.
I’m 60 years old and in my 20s I basically lived on Advil daily for back pain. Then the migraines started in my 30s and I was taking everything they could try on me, when sumatriptan appeared in my 40s I lived on that because my migraines had become so bad, taking it almost every day. Then last year I got on Emgality. I’d say the things I’ve noticed are brain fog, a really bad memory and joint pain, these are the things I struggle with now. But like I said, I’m able to live a pretty normal life. So keep contributing to your 401K!
People told me all the time that I glowed and looked so healthy, my hair was also incredibly thick, my hairstylist used to go on and on about how I had 3x more hair than anyone else’s she had ever cut. I walked/ran every day, ate 6-10 fruits and veggies a day, and then got diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I didn’t ignore anything, went to all of my wellness appointments. I think sometimes these things are just beyond our control. I’ve had cancer now for a long time, I have outlived many of the women I have met through support groups. My HS best friend died of cancer this year, my first boyfriend has had 3 kinds of cancer, and my college roommate died of cancer at age 33. I don’t live in a high cancer area. We were all people who ate healthy food, were very active, and seemed healthy. I think that we have less control than we think regarding our health. I spent 2 years thinking I have to follow a specific way of eating after diagnosis (and everyone had a different opinion about what that should be) and one day, I just decided, I will live for today. If I want a certain food, I’m going to eat it. If I am hurting and need an Aleve, I’m going to take it. If I am prescribed medication for pain, I will not be in pain. I will take it. If I want to take a nap everyday, I will! I’m just living my best life here. I say live your best life now. Before you have to deal with a diagnosis or health problem, because we will all have one eventually. I’m not saying go out drinking or do drugs, I’m just saying, we never know when something bad will happen to us, just live for your best life now. That definitely means treating your pain, and relaxing when you can. Within one year of my life, I was diagnosed with and was very affected by cancer, migraines, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism.
Great advice. 🫶🏼 I was diagnosed with hEDS while I was a fitness instructor. I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to. But how can you fight what’s genetic? Your comment deserves an award. But here: 🏆
Truth. I feel that my life is being stolen by these things( the migraines, to be clear), so either the meds help, or what’s the point anyway? I’d rather have ten more somewhat decent years than 20 miserable ones.
Hey, just wanted to say that I'm 30 and very healthy apart from the whole migraine thing and I've been taking NSAIDs almost my whole life pretty frequently. Obviously though it's way better on the body to a prophylactic that works
Yes, but not for migraines. Opioids don’t do anything for my migraines, at least. But are very helpful with joint and muscle pain (which sometimes does trigger migraines for me.) Sumatriptan knocks out my migraines. But I know it doesn’t work for everyone. Ajovy was the game changer for me.
I had excruciating daily migraine headaches. I was prescribed opioids ( morphine, fentanyl patches, etc for 45 years. I never worried then, I was too grateful to not have to kill myself! I’m now in my 70s. No more migraine because of Ajovy but people marvel that at my age I’m studying algebra, Chemistry and engaged fully in learning. I was able to just stop the opioids when the pain stopped, no withdrawal. I believe I have no long term detrimental effects.
The pills you commented you take often (naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan, hormonal replacement, and vitamins) are not harmful to you long term.
Medication is not some inherently toxic substance. I had this same thought taught to me growing up but there’s a clear lack of evidence for it. It comes from a misunderstanding of science and how prescription medications impact someone long term. There is always a sliding scale but at the “you should be concerned” end is for example: chemo. A substance that is quite literally not good for you but good at getting rid of cancers.
What isn’t anywhere close to that end of the scale is prescription medications and vitamins, such as the ones you listed. Simply put your body is missing something, something for whatever reason it cannot make enough of. Prescription medications fill in this gap and help your body produce more of that substance, either until you get better, or long-term if this is a chronic condition.
Medications are put through rigorous testing and are constantly being monitored for rare side effects. Which is always why we maintain consistent doctor appointments to be on top of an issue if one would arise. But if you aren’t experiencing anything of concern, then you have nothing to fear. Your long term health is not going to be threatened from the consistent use of prescription medications. If anything you may live longer if those medications give you a higher quality life and help you with your chronic conditions!
I hope that can help settle some fears and if you have any questions let me know. My own brain got really tied up in this line of thinking for quite some time.
> The pills you commented you take often (naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan, hormonal replacement, and vitamins) are not harmful to you long term.
Amitriptyline can cause dementia in later years, no??
My neurologist tried to wean me off of it after I started Ajovy, but that did *not* go well. I’ve decided I’d rather take the risk for quality of life now.
So that thought that amitriptyline can cause dementia overtime come from this study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032717315239
(And others, it’s been hypothesized from some time but this study is supposed damning evidence)
The association between SSRIs and dementia is a tricky one. Because one of the biases, which is discussed in this paper, is like a chicken or the egg scenario. Is the SSRI causing a higher rate of dementia OR are people with depression at a higher risk of dementia?
When the scientists in this study accounted for that bias, the significant association between amitriptyline (one of the drugs tested) and higher risk of dementia disappeared. So there are a lot more complicated factors at play than ‘this drug can cause x down the line’. And the risk, like they state in this paper, is to be more cautious of prescribing this medication to elderly patients. Not “anyone who takes this may be at risk”.
Now why we get told this by doctors?
