Migraines are severe, debilitating headaches that can cause some peoples live to virtually stop once an attack begins. However, there are several options for medication. It is important that you know all of the information before making the right choice with your health care provider in how to best treat your symptoms.
OTC Drugs
Usually, the first migraine and headache drugs recommended by doctors are pain relievers. Many of these medications are available over-the-counter, without a doctor’s prescription. Other headache drugs require a prescription. When taking these headache drugs, avoid excessive caffeine-containing products and other over-the-counter headache medications. These over-the-counter medications for relief of migraine symptoms include: acetaminophen, aspirin, combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, ketaprofen, nabumetone, naproxen, diclofenac, ketorolac, meclofenate, carisoprodol, orphenadrine citrate, methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine, cyclobenzaprine HCL, and metaxalone Keep in mind that if symptomatic relief medications are used more than twice a week, you should see your doctor who can prescribe preventive headache medications. Overuse of symptomatic medications can actually cause more frequent headaches or worsen headache symptoms.
Prescription Medications
You may be a prime candidate for preventative prescription drug medications if you have two or more migraine headaches per month, pain relievers are not working, or your migraine symptoms included prolonged visual auras and or body numbness and weakness. Preventative medications can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraine symptoms and increase the effectiveness of your pain-relievers as well. However, these medications often may cause serious side effects. Therefore, your doctor may want you to only take these before a known trigger occurs, for example. The list of preventative prescription drugs are:
• Cardiovascular drugs.
• Antidepressants.
• Anti-seizure drugs.
• Cyproheptadine.
• Botulinum toxin type A (Botox).
For the best results possible, take you prescriptions as you doctor recommends.
What are the potential side effects of the drugs you have prescribed? What can I do to minimize them?
The side effects of preventative prescription migraine drugs vary depending on the specific drug given and the patient. However, the following are a list of the most commonly experienced side effects:
• Cardiovascular drugs – Side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness.
• Antidepressants – Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, agitation, headaches, or loss of sexual drive or sexual satisfaction.
• Anti-seizure drugs – In high doses these drugs may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hair loss, and dizziness.
• Cyproheptadine – mild drowsiness or dizziness, insomnia, numbness or tingly feeling, blurred vision, appetite changes, dry mouth or nose, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.
• Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) – anxiety, arm, leg, or back pain, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, dry eyes, facial pain, flu-like symptoms, headache, indigestion, nausea, sensitivity to light, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness and stiff or weak muscles near the injection site.
Tags: herbal supplements, Migraine Medications, Migraine Support Formula, Prescription medication, side effects, Triptans
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