Migraines are a type of headache disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of moderate to severe head pain, often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, or smells, and visual disturbances. Migraines can significantly impact daily life, leading to missed work or school days and reduced quality of life for those affected.
Here are some key characteristics of migraines:
- Pain: Migraine pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating and typically affects one side of the head, although it can also be bilateral. The pain can vary in intensity and may worsen with physical activity.
- Duration: Migraine attacks can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Some individuals may experience a prodrome phase, which consists of subtle changes in mood, energy levels, or appetite, preceding the onset of a migraine attack.
- Associated Symptoms: In addition to head pain, migraines often involve other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light (photophobia) or sound (phonophobia). Some people may also experience visual disturbances, known as aura, which can include flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag lines in their field of vision.
- Triggers: Migraine triggers vary widely among individuals but may include hormonal changes, certain foods or beverages (such as aged cheeses, chocolate, or alcohol), stress, lack of sleep, sensory stimuli (bright lights, loud noises), weather changes, and hormonal fluctuations.
- Types of Migraines: There are several subtypes of migraines, including migraine with aura (where individuals experience visual or sensory disturbances before the onset of pain), migraine without aura, hemiplegic migraine (accompanied by temporary paralysis or weakness on one side of the body), and vestibular migraine (associated with vertigo or dizziness).
- Impact on Daily Life: Migraines can significantly impact daily functioning, leading to missed work or school days, decreased productivity, and impaired quality of life. Managing migraines often requires a combination of medication, lifestyle modifications, and avoidance of triggers.
While the exact cause of migraines is not fully understood, they are believed to involve a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors. Migraines can occur at any age but often begin during adolescence or early adulthood and tend to affect women more frequently than men.
Treatment for migraines typically focuses on relieving symptoms during an attack (acute treatment) and preventing future attacks (preventive treatment) through medication, lifestyle modifications, and stress management techniques. It’s essential for individuals experiencing migraines to work closely with healthcare providers to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to their needs and preferences.
What Are the Best Medicines for Migraines?
The best medicines for migraines can vary from person to person, as treatment often depends on the frequency, severity, and specific symptoms experienced. However, several medications are commonly used to prevent migraines or relieve symptoms when they occur. Here are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for migraines:
- Triptans: Triptans are a class of medications specifically designed to treat migraines. They work by narrowing blood vessels in the brain and blocking pain pathways. Examples include sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and eletriptan (Relpax). Triptans are typically most effective when taken at the onset of a migraine attack.
- NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs): NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can help relieve migraine pain and inflammation when taken early in an attack. They are often used as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate migraines.
- Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used alone or in combination with other medications to relieve migraine pain. It’s often preferred for individuals who cannot take NSAIDs due to stomach issues or other contraindications.
- Ergotamines: Ergotamines, such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45) and ergotamine with caffeine (Migergot), are older medications that can be effective for treating migraines, particularly when triptans are not effective or tolerated. However, they are less commonly prescribed due to potential side effects and drug interactions.
- Calcium Channel Blockers: Medications such as verapamil and flunarizine, which are calcium channel blockers, may be prescribed to prevent migraines in some individuals, particularly those with frequent or severe attacks.
- Beta-Blockers: Certain beta-blockers, such as propranolol and metoprolol, are commonly used as preventive medications for migraines, especially in individuals with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions.
- Anticonvulsants: Some anticonvulsant medications, such as topiramate (Topamax) and valproate (Depakote), may be prescribed to prevent migraines, particularly in individuals who also experience seizures or have not responded well to other preventive treatments.
- CGRP Inhibitors: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, such as erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), and galcanezumab (Emgality), are a newer class of medications specifically developed for migraine prevention. They work by targeting CGRP, a neurotransmitter involved in migraine attacks.
Best answer:
Answer by Kara
My sister has the disease, Daily Chronic Migraines. She’s been on everything from vitamins to sedatives and anti-histamines. Talk to a nuerologist near you, he’ll have you track all your symptoms, your migraines, what you were doing, when you ate around the time, etc etc. Trust me, you can get A LOT of help from doctors, rather than people here.
What do you think? Answer below!
I’ve gotten them for years. I have found that if I take Excedrine Migraine at the very first hint of any kind of a headache I’m fine. I’ve never had it fail me. Good luck to you.
excedrine miagraine OTC, ergotamine RX, fioricet RX
I know that this is NOT alternative medicine, if that’s what you’re looking for… but Imitrex. It works for me every time. The injections work the fastest. I WOULD NOT recommend the nasal spray. The drip that goes down the back of your throat afterward has a TERRIBLE taste. If you are nauseated from the migraine it will likely make you throw up. The pills are effective too, they just take a long time. So if you can stand giving yourself a subcutaneous injection, I’d say us the shots. (And if you can afford them. The patent isn’t up yet so you can’t get generic… they’re quite expensive.)