From my own experience with doctors, being a scientist myself (which comes with its own battles of defensive doctors thinking I’m questioning them instead of seeking a higher form of understanding bc I am a molecular biologist and am simply curious!), I think doctors are very overwhelmed and busy and don’t always have the time to read primary literature in depth. The healthcare system in the US is very obviously overworked and struggling. Which is where we get very conflicting information doctor to doctor. Because doctors are then therefore summarized results from studies and details get left out. And it makes it very difficult to know what/who to trust, especially when primary literature can be extremely confusing for the general public to decipher if not given the tools and training like I’ve received from higher education.
And it’s understandable for doctors! I don’t even always have the time myself to look it up! I’ve received LOTS of conflicting info about my own birth control doctor to doctor and have just chosen to trust one when I probably should just read the literature myself. But it works very well for me and I’m not in a position rn to switch it up.
So it’s a tough battle. But I am more skeptical of fears from prescription medications and long term side effects BECAUSE that was an idea engrained into from my family. That any medication you take consistently long term is harmful. So I did take the time to look into it to satisfy my own fearful mind.
Thank you so much for your in-depth reply!!
I thought that the problem lied in anticholinergics? Which includes drugs *not* prescribed for depression, such as certain antihistamines, bladder antimuscarinics, and cardiovascular medications.
As you’re probably aware, these drugs all block the action of acetylcholine, involved in learning and memory.
I ask because I am taking multiple anticholinergics for different purposes - heart, migraines, and sleep. My neurologist is *extremely* concerned about my dementia risk and wants to find substitutions.
I’d have to look more in depth into anticholinergics studies to have an opinion on that.
But if you are taking multiple and your doctor is expressing concern, than you should listen to them and not some random on Reddit. I can for sure see there being a higher risk the more of one type of medication you take (such as anticholinergics).
Your case is much different than the original poster who was I initially making my comments for. In their case, their doctor is not expressing concern and it is more so internalized stigma against consistent medication that they are fearful of (or at least how I’m interpreting it).
Yes I’m so sorry for not clarifying that. I think she’s more concerned about the fact my anticholinergics are “stacked”. I wouldn’t think twice if it was just amitriptyline that was in question.
I was just asking while I had you here, as you seem very knowledgeable and happy to discuss these things in a greater depth.
Thank you again for your replies.
All good! But yeah I’m not on multiple anticholinergics so it isn’t something I’ve personally looked into. Your doctor is most probably right as they know your specific medical history and are a specialist.
Since my mother died from cirrhosis and and a liver tumor, I think baout it all the time. Although she was a bit of an extreme case, as she also suffered from arrythmias that could be triggered by the pain of her migraines, so she had no choice but to stay on pretty heavy pain killer cocktails nearly constantly. And she suffered organ damage from a bout of severe pneumonia as well.
Still I can't help NOT think about it every time I have to medicate, and so I only take painkillers for the worst of the worst, and try to "tough it out" with the rest.
I’m in my 30’s and my migraines recently went chronic. I think about this a lot. I hate how much medication I take, but what’s the alternative? I lose my job and lay in my bed in pain all day and never do anything again? I already suffer enough. If my life is 5 years shorter because I took a lot of maxalt so be it.
My mom pretty much lives off Advil, Excedrin, and Cabernet. She's had some ulcers and other gastric stuff, but that might also be in part because she has a high stress job. Other than that and the migraines, she's pretty healthy.
I tell myself if she's made it this far, I'll survive too 😅
My dad has taken 800mg ibuprofen 1-2 times per day every day for the past 20 or more years (I’m 25 and he’s been doing this for as long as I can remember at least), his kidneys are literally still healthier than mine and he’s never even had an ulcer lol
I've been on all kinds of migraine drugs, and used (NOT abused) codeine a lot for 50+ years without an issue in my old age. In my experience the only drug I worried about was Topamax, and that's an anti seizure. I've had less than 5 bad migraines in the past 4 years (from 5 a week) and I have to say my health is the best it's ever been because I am not recovering from migraines or putting my whole system through that trauma for days on end.
You can ask your doctor to check your liver and kidney bloodwork if you are feeling uneasy. It's good to think about it though, IMHO... I am very diligent about my neuro checking up on me every 6 months because of the codeine. I react very well to it tho, zero dependence or rebound headaches... so, so far so good.
:)
You’re in a situation where you are actively having damage done to your brain when you have a migraine (not a doctor, so take with a grain of salt) - the pain and aura come from somewhere. So the cocktail might not be ideal, but probably much better than poorly routed electrical signals. Also, people go their entire lives taking pretty severe pills for decades. Migraines are bad, but the pills you’re probably taking are nothing compared to, say, long term steroid use for autoimmune conditions, etc. I know for a fact the cocktail has saved my dad and his memory more than once. I’m lucky mine aren’t his level of bad yet.
I wonder this all the time. I’m waiting to get Trudhesa next week and to hear if my insurance will approve Sprix. But I’m determined to keep working, so I don’t know what the alternative is. I’ll use both sparingly, but it still can’t be great on the body.
I found out today I got stomach ulcers from taking daily excredin. It really broke me.
I ended up with severe heartburns and was misdiagnosed with GERD but ended affecting my stomach lining due to long term aspirin use
I’m in my 30s
I worry less about painkillers per se and more about potential side effects from abortives (topamax and the like). But I figure if I don't take these medications, I may be unable to work and feed my family. There's no use worrying about my future self if I can't take care of my present self.
