What Are You Using To Treat Your Migraines?

Choosing a migraine treatment is like choosing an entrée from a buffet; so many choices how does one choose? Living with chronic migraines is a miserable thing and not something one should be forced to endure so finding a treatment is a must do. Educating oneself on the various migraine treatments is an excellent place to start. Migraine treatment options include the use of various preventative medications, over the counter medications and or holistic means. Each migraine treatment comes with its pros and cons so it is wise for the migraine sufferer to take the time to evaluate and research the various options before making a selection.

The most commonly used treatment approach would include the use of medications whether the medication is over the counter or prescribed. You know you are a good candidate for preventative or prescribed medications if you have 4 or more debilitating migraines each month. Debilitating migraines implies that the head pain being experienced has lasted more than twelve hours; over the counter medicines are having no effect and your pain and symptoms have grown to include prolonged aura as well as numbness and weakness. Preventative medications cannot guarantee that no migraine will ever occur again but they can help reduce the frequency, duration and intensity.

Delving Deeper

If one is considering the use of medication as their number one treatment plan than it is important that he or she know more about the different medication on the market that may be prescribed. The list below will help migraine sufferers delve a bit deeper into the different medications one might be prescribed.

Anti-Nausea Medication

One Side effect of a migraine is severe nausea possibly leading to vomiting. Often medical professionals may prescribe chlorpromazine, Reglan or Compro to help lessen this symptom

Opioid Medications

Opioid medications are a narcotic medication such as codeine. Opioids are often prescribed to those who do not respond well to Triptans or Ergots. The most common side effect of this particular medication is that it can become habit forming.

Cardio Vascular Medications

Beta blockers are a form of cardio vascular medications; they are often prescribed to treat those with high blood pressure but are also able to reduce the severity of a migraine. Studies have shown that those who use this type of medicinal approach experiences relief within in a few short weeks. Cardiovascular medications keep blood vessels from becoming too narrow or to wide thus helping decrease migraine occurrences.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants can be used to treat other ailments other than depression. Tricyclic antidepressants can be prescribed to treat reoccurring migraines they do this by affecting the different levels of serotonin in the brain. Side effects can include: dry mouth, weight gain, constipation and mood swings.

Anti-seizure Drugs

Valproate sodium and Topamax may be prescribed to help decrease the frequency of migraine attacks.

Triptans

Triptans are a collection of tryptamine-based drugs. 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. 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.

Tags: Acetaminophen (a.k.a. Tylenol), migraine pain, migraine relief, Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), over the counter medication, treating migraines