Why Prescription Medications May Not Be The Answer For Migraine Relief

Often times when it comes to patients and physicians discussing migraine relief, the option that comes up the most for treatment is the use of prescription medications. However, often times these individuals prescription medications that are used for the provision of migraine relief are just quickly jotted down on a prescription pad and handed over without any explanation as to how these medications work, or what side effects they may cause. So, for information sake the following paragraphs will overview the most commonly used prescription medications that are used for migraine relief as well as the concerns or side effects that should be watched out for. The medications that are commonly used for migraine relief are divided into two separate categories, either pain relieving medications or preventative medications.

Pain Relieving Medications
These forms of medications are intended to provide migraine relief only when they are taken at the first sign of a migraine, as soon as symptoms begin to appear and before a full blown attack takes place.

• Anti-Nausea Medications as the name states help to provide migraine relief by treating one of the main symptoms besides head pain that occurs with a migraine. Certain medications such as prochlorperazine or metoclopramide are commonly used in order to help settle symptoms of nausea whether or not vomiting is also present.
• Triptans are medications which are most commonly prescribed for migraine relief. The most common prescriptoines are written for Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Naratriptan, Frovatriptan, Almotriptan, Zolmitriptan, as well as Eletriptan. Triptans are extremely successful in providing migraine relief in regards to the symptoms of head pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light. However, they can cause side effects such as nausea, muscle weakness, and dizziness. Additionally the use of Triptans is not recommended for those who might be at risk for strokes or heart attack as Triptans could cause further complications.
• Ergots are medications which are less expensive than the use of Triptans, but as many times when something is less expensive it is also less effective. The use of Ergot’s for migraine relief are most effective for individuals who suffer from migraine pain that last for more than 48 hours.
• Opiates are prescription medications that contain narcotics. Opiates are often used for migraine relief in those migraine sufferers who cannot take Triptans or Ergots for any number of reasons. While Opiates do provide extremely successful migraine relief, they are also extremely habit forming and should be used only as a last resort, and when used should be used very sparingly.
• Dexamethasone is a prescription corticosteroid that can be used in conjunction with other medications in order to provide migraine relief. However, while the use of Dexamethasone is effective for providing migraine relief there is a high risk for steroid toxicity to occur, therefore this medications should be used with much caution and only as a last resort.

Preventative Medications
The use of preventative medications in order to provide migraine relief are to be used before a migraine attack ever takes place, the main purpose as the name states is to prevent the migraine from occurring. Migraine relief that comes in the form of preventative medications often help to reduce the frequency, severity, and overall length of migraines. Some of the common forms of preventative medications for migraine relief include the use of Antidepressants, Anti-seizure drugs, as well as Cardiovascular Drugs. While these forms of medications can help to achieve migraine relief through prevention techniques they can also cause negative side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, or in some cases even hair loss.

What Now?
So if after reading some of the information about how prescription medications may not be the best option for finding migraine relief then what are the best options? While there are most certainly instances where prescription medications can provide migraine relief or instances where these medications can provide migraine relief that outweighs and negative concerns, there is also the need for information to be more easily accessed by patients who are taking these prescription medications so that a more informed decision can be made about whether or not to use these prescription medications for migraine relief. In the event that a patient decides not to use prescription medications for migraine relief, there are many other options for treatment that can provide migraine relief such as the use of supplemental therapies as well as alternative therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic care, or massage therapy.

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