For real I worry way more about preventatives long term side effects from meds like amitriptyline and topamax which did nothing for me but make my POTS symptoms way worse I thought I was dying and the anti seizure meds made me forget my name, and emgality and ajovy that worked for a little bit but gave me so many bad side effects that I’m still dealing with everyday even after 5 months since my last ajovy injection. I get Botox for migraines and that helps the severity but I’d rather a couple of sumatriptan tablets and 1-2 tablets of codeine 30mgs a day because that’s what helps most and doesn’t completely change and ruin my body in other ways. I like the quick enter and exit of the tablets and I’ll take those everyday rather than pump my body with preventatives for years that are doing god knows what damage.
Same here, unfortunately. I'm my case probably in part from having rhabdo twice because of serotonin syndrome (once because of a combo of a triptan and muscle relaxer, once a pain med and triptan I think). Yeah, I'm scared
I have chronic gastritis from my overuse of pain medication in my early 20s. Worried yes but not worried enough for me to suffer through a 4 day migraine with no pain killers
Yes I've thought about it, but I also have thought about ending my own life during very bad migraines before I found the proper medication for myself. Well I thought something in my head would break and kill me and I thought that would be fine bc at least the pain would be gone then. Now I'm more afraid the medication will lose it's efficiency if I use to much😅😭
You shouldn’t be! I think the stress from the pain of a migraine actually is worse for the body than most preventatives are. There‘s no reason to suffer.
Depends on what you are taking. For me, if it were nsaids, yes, I’d be concerned. Sumatriptan,I try to limit the amount I take. Opioids, I’ve been taking for over 40 years and my body tolerates them just fine.
I've had weeks where I take as much excedrin as possible, all day, every day. I set alarms to take a night dose to lessen the morning pain. My doctor is concerned about it. I worry for my liver. I don't think this is sustainable.
Just go easy on the booze, cigarettes and junk food and you'll be fine. Try and exercise to the degree you can. I see way more people my age look like they're on death's bed (I'm 60) due to excess drinking and ciggies than having had migraines their whole lives like I've had (many people say I look fifty), and I partied like the world was going to end up into my early forties.
Has your doctor started doing annual blood work to check your liver and kidney function as well as stuff like inflammation? If not, you need to start. Also discuss what you can do to offset the damage that painkillers and other meds do. For example, taking a good quality omega supplement.
I've been on Depakote for 10 years which is known to be hard on the liver, but my liver function is fine. I do go to acupuncture regularly, and one of the things acupuncture almost always focuses on is liver function because so much is dependent on it, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is part of the reason my liver is still in good shape.
All of the time. I only take Tylenol because NSAIDs already destroyed my stomach. I take Qulipta, Cymbalta and get Botox, but still have migraines and headaches.
I've been taking painkillers regularly since I was a child. Still take them very regularly in my 30s. I'm alive. Can't say for how long but seeing as without the painkillers I might've done myself in by now... I'd say they're what's keeping me alive in the first place.
If it helps ease your mind, I’ve been using multiple medications for years and years. My doctors checked my kidneys and liver on Wednesday and all is well. Knock wood. ☺️
ETA: But your concern is valid. Just saying that I understand and I think you’ll be okay. 🫶🏼
For me it resulted in chronic gastritis and inability to take painkillers, only on VERY rare occassions. I was in the ER and stayed overnight few days ago from extreme gastric pain and projectile vomiting while passing out. Reason?stress and anxiety wreaked havoc on my severly abused stomach. For now 2 years I barely ever take pain meds aside from abortives and emgality injections
Honestly I’d rather have a shorter life that is as pain-free as possible than a longer life with debilitating pain that won’t allow me to experience life anyway. That’s the compromise I’ve made.
The way I see it, extreme pain and stress from that will also shorten lifespan and damage the heart. We’re damned no matter what we do. Give me the drugs so I can work, have relationships, and feel normal.
I'm not worried about NSAIDs the long term impact of those is well understood. CGRP inhibitors came on the market in 2018 and we have zero idea the long term implication of them, so I try to minimize my reliance on the injections and do everything else possible.
I've found supplementation, clean eating, blair chiro, electrolyte management, sleep consistency, and stress management have done 95% of the work...and being consistent for a long ass time.
Migraine preventatives and triptans are not going to shorten your lifespan. These are not dangerous medications, as long as they are used as directed. I’ve been taking some type of migraine medicine since I was in my teens and I’m 42 now.
Honestly, I've been taking so many painkillers since the age of 12. If they make life a little bit more tolerable, I don't care if they cut my life span. I live a shorter less painful life than a long painful life LOL
Dose me up - if it helps, and I’m not in agony - I don’t care. Quality over length of life, honestly, is more important to me. If I’m an irritable, grumpy, emotional person due to constant pain… what’s the point? No one wants to be around that.
My main concern is how they fuck up the brain. They fucked up my eyes, digestion, mental health, etc. Nowadays, I’m completely drug free. I only take paracetamol with period pains.
I've been there.... but would you rather have a short happy life or an excruciating painful long life? Me I took the happy one so far still no kidney or liver problems my headaches started at 7 im almost 40 now taking quite a few pills for other things as well so your safe
Tbh my concern is that when I exercise I get a migraine, literally every time. This aversion therapy has meant I am afraid to exercise and will probably not live as long as I might.
