On Your Side, Not In Your Way

Have you ever caught yourself questioning if those migraine meds of yours actually do their job?

Sure, the pain dials down a notch, but those meds that are supposed to keep headaches from happening in the first place? Kinda feels like they’re not pulling their weight, right?

We’ve talked a lot about medications in past blogs — and yet, here I am, gearing up to dive into this topic once again.

Why?

Because every day, someone in our group asks about the next pill or injection that might be the game-changer for their migraine pain.

The Same Cycle, Over and Over

It's like clockwork. Someone asks about a new med, everyone jumps in to share their experiences, and then we swap notes on side effects, insurance nightmares, and wait times for relief.

We've heard it all — total fails, “it's okay” reviews, and the rare "it actually worked... for now."

But whenever I share advice on reducing pain without a pill bottle?

Crickets.

Why Are We So Hooked on Pills?

Here’s my two cents. It’s tempting to look for a quick fix, especially in pill form.

It's tangible, it's specific, and let’s face it — popping a pill is way easier than doing the work to actually reduce chronic inflammation.

But here's the kicker — focusing too much on meds is leading you down a rabbit hole and keeping you stuck managing pain instead of actually ending it.

Meds come with so much baggage, including short and long-term side effects, financial costs, and dependency.

Let's Shake Things Up

What if we talked just as passionately about strategies that have nothing to do with pharmacies?

I'm talking about the 6 Keys of Inflammation:

Electrolyte Symmetry
Nutrition Integration
Toxicity Mitigation
Circadian Responsivity
Movement Stabilization
Mindset Modulation

These areas impact your head and your entire health — hormones, gut health, joint pain, autoimmunity, cancer, and even old injury pain.

I’m NOT Saying Ditch Your Meds Immediately

If you've found something that works right now, that's awesome.

I remember how brutal the pain is, and no one wants you to suffer.

But maybe it’s time to broaden your horizons.

Medications have short and long-term consequences we cannot ignore.

Common Side Effects You Might Not Think About

While your meds might dull the pain, they come with some hefty side effects that can affect you today, tomorrow, and later on down the road.

Here’s a breakdown of common side effects that are often seen amongst various migraine medications. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Triptans

Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and drowsiness
Fatigue and weakness
Chest, jaw, or neck tightness
Flushing and sweating
Skin reactions
Taste disturbances
Rebound headaches
Risk of heart attack or stroke
Serotonin syndrome
Allergic reactions (hives, rash, breathing difficulty)

Amitriptyline

Constipation
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Sleepiness or fatigue
Urinary difficulty
Headache
Mental health changes (agitation, irritability, suicidal thoughts, depression)
Cardiac issues (heart rate variability, arrhythmias)
Blurred vision, urinary retention, tachycardia, glaucoma, confusion, delirium
Supplement interactions (e.g., St. John's Wort, DHEA, tryptophan)

Gabapentin

Dizziness and drowsiness
Weight gain
GI issues
Swelling
Mood swings and irritability
Sexual dysfunction
Menstrual irregularities
Memory issues
Blurred or double vision
Serious breathing issues
Allergic reactions

A Pattern You Might Not See…Yet

These are just three examples of meds many women took before they graduated from the Freedom From Migraines Method®.

Have you read the pamphlet that comes with your meds lately?
Have you ever thought about how many meds you take daily?

Mixing meds is like mixing drinks; it can be unpredictable and messy.
Each pill is a gamble for finding relief now versus long-term consequences later.

Future You Will Thank You

Issues like autoimmunity, cancer, heart disease, strokes, and Alzheimer’s don’t pop up overnight.

They build over years, and every pill could be silently stacking up chronic inflammation.

The key is to start seeing meds as short-term tools, not long-term solutions.

What We Do Differently in Freedom From Migraines Method®

We focus on the real cause of your pain — chronic inflammation — and how to reduce it.

When women join FFMM, they:

Learn steps to dial down inflammation
Work with doctors to slowly taper off meds
Start feeling better across the board

It’s not just about ditching headaches — it’s about reclaiming your whole life without side effects.

Try This Exercise (It’s Eye-Opening!)

Join the Women’s Migraine Freedom™ Facebook Group and search #mistake7 to see real members' experiences with meds.

Then, do this:

List every medication you take — prescription and over-the-counter.
Note how often you take each one.
Record the last time you refilled them.

When I did this exercise, I was shocked.

I was taking 12 ibuprofen plus seven prescription meds daily.

Years of this wrecked my gut health, which might never fully recover.

But today? I rarely need ibuprofen, and I feel amazing.

A Smarter Strategy for Medication

Think of meds like a secret weapon — use them sparingly so they stay powerful.

If you grab a pill every time you feel a twinge, your body gets lazy.
It stops trying to fight pain on its own.

When you reduce inflammation, your body gets stronger, and your meds? They work better, faster, and less often.

You'll be surprised how often you can swap a heavy-hitter for something as simple as an ibuprofen.

Taking meds less often means less toxicity, less inflammation, and a healthier future that you’ll be proud of!

Do you want to learn how you can hit "decline" on your next prescription refill — and say goodbye to the side effects for good?

Send me a DM and tell me your medication number.

And even better, join us inside the Freedom From Migraines Method® Membership and start reducing your inflammation before the next headache hits.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debbie Waidl is the Owner of In The Balance Health Coaching LLC, and Founder of The Freedom From Migraines Method™ & The Migraine Freedom Protocol™
She supports busy moms living with Migraines.

Debbie will uncover what is holding them back from migraine freedom so they can live their life pain and symptom free, work productively, spend the time they want with family and friends, and stop missing out on the things they enjoy.

A message from Debbie:
"I was once right where you are now. 100% believing there was NO WAY to end migraines and my only option was to learn how to live with them or find that magic pill that maybe would work for a while. If anyone told me back then that I could end my pain once and for all, I would have called BS and popped another pill!

Skeptical times 10 was my middle name for sure because when you try it all and everyone tells you they can help you and they don’t. You stop believing… you lose HOPE!

I now realize I was approaching my migraines all backward.

I was trying to cover up symptoms versus trying to end my pain."

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