try a tincture of feverfew
Homeopathic Treatments for HEADACHES, MIGRAINES,(Without any side effects or complications) :-
HEADACHE :-
With constant nausea; clean tongue Ipecac 30X, 3 hourly
With severe throbbing and rush of blood towards head Belladonna 30X, 3 hourly
Due to over eating; stomach disorders; tongue thickly whitish coated; worse bathing specially after river bathing Antim Crud 30X or 200 4 hourly(3 Doses)
Due to exposure to dry, cold wind; sudden with anxiety Aconite Nap.30X or 200X, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses)
With watering of eyes and sensitiveness to bright light Euphrasia 30X, 3 hourly
Headache; better by bending backwards; due to nerve injury Hypericum 30X, 3 hourly
Headache with humming in ears; due to nervous weakness Kali Phos.6X or 30X, 3 hourly
Hammering headache; worse during menstrual cycle going in sun; school girls Natrum Mur.30X or 200X, 4 hourly
Headache starts from nape of neck and shift over to the head; patient desires to lie down quietly; better passing urine Gelsemium 30X or 200X, 3 hourly
Violent headache due to working under gas light; sun-stroke Glonoine 6X or 30X, 2 hourly
Bursting headache; worse by stooping and movements; excessive thirst and constipation Bryonia 30X or 200X, 3 hourly (6 Doses)
Nervous headache; after grief, disappointment; worse inhaling smoke Ignatia 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)
Headache; due to sinusitis, pressure and pain at the root of nose Kali Bich 30X, 4 hourly
Due to eating rich fatty food, loss of thirst, better in open cold air Pulsatilla 30X, 4 hourly
Due to eye strain; disturbances of accomodation of eye sight Ruta Grav 30X, 4 hourly
After taking alcoholic drinks; sedentary habits; chilly patient Nux Vomica 30X, 4 hourly
Sun haedcahe; aggravation from sun rise to sunset; from cardiac origin Kalmia Lat.30X or 200X, 6 hourly
Of school children; crushing headache, pressure on top of head Acid Phos 30, 4 hourly
Headache localised; at the nape of neck; worse by walking and noise Pneumococcin 200X, 10 min (3 Doses)
Frontal headache; neuralgic pain above and behind the right eye; heaviness of head. Better by rest, lying down and eating Penicillinum 30X or 200X, 10 min (3 Doses)
Headache worse early morning;empty gone sensation at 10 -11 A.M. Sulphur 200X or 1M, weekly (3 Doses)
MIGRAINES :-
From mental work; cold, uncovering head, pressure, sitting upright or sun-stroke Glonoinum 30X, 3 hourly
For nervous, gastric, bilious individuals. Migraine due to mental over exertion in teachers and students. Right sided, specially Sunday migraine, blurred vision, hemiopia; blindness; often burning pain in entire gastro-intestinal tract with violent acid vomiting at the height of attack; worse hot weather; spring and fall; better after vomiting or sufficient night sleep Iris v.200X or above, 10 min (3 Doses)
For irritable hypochondriacs of bad temper; cholerics, neuropathics; from abuse of alcohol, coffee, spices, tobacco, vexation and worry, mental over exertion, business worries, sexual excesses, sedentary habits, cold dry air and winds Nux Vomica 30X or 200X 4 hourly
For pronounced vasomotor individuals (irritable and full of fear) during pre-climacteric and menopausal stage.Tired expression, head congestion, circumscribed red cheeks; pain above right eye, throbbing, stitching, rhythmic pain, often in every 8 days, early morning, beginning in nape, extending upwards, locating in the region of eye, rising and falling with the sun; sensation of heavy congestion Sanguinaria C 200X, 10 min (3 Doses)
For weak, fat and irritable patient; often apathetic, changing moods, strange changes of character (egocenteric), memory weak, due to disturbance during climacteric period, results of tobacco abuse. Person with shallow complexion, yellow saddle across the nose; pain located on left temple; throbbing, stitching pains Sepia 200X, 10 min (3 Doses)
For neuropathic persons, full of fear caused by noises, change of weather or worms; with face pale, located above left eye; specially left pupil (ciliary neuralgia); sharp,shooting, tearing, stitching, periodical pain from occiput to left eye; slowly rising in intensity with sun. Bile vomiting at the height of attack, slowly improving with setting sun.feeling as if head were open along sagittal suture Spigelia 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)
Left sided; worse during and after sleep; before menstruation; heat;during menopause Lachesis 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses)
Intercurrent remedy Bacillinum 200X or 1M, fortnightly (3 Doses) .
Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms.
No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.
Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine
Feel free to email me if you do not understand anything or if you want to discuss anything.
Take Care and God Bless you !
I would recommend that you keep a journal of what you eat, and find the foods that are triggering migranes.
Wheat is a trigger for my migranes.
I stopped eating pasta, white bread, etc. and my frequency of migranes went from having one every week ro haveing one every 6-8 weeks.
When I feel a migrane coming on. I take the following.
1. Goody’s headache powder
2. eat a chocolate bar
3. drink a coca cola
All of these have cafeine, and cafeine resrticts the blood vessels, and reduce the pressure.
The homeopathic fellow is only offering you water. Use that to wash down the imitrex, since that actually treats the cause of the disease. See a doctor. They will offer you solutions (no pun intended) that actually work.
I would do like others said here.. Start a journal.. and see what is triggering your migraines in the first place.. Weather it be stress, or foods. or other.. you would want to know..
I am unsure of all the meds out there that can help with these.. I know my husband gets them often.. but not so much no more..
I have a girlfriend that got them every day almost.. and she was in huge pain.. I know now.. she doesn’t get them hardly at all.. She is taking a very powerful mineral drink.. and that is helping her.. I can contact her and see what all she has to say.. I can’t imagine going thru life with a headache all the time.. that would just not be friendly at all… Wish you luck..