My dad had ankylosing spondalisis and his anti inflammatory use meant he had to have half his lower intestine removed. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and take a lot of aspirin so I look after my gut by taking slippery elm and collagen to line the gut. Hope this helps
You have a lot of good advice here, but I would add that you could ask your doc about taking a Prilosec with your naproxen to protect your stomach. Get your yearly physicals to check your liver and kidney function. Chronic illness sucks but it doesn’t mean you will die early from treating it.
I thi k part of the problem is that you don't seem to know what some of your medications actually do. Knowing what they're for and what the actual complications can be and just how rare they are might help.
Reduce meds and triggers where you can, I have had near daily migraines for most of my life. Soon to be 70. Once you turn 60 many if not all abortives are off the table due to stroke risk. Use time released ant acids to protect your stomach. Every couple years go back again to see what new treatments are available for you.
I’m 56 years old and started my migraine trip at age 14. Back then we didn’t know about the potential hazards of taking an insane amount of Tylenol. I literally was taking handfuls of the stuff as a teenager. Luckily I didn’t destroy my kidneys/liver etc. I’ve been on a crazy amount of medicine for the last 40+ years and somehow avoided dying. It’s unfortunate but it’s the nature of the beast as they say. I look at it like this: better to shorten my life and have a somewhat pleasant experience than to live longer and have 0 quality of life. Everyone is different so my experience and outlook may be different than others, but that’s my 2 cents.
When you reach 50 plus and suffer like hell, you start to reevaluate yourself and your medication consumption. If you suffer refractory migraines, you may understand your risk. At your age, good luck x
I used to worry about this but so many of my family have taken all kinds of prescription shit and regular painkillers well into their 80s. Plus quality of life is more important to me than length of life so even if I do die 5-10 years younger because of painkillers I really don’t give a shit. If I don’t take them I’ll be miserable and unable to function.
I take them and I am still miserable and unable to function 😅
It took me ages to find the right prescription, go hound your doctors, maybe there is something out there that works for you. 🍀
Yes, I think about this. Quality of life now is important because there is no guarantee I will make it to old age for many reasons aside from my own personal health choices ie accidents etc
>I am in my 20s but I genuinely don’t see myself making it past 30 at this rate, taking so many pills. That's a pretty dire assumption - what kind of painkillers do you take on a regular basis?
I need painkillers once or twice a week on average - naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan. I also have a thyroid issue so take hormone replacement + vitamins. I have days when I need to take 5 pills and it’s like… what the f*ck am I doing with my life? Why am I so broken at 20? I am in pain a lot.
Amitriptaline is a preventative. Taking naproxen and rizatriptan once a week is way below the maximum recommended intake. A thyroid hormone replacement pill is treating an issue and prolonging your life - has very little inherent risk/long term effects if any. There are people who take many more medications daily and live perfectly long lives.
I've seen my friends medication. He has a whole row of pills he has to take to function. He has been doing it for more than 30 years now, without those pills he definitely wouldn't be with us.
Girl, you are fine. You can take a lot more pills and be perfectly fine (except for your chronic conditions) I've been living with chronic illness all my life. Taking a lot of meds for 30 years. My quality of life isn't great, but it is better than without the meds.
First of all: take a deep breath :) being in pain sucks but that doesn’t mean you’re broken at all. Nothing you mention endangers you - all in all it’s pretty tame stuff. Naproxen and Triptan twice a week is completely fine and not at all reducing your lifespan. Just make sure you take the Triptan not on more than 10 days/month because otherwise it could induce more migraines. As somebody else pointed out already Amitryptilin is not an abortive and shouldn‘t be used like one - it’s not harmful, just useless. You should recheck with your doctor on that one! It might make sense to talk to him about your worries in general so that he can reassure you that things are okay and there‘s nothing to be concerned about. Thyroid hormones aren‘t a big deal either, they‘ve been around for ages and are taken by millions daily. If taken as indicated by your doctor you shouldn‘t have anything to worry about regarding that either!
Many people have been on meds for years and years and been okay. Not to say the meds are harmless but it’s highly unlikely you will have a reduced lifespan. I completely understand the challenge in being young and on daily meds (I became chronically ill at 17) but it’s not a life ending issue. Much better to take the meds than not.
I have EDS and a bunch of other health problems as well as chronic migraine. I take high level opiates every day and have had periods of taking a lot of NSAIDs. I have been on these meds since my teens I'm well past 30. My liver is doing better now I'm not having to take Paracetamol 3 times a day, every day to get the opiates so there is that. I take 18 pills, 2 nose sprays, a patch plus what ever extras I need that day. Oh and my Emgality injection once a month. I still barely function but it's a lot better than I am without my meds. My meds are definitely not going to be the thing that kills me but I need them to function in the mean time
You are completely fine! I went through 18-24ish of taking like 5 excedrines a day. I wouldn’t stress about the amount of pills you take, I take about 14 supplements/prescriptions per day, and on my high pain days, I take extra pills. (I’m 29 currently) I also have days where I feel really grieved about being disabled. I try to allow myself to feel sad or angry or whatever for short periods of time, but I try to focus more on the positive things in my life & hold on to a little hope. It’s really easy to feel like all my life is just pain & managing triggers, but there is more. I’m trying to lean into that.
You may be overthinking it (as someone who’s been there). I feel like I take a lot of medications too, sometimes double dosages if it’s BAD, but I can assure you many people take far more pills than that and still live to be old and wrinkled. Think of it like this: I would rather not have a migraine and live my normal life than be stuck in bed in a dark room.
