Varieties of Migraine Treatment
Migraine treatment can involve trying to stop or mitigate the headache before it actually arrives, or if necessary, treatment can involve drugs or other types of medical actions to try to ease the headache when it can’t be prevented. One big thrust in treatment in recent years is to advise people to try to discern their own migraine triggers. Some of these are external factors that sufferers can’t control, but if they recognize that certain foods or avoidable conditions tend to bring on a headache, then they can take steps to eliminate those things.
But when the headache strikes, steps need to be taken to bring relief, which is where some migraine drugs enter the picture. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help to some degree, though they work only with mild migraines. A group of drugs known as triptans have a better effect as a treatment for migraines, although they too have some limitations and may not work as well with extreme headaches. When heavy duty treatment is needed, doctors may combine medications, such as barbiturates, acetylsalicylic acid (i.e. Aspirin) and caffeine. A Sumatriptan/Naproxen Sodium combination has recently been shown to be very effective.
Some chemicals have an unexpected role in migraine treatment. One reason why people feel nauseous during a migraine is that their stomach doesn’t empty as quickly as normal. This also means that when they take medication, it doesn’t get into their system as quickly as it otherwise might. Caffeine can help reverse this effect, so it’s used during an attack even though it’s actually to be avoided as a potential trigger before the headache arrives. Another unusual treatment that has been employed recently is botox injections in the forehead and scalp. A migraine is not a stress headache as such, but the tension in the scalp can make the migraine more intense.
There are some herbal remedies that people recommend for migraine relief, though how effective they are is still being debated. Feverfew is the one most mentioned, but studies go back and forth on how well it works. One herb whose effectiveness everyone seems to agree on is cannabis, or marijuana. But of course no one is going to recommend it, at least not publicly. However, supplements of Coenzyme Q10 have definitely shown positive results. Migraine treatment can emerge from traditional and unconventional medicine alike. If the sufferer can’t manage to prevent the headache, then they may prefer not to quibble about where they get relief from, as long as they get it.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed treating anxiety disorder as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medications available at anxietydisordercure.com.