Migraine Medications Known As Triptans

Migraine headaches are such a difficult thing to have to endure and for those who endure chronic migraines on a reoccurring basis might find his or herself struggling to maintain a normal and active life as a result. Migraines after much study has been determined a neurological event. The reason that migraines are now considered a neurological event has to do with the way they develop in the brain. It seems as though when a migraine is in the process of developing the blood vessels in the brain begin to enlarge causing intense agonizing pain that unleashes an onset of miserable symptoms that can leave an individual incapacitated for several days. There is no cure for migraines so a treatment must be implemented.

Prescription medication should be one of the last treatments tried in helping relieve migraine headaches; however, until recent years, migraine sufferers had very few options in relieving their migraine pain. New prescription medication called triptans is now available on the market and is geared toward relieving migraine pressure. Triptans have two important abilities:

1. They are able to  constrict blood vessels.
2. They create an  upset in the process which leads into a migraine by disturbing the  sequence of chemicals that inflict pain or irritation to the nerves.

Triptans                                                              

Triptans are a collection of tryptamine-based drugs. Tryptamine is a monoamine alkaloid that can be found in certain vegetation such as plants, fungi and animals. Triptans are used as a tool to prevent migraines from being successful in completely immobilizing an individual.

Because of triptans unique ability to attach to the serotonin receptors on the blood vessels and the surrounding nerves, they can help reduce and in some cases completely stop migraine headaches from occurring. We mentioned several triptans and you might be feeling somewhat overwhelmed and unsure as to which one is worth speaking to your doctor about.

Doctors will not go around prescribing triptans for everyone complaining that they suffer from migraines. Triptans are typically only prescribed to migraine sufferers that experience moderate to severe migraine pain and even then other forms of migraine treatment will be discussed and ruled out before a doctor will recommend or suggest a triptan.

Benefits Of Use

If used correctly, Triptans will reduce the amount of pain felt and increase in its effectiveness. Triptans should be administered when the early signs and symptoms of a migraine begin to be felt. Taking one after the pain has settled in will reduce the effectiveness and increase the chances for side effects as well as a migraine relapse.

The Down Side

Triptans have been useful in the treatment of migraine pain, however there are a few risks involved that those considering treating their migraines with triptans ought to be aware of. The most common side effects associated with triptans are but not limited to:

• Drowsiness
• Facial Reddening
• Fatigue
• Tightening In The Chest
• Tightening In The Throat
• Dizziness

The role Triptans play in releasing migraine pain is due to the affect triptans have on the restriction of blood vessels or the narrowing of them to prevent them from enlarging and creating migraine pain. Though narrowing is part of their job, it can also have a reverse effect by not only narrowing the arteries in the head but also create a narrowing of the arteries in the heart. This becomes increasingly dangerous for those individuals that have already experienced some form of coronary narrowing. The narrowing caused by the triptans could lead to further narrowing resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Even if you consider yourself a healthy individual, be aware that if your doctor is considering prescribing triptans to help with your migraine pain he or she might prescribe a full body evaluation first in order to insure that everything is ok physically before he or she gives a green light on using triptans.

Ergots vs. Triptans

Ergots are  similar to triptans in that they too constrict blood vessels, the difference is that triptans tend to constrict blood vessels in the brain whereas ergots are known to restrict blood vessels more in the heart and other parts of the body making them not nearly as safe of a treatment as triptans. Ergots have been known to induce nausea, vomiting and contractions in the uterus that makes them very unsafe for pregnant women.

Tags: Ergots, herbal supplements, Migraine Medications, Migraine Support Formula, Prescription medication, side effects, Triptans