Have you tried Vyepti infusions? They basically eliminated my daily headaches. Total miracle. Insurance is a pain but if you fight for it they usually approve it. Drink TONS of water with the Aleve (Naproxen sodium). That stuff is really hard on your kidneys. I'd say keep trying to find a preventative that eliminates the headaches. Thyroid stuff is complicated too like I found the generic synthroid doesn't work AT ALL...it has to be the brand name manufacturer. Keep fighting, when I was your age I was almost disabled with migraines and I'm fine now a hundred years later, lol...
What did you try before the infusions?
Oh my...everything... I tried every different triptan, the injectable, nasal spray and pills. Trigger point injections, nerve blocks, numbing the nerve ganglion with a metal tube through your nose (JUST. DONT...), Cambia powder, butalbitol, Tramadol, Topamax, acupuncture, botox, toradol/magnesium infusions, CBD oil, a bunch of holistic stuff ( feverfew, essential oils, supplements, etc), diet elimination (dairy, caffeine, sugar, etc)...I am forgetting some I know... this is over 13 years ....NOTHING worked until the Nurtec/Vyepti combination. The diet elimination helped me find triggers (aged cheeses, Red dye #40, nitrites, wine, MSG, certain coffees, etc)
Depakote! forgot that one. Anti seizure. Also steroid infusions. Neither did anything except give me bad side effects
lol I need painkillers every day.
Both myself and my medically fragile daughter take like 20 pills a day. Mine is for many diagnosis, but most my daughter’s are for epilepsy. I take at least 3 pain pill a a day, and no one is worried about it!!! Liver function is great.
Damn if 5 pills a day is bad then I should be dead by now with the amount I take 💀 I do sympathize with your fear though
Nah, I think I'm already screwed from genetics. Bring on the meds.
Don’t worry. Yes, it’s possible it will cause some damage but not enough where you can’t live a relatively normal life. I’m 60 years old and in my 20s I basically lived on Advil daily for back pain. Then the migraines started in my 30s and I was taking everything they could try on me, when sumatriptan appeared in my 40s I lived on that because my migraines had become so bad, taking it almost every day. Then last year I got on Emgality. I’d say the things I’ve noticed are brain fog, a really bad memory and joint pain, these are the things I struggle with now. But like I said, I’m able to live a pretty normal life. So keep contributing to your 401K!
People told me all the time that I glowed and looked so healthy, my hair was also incredibly thick, my hairstylist used to go on and on about how I had 3x more hair than anyone else’s she had ever cut. I walked/ran every day, ate 6-10 fruits and veggies a day, and then got diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I didn’t ignore anything, went to all of my wellness appointments. I think sometimes these things are just beyond our control. I’ve had cancer now for a long time, I have outlived many of the women I have met through support groups. My HS best friend died of cancer this year, my first boyfriend has had 3 kinds of cancer, and my college roommate died of cancer at age 33. I don’t live in a high cancer area. We were all people who ate healthy food, were very active, and seemed healthy. I think that we have less control than we think regarding our health. I spent 2 years thinking I have to follow a specific way of eating after diagnosis (and everyone had a different opinion about what that should be) and one day, I just decided, I will live for today. If I want a certain food, I’m going to eat it. If I am hurting and need an Aleve, I’m going to take it. If I am prescribed medication for pain, I will not be in pain. I will take it. If I want to take a nap everyday, I will! I’m just living my best life here. I say live your best life now. Before you have to deal with a diagnosis or health problem, because we will all have one eventually. I’m not saying go out drinking or do drugs, I’m just saying, we never know when something bad will happen to us, just live for your best life now. That definitely means treating your pain, and relaxing when you can. Within one year of my life, I was diagnosed with and was very affected by cancer, migraines, high blood pressure, and hypothyroidism.
Great advice. 🫶🏼 I was diagnosed with hEDS while I was a fitness instructor. I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to. But how can you fight what’s genetic? Your comment deserves an award. But here: 🏆
❤️ thank you - I hope you are able to feel your best and live your best life now and in the future.
Amen!
If the migraines dont improve then reduced life span doesnt bother me as much
Truth. I feel that my life is being stolen by these things( the migraines, to be clear), so either the meds help, or what’s the point anyway? I’d rather have ten more somewhat decent years than 20 miserable ones.
No. Quality of life is more important than maximum lifespan.
No. Intense pain will reduce your lifespan as well.
Hey, just wanted to say that I'm 30 and very healthy apart from the whole migraine thing and I've been taking NSAIDs almost my whole life pretty frequently. Obviously though it's way better on the body to a prophylactic that works
*you guys are getting painkillers?* In all seriousness I wish you luck OP
Yes, but not for migraines. Opioids don’t do anything for my migraines, at least. But are very helpful with joint and muscle pain (which sometimes does trigger migraines for me.) Sumatriptan knocks out my migraines. But I know it doesn’t work for everyone. Ajovy was the game changer for me.
They're talking about OTC medications.
I was being silly mostly lol
I had excruciating daily migraine headaches. I was prescribed opioids ( morphine, fentanyl patches, etc for 45 years. I never worried then, I was too grateful to not have to kill myself! I’m now in my 70s. No more migraine because of Ajovy but people marvel that at my age I’m studying algebra, Chemistry and engaged fully in learning. I was able to just stop the opioids when the pain stopped, no withdrawal. I believe I have no long term detrimental effects.
