Migraine headaches are characterized by throbbing pain on either one or both sides of the head. There are several other symptoms that can be experienced including nausea and light sensitivity. While acute medications are commonly used at the onset of a migraine headache, sometimes it can be beneficial to take a preventative medication.
Doctors follow certain classifications to prescribe preventative medication instead of acute medications. These classifications include if the patient has at least three moderate to severe migraine headaches days each month. Another classification is if acute migraine headache medications are not providing sufficient relief. Preventative migraine headache medications are taken on a daily basis and work best when taken at the same time each day.
While there are several different kinds of medications used to prevent migraine headaches, a common one is called beta blockers.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers primarily used to treat hypertension, high blood pressure. Other common uses for beta blockers are to relieve angina and to help prevent additional heart attacks for heart attack patients. Less common uses are correcting irregular heartbeat, prevent migraine headaches and treat tremors. Beta blockers are also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents and beta-blocking agents.
Beta blockers are able to affect the response to some nerve impulses in certain parts of the body. This means that they are able to decrease the heart’s need for blood and oxygen by reducing its workload.
Beta blockers are only available by prescription from a healthcare professional.
While all medications have side effects, doctors are aware of the risk and believe that the benefits outweigh the risk. Common side effects for beta blockers include dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling tired and trouble sleeping. There are some more severe side effects including symptoms like hives, swelling or trouble breathing. Because of the nature of the medication some patients will also experience a very slow heart rate, or a heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute.
While beta blockers are a common choice for doctors to use to prevent migraine headaches, there are several other medications that have also been used to prevent migraine headaches. These medications include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, calcium channel blockers and Botox.
Tags: herbal supplements, Migraine Medications, Migraine Support Formula, Prescription medication, side effects, Triptans
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