Migraines are so debilitating and often the one question a migraine sufferer will ask as they drag themselves to the doctor’s office, urgent care, or even local ER is “where are the drugs”? This thought process can most certainly be understood, especially for an individual who is smack dab in the middle of a migraine attack. While in this particular instance often the only way of finding relief is through prescription drug treatment there are other options that should be considered in order to help prevent the onset of a migraine in the first place. Discussed in the following paragraphs will be the comparison between the most commonly prescribed medications versus a more natural approach to migraine prevention and treatment.
Triptans & Ergots
If a trip to the ER or Urgent care has been in the recent history of a migraine sufferer than these two classifications, Triptans and Ergots, of medications will have probably been discussed.
- Triptans – this medication works by constricting blood vessels and by upsetting the process which leads to a migraine by disturbing the sequence of chemicals that causes the migraine pain in the first place. Usually only prescribed to moderate or severe migraine sufferers, Triptans works best when given very early on during a migraine attack. However the drawback to using Triptans is that it does tend to cause negative side effects such as; Drowsiness, Facial Reddening, Fatigue, Tightening in the Chest, Tightening in the Throat, and Dizziness. Also, because Triptans work to narrow and constrict the blood vessels in the brain for the relief of migraine pain, they have also been known to constrict other blood vessels that might already have narrowing issues such as in the coronary arteries.
- Ergots – This is another type of prescription medication that also constricts blood vessels in order to relieve migraine pain. The different in Ergots is that while Triptans tend to constrict mostly the vessels in the brain, Ergots have a tendency to restrict blood vessels in the entire body, which makes them much less safer than the use of Triptans. Other negative side effects of Ergots are that they have been known to cause nausea, vomiting, as well as contractions within the uterus, which for obvious reasons makes them very unsafe for pregnant women.
Are there other Treatment Options?
So are there options that will both eliminate the pain associated with migraine as well as eliminate the negative side effects that are so often accompanied by the use of Triptans and Ergots? The answer to that question is yes! Options for treatment include the use of massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic manipulation, as well as many different types of herbs and supplements that have been proven in clinical trials to be beneficial in migraine treatment. Migraine treatment has come a long way in the last decade and for therapies, supplements, and herbs are much more socially accepted as well as backed in the medical community as well.
Tags: Ergots, headache, migraine, migraine attack, migraine headaches, migraine relief, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, Prescription medication, Triptans
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