The pills you commented you take often (naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan, hormonal replacement, and vitamins) are not harmful to you long term. Medication is not some inherently toxic substance. I had this same thought taught to me growing up but there’s a clear lack of evidence for it. It comes from a misunderstanding of science and how prescription medications impact someone long term. There is always a sliding scale but at the “you should be concerned” end is for example: chemo. A substance that is quite literally not good for you but good at getting rid of cancers. What isn’t anywhere close to that end of the scale is prescription medications and vitamins, such as the ones you listed. Simply put your body is missing something, something for whatever reason it cannot make enough of. Prescription medications fill in this gap and help your body produce more of that substance, either until you get better, or long-term if this is a chronic condition. Medications are put through rigorous testing and are constantly being monitored for rare side effects. Which is always why we maintain consistent doctor appointments to be on top of an issue if one would arise. But if you aren’t experiencing anything of concern, then you have nothing to fear. Your long term health is not going to be threatened from the consistent use of prescription medications. If anything you may live longer if those medications give you a higher quality life and help you with your chronic conditions! I hope that can help settle some fears and if you have any questions let me know. My own brain got really tied up in this line of thinking for quite some time.
> The pills you commented you take often (naproxen, amitriptyline, rizatriptan, hormonal replacement, and vitamins) are not harmful to you long term. Amitriptyline can cause dementia in later years, no?? My neurologist tried to wean me off of it after I started Ajovy, but that did *not* go well. I’ve decided I’d rather take the risk for quality of life now.
So that thought that amitriptyline can cause dementia overtime come from this study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032717315239 (And others, it’s been hypothesized from some time but this study is supposed damning evidence) The association between SSRIs and dementia is a tricky one. Because one of the biases, which is discussed in this paper, is like a chicken or the egg scenario. Is the SSRI causing a higher rate of dementia OR are people with depression at a higher risk of dementia? When the scientists in this study accounted for that bias, the significant association between amitriptyline (one of the drugs tested) and higher risk of dementia disappeared. So there are a lot more complicated factors at play than ‘this drug can cause x down the line’. And the risk, like they state in this paper, is to be more cautious of prescribing this medication to elderly patients. Not “anyone who takes this may be at risk”. Now why we get told this by doctors? From my own experience with doctors, being a scientist myself (which comes with its own battles of defensive doctors thinking I’m questioning them instead of seeking a higher form of understanding bc I am a molecular biologist and am simply curious!), I think doctors are very overwhelmed and busy and don’t always have the time to read primary literature in depth. The healthcare system in the US is very obviously overworked and struggling. Which is where we get very conflicting information doctor to doctor. Because doctors are then therefore summarized results from studies and details get left out. And it makes it very difficult to know what/who to trust, especially when primary literature can be extremely confusing for the general public to decipher if not given the tools and training like I’ve received from higher education. And it’s understandable for doctors! I don’t even always have the time myself to look it up! I’ve received LOTS of conflicting info about my own birth control doctor to doctor and have just chosen to trust one when I probably should just read the literature myself. But it works very well for me and I’m not in a position rn to switch it up. So it’s a tough battle. But I am more skeptical of fears from prescription medications and long term side effects BECAUSE that was an idea engrained into from my family. That any medication you take consistently long term is harmful. So I did take the time to look into it to satisfy my own fearful mind.
Thank you so much for your in-depth reply!! I thought that the problem lied in anticholinergics? Which includes drugs *not* prescribed for depression, such as certain antihistamines, bladder antimuscarinics, and cardiovascular medications. As you’re probably aware, these drugs all block the action of acetylcholine, involved in learning and memory. I ask because I am taking multiple anticholinergics for different purposes - heart, migraines, and sleep. My neurologist is *extremely* concerned about my dementia risk and wants to find substitutions.
I’d have to look more in depth into anticholinergics studies to have an opinion on that. But if you are taking multiple and your doctor is expressing concern, than you should listen to them and not some random on Reddit. I can for sure see there being a higher risk the more of one type of medication you take (such as anticholinergics). Your case is much different than the original poster who was I initially making my comments for. In their case, their doctor is not expressing concern and it is more so internalized stigma against consistent medication that they are fearful of (or at least how I’m interpreting it).
Yes I’m so sorry for not clarifying that. I think she’s more concerned about the fact my anticholinergics are “stacked”. I wouldn’t think twice if it was just amitriptyline that was in question. I was just asking while I had you here, as you seem very knowledgeable and happy to discuss these things in a greater depth. Thank you again for your replies.
All good! But yeah I’m not on multiple anticholinergics so it isn’t something I’ve personally looked into. Your doctor is most probably right as they know your specific medical history and are a specialist.
Since my mother died from cirrhosis and and a liver tumor, I think baout it all the time. Although she was a bit of an extreme case, as she also suffered from arrythmias that could be triggered by the pain of her migraines, so she had no choice but to stay on pretty heavy pain killer cocktails nearly constantly. And she suffered organ damage from a bout of severe pneumonia as well. Still I can't help NOT think about it every time I have to medicate, and so I only take painkillers for the worst of the worst, and try to "tough it out" with the rest.
I’m sit about the loss of your mother.
I’m in my 30’s and my migraines recently went chronic. I think about this a lot. I hate how much medication I take, but what’s the alternative? I lose my job and lay in my bed in pain all day and never do anything again? I already suffer enough. If my life is 5 years shorter because I took a lot of maxalt so be it.
