Migraine Medication And Treatment

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Migraine headache can be described as a throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head (unilateral headache) accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and smell, disrupted sleep and depression. Migraine headache is primarily caused due to vasodilatation of blood vessels and release of chemical messengers from nerve fibers surrounding the brain. Around 28 million Americans are annually affected by migraine attacks. Incidence of migraine has been reported to be more in females than in males.

Treatment for migraine headaches can be a non-medicated approach or a medicated approach.

Non-medicated approach of migraine treatment involves techniques that help in relaxing the brain. Since, migraine starts with the nerves getting activated, patients are educated to avoid or handle circumstances effectively without causing the nerves to release their chemicals. Apart from that, patients should adopt certain changes in their lifestyles such as avoiding smoking and eating food which contain substances like tyramine, sulphites and nitrates. Some of these include cheese, wine, nuts and pressed meats. One should have a good nutrition combined with adequate water intake, sufficient sleep and regular exercise.

Medication Therapies

Medications differ with the intensity of migraine attack. Patients with mild migraine prefer analgesics like acetaminophen and NSAIDs that can provide short-term relief. NSAIDs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. However, uncontrolled use of analgesics can cause serious side effects. Moderate to severe migraine headaches require medicines that can abort the pain. These include Triptans and Ergots. Triptans attach to the serotonin receptors and cause an anti-inflammatory effect along with vasoconstriction. Some examples of triptans include Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, Naratriptan, Almotriptan and Frovatriptan. Ergots abort headache by causing vasoconstriction in the heart. Some of these include Ergomar, Wigraine and Cafergot. However, ergots are not as safe as triptans.

Another drug used to control migraine is Midrin. It is a combination of isometheptene, acetaminophen and dichloralphenazone. However, this medicine should not be used in patients suffering with high blood pressure, kidney disease, glaucoma, atherosclerosis and liver disease.

Migraine Medication And Treatment