I read somewhere that peppermint is good to open the veins in the brain so it might work. You could probably use it in rubbing alcohol just as easily. If light is bothering your eyes get some sunglasses. They wouldn't have to be the really dark ones if the lesser ones work for you.
Did you ask your doctor if he had any samples that he could give you? or ask if there was a generic form of the medicine that would be affordable? Depending on your age there's a thing called Circuit Breaker that helps cap med prices. You can also contact the makers of the drug and see if they have a program for people that can't afford their medicines or see if it's on the Walmart $4 list.