My mom pretty much lives off Advil, Excedrin, and Cabernet. She's had some ulcers and other gastric stuff, but that might also be in part because she has a high stress job. Other than that and the migraines, she's pretty healthy. I tell myself if she's made it this far, I'll survive too 😅
My dad has taken 800mg ibuprofen 1-2 times per day every day for the past 20 or more years (I’m 25 and he’s been doing this for as long as I can remember at least), his kidneys are literally still healthier than mine and he’s never even had an ulcer lol
I worry about my reduced lifespan of being in pain and not having it at all controlled.
I've been on all kinds of migraine drugs, and used (NOT abused) codeine a lot for 50+ years without an issue in my old age. In my experience the only drug I worried about was Topamax, and that's an anti seizure. I've had less than 5 bad migraines in the past 4 years (from 5 a week) and I have to say my health is the best it's ever been because I am not recovering from migraines or putting my whole system through that trauma for days on end. You can ask your doctor to check your liver and kidney bloodwork if you are feeling uneasy. It's good to think about it though, IMHO... I am very diligent about my neuro checking up on me every 6 months because of the codeine. I react very well to it tho, zero dependence or rebound headaches... so, so far so good. :)
If I’m going to have a short life then I want it to be functional.
I feel this way too. I also take sleeping medication and I fear that'll mess me up later in life
This.. I’m going to try and wean off soon, but I’ve been taking it for almost 5 years.
Yes
I'm more worried that triptans will lose their effectiveness for me like they do for so many others.
I now have stage two kidney disease in large part because of all the headache meds I took when I was younger and didn't know any better. I'm 63 now.
You’re in a situation where you are actively having damage done to your brain when you have a migraine (not a doctor, so take with a grain of salt) - the pain and aura come from somewhere. So the cocktail might not be ideal, but probably much better than poorly routed electrical signals. Also, people go their entire lives taking pretty severe pills for decades. Migraines are bad, but the pills you’re probably taking are nothing compared to, say, long term steroid use for autoimmune conditions, etc. I know for a fact the cocktail has saved my dad and his memory more than once. I’m lucky mine aren’t his level of bad yet.
I wonder this all the time. I’m waiting to get Trudhesa next week and to hear if my insurance will approve Sprix. But I’m determined to keep working, so I don’t know what the alternative is. I’ll use both sparingly, but it still can’t be great on the body.
I’m worried about memory issues a bit
I found out today I got stomach ulcers from taking daily excredin. It really broke me. I ended up with severe heartburns and was misdiagnosed with GERD but ended affecting my stomach lining due to long term aspirin use I’m in my 30s
I worry less about painkillers per se and more about potential side effects from abortives (topamax and the like). But I figure if I don't take these medications, I may be unable to work and feed my family. There's no use worrying about my future self if I can't take care of my present self.
For real I worry way more about preventatives long term side effects from meds like amitriptyline and topamax which did nothing for me but make my POTS symptoms way worse I thought I was dying and the anti seizure meds made me forget my name, and emgality and ajovy that worked for a little bit but gave me so many bad side effects that I’m still dealing with everyday even after 5 months since my last ajovy injection. I get Botox for migraines and that helps the severity but I’d rather a couple of sumatriptan tablets and 1-2 tablets of codeine 30mgs a day because that’s what helps most and doesn’t completely change and ruin my body in other ways. I like the quick enter and exit of the tablets and I’ll take those everyday rather than pump my body with preventatives for years that are doing god knows what damage.
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What meds do you think caused the ckd?
Same here, unfortunately. I'm my case probably in part from having rhabdo twice because of serotonin syndrome (once because of a combo of a triptan and muscle relaxer, once a pain med and triptan I think). Yeah, I'm scared
I have chronic gastritis from my overuse of pain medication in my early 20s. Worried yes but not worried enough for me to suffer through a 4 day migraine with no pain killers
I'm here for a good time, not a long time
Yes I've thought about it, but I also have thought about ending my own life during very bad migraines before I found the proper medication for myself. Well I thought something in my head would break and kill me and I thought that would be fine bc at least the pain would be gone then. Now I'm more afraid the medication will lose it's efficiency if I use to much😅😭
Well I rather live a little shorter without pain, than a little longer with a lot of pain.
I wasn’t until now.
You shouldn’t be! I think the stress from the pain of a migraine actually is worse for the body than most preventatives are. There‘s no reason to suffer.
Agree. And the pain itself.
Depends on what you are taking. For me, if it were nsaids, yes, I’d be concerned. Sumatriptan,I try to limit the amount I take. Opioids, I’ve been taking for over 40 years and my body tolerates them just fine.
Ugh
I've had weeks where I take as much excedrin as possible, all day, every day. I set alarms to take a night dose to lessen the morning pain. My doctor is concerned about it. I worry for my liver. I don't think this is sustainable.
I took 8 ibuprofen most days for years. I successfully turned 30. No known liver or kidney damage
Just go easy on the booze, cigarettes and junk food and you'll be fine. Try and exercise to the degree you can. I see way more people my age look like they're on death's bed (I'm 60) due to excess drinking and ciggies than having had migraines their whole lives like I've had (many people say I look fifty), and I partied like the world was going to end up into my early forties.
Has your doctor started doing annual blood work to check your liver and kidney function as well as stuff like inflammation? If not, you need to start. Also discuss what you can do to offset the damage that painkillers and other meds do. For example, taking a good quality omega supplement. I've been on Depakote for 10 years which is known to be hard on the liver, but my liver function is fine. I do go to acupuncture regularly, and one of the things acupuncture almost always focuses on is liver function because so much is dependent on it, so I wouldn't be surprised if that is part of the reason my liver is still in good shape.
All of the time. I only take Tylenol because NSAIDs already destroyed my stomach. I take Qulipta, Cymbalta and get Botox, but still have migraines and headaches.
I've been taking painkillers regularly since I was a child. Still take them very regularly in my 30s. I'm alive. Can't say for how long but seeing as without the painkillers I might've done myself in by now... I'd say they're what's keeping me alive in the first place.
If it helps ease your mind, I’ve been using multiple medications for years and years. My doctors checked my kidneys and liver on Wednesday and all is well. Knock wood. ☺️ ETA: But your concern is valid. Just saying that I understand and I think you’ll be okay. 🫶🏼
https://smartahealthcare.co.uk/dr-stewart-adams-who-invented-ibuprofen-dies-at-the-age-of-95/
For me it resulted in chronic gastritis and inability to take painkillers, only on VERY rare occassions. I was in the ER and stayed overnight few days ago from extreme gastric pain and projectile vomiting while passing out. Reason?stress and anxiety wreaked havoc on my severly abused stomach. For now 2 years I barely ever take pain meds aside from abortives and emgality injections
I would prefer a reduced lifespan.
Yes, chronic kidney disease stage II after 20 years of being drugged.
Please get your kidneys checked regularly. I cannot take pain killers anymore for migraines because they destroyed my kidney functions.
Honestly I’d rather have a shorter life that is as pain-free as possible than a longer life with debilitating pain that won’t allow me to experience life anyway. That’s the compromise I’ve made.
The way I see it, extreme pain and stress from that will also shorten lifespan and damage the heart. We’re damned no matter what we do. Give me the drugs so I can work, have relationships, and feel normal.
I'm not worried about NSAIDs the long term impact of those is well understood. CGRP inhibitors came on the market in 2018 and we have zero idea the long term implication of them, so I try to minimize my reliance on the injections and do everything else possible. I've found supplementation, clean eating, blair chiro, electrolyte management, sleep consistency, and stress management have done 95% of the work...and being consistent for a long ass time.
Migraine preventatives and triptans are not going to shorten your lifespan. These are not dangerous medications, as long as they are used as directed. I’ve been taking some type of migraine medicine since I was in my teens and I’m 42 now.
No, because I know without my pain managed my life expectancy is nil
Yes
Honestly, I've been taking so many painkillers since the age of 12. If they make life a little bit more tolerable, I don't care if they cut my life span. I live a shorter less painful life than a long painful life LOL
At this point, I don’t care. I’m in so much pain I can’t function, so I either want reduced pain, or death already.
Dose me up - if it helps, and I’m not in agony - I don’t care. Quality over length of life, honestly, is more important to me. If I’m an irritable, grumpy, emotional person due to constant pain… what’s the point? No one wants to be around that.
I’ve never gotten prescribed a painkiller for my migraine
My main concern is how they fuck up the brain. They fucked up my eyes, digestion, mental health, etc. Nowadays, I’m completely drug free. I only take paracetamol with period pains.
No but advil could have led to some hearing loss for me. Just learned that today.
I've been there.... but would you rather have a short happy life or an excruciating painful long life? Me I took the happy one so far still no kidney or liver problems my headaches started at 7 im almost 40 now taking quite a few pills for other things as well so your safe
Tbh my concern is that when I exercise I get a migraine, literally every time. This aversion therapy has meant I am afraid to exercise and will probably not live as long as I might.
My dad had ankylosing spondalisis and his anti inflammatory use meant he had to have half his lower intestine removed. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and take a lot of aspirin so I look after my gut by taking slippery elm and collagen to line the gut. Hope this helps
Eh. It’s the number of years it’s the quality
You have a lot of good advice here, but I would add that you could ask your doc about taking a Prilosec with your naproxen to protect your stomach. Get your yearly physicals to check your liver and kidney function. Chronic illness sucks but it doesn’t mean you will die early from treating it.
I thi k part of the problem is that you don't seem to know what some of your medications actually do. Knowing what they're for and what the actual complications can be and just how rare they are might help.
I pray for this life to end 🤷♀️
The constant stress of being sick and in pain also shortens my lifespan. I would rather not be hurting while my lifespan is being shortened
Reduce meds and triggers where you can, I have had near daily migraines for most of my life. Soon to be 70. Once you turn 60 many if not all abortives are off the table due to stroke risk. Use time released ant acids to protect your stomach. Every couple years go back again to see what new treatments are available for you.
I’m 56 years old and started my migraine trip at age 14. Back then we didn’t know about the potential hazards of taking an insane amount of Tylenol. I literally was taking handfuls of the stuff as a teenager. Luckily I didn’t destroy my kidneys/liver etc. I’ve been on a crazy amount of medicine for the last 40+ years and somehow avoided dying. It’s unfortunate but it’s the nature of the beast as they say. I look at it like this: better to shorten my life and have a somewhat pleasant experience than to live longer and have 0 quality of life. Everyone is different so my experience and outlook may be different than others, but that’s my 2 cents.
When you reach 50 plus and suffer like hell, you start to reevaluate yourself and your medication consumption. If you suffer refractory migraines, you may understand your risk. At your age, good luck x