Migraine Prevention Medication

2008-01-29 12:56:05

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



Nature and Symptoms of Migraine

Migraine is a debilitating type of ailment, characterized by excruciating headaches. It occurs more in women than in men, affecting about 10% of the population. Although medical experts could not determine the exact cause of migraine, many believe that it is a combination of different factors, especially by hormonal and chemical imbalances in the brain. It can also be caused by external factors such as environment, heredity, stress, food, sleep patterns and medications.

Migraine attacks often last from a few hours to a few days. Aside from extreme pain, a migraine attack is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Treatment of Migraine Attacks

You can take over the counter headache medicine such as ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve a mild migraine attack.

If these don't help, your doctor may prescribe stronger medicine such as ergots, triptans or even narcotics. Each type of pain reliever has its own drawbacks and side-effects, and not all cases of migraine can be treated the same way.

Prevention Medication for Migraine

There is no existing migraine medicine that will completely wipe out the condition, but there are medications that are normally for other ailments but can indirectly affect the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. These migraine medicines also be able to relieve nausea and other symptoms as well.

Some migraine prevention medications, such as cardiovascular drugs, relieve high blood pressure that may lead to migraine headaches. Antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs for bipolar disease and epilepsy affect the chemical balance of fluids in the nervous system and may indirectly prevent a migraine attack.

Where to Get Migraine Prevention Medications

Cardiovascular drugs and anti-seizure drugs need a doctor's prescription. Your doctor is in the best position to prescribe a migraine prevention medication that is right for you. You can have the prescription filled by any reputable pharmacy.

Alternatives to Taking Migraine Prevention Medications

Some vitamins and herbal supplements claim to relieve migraine symptoms. These are easily available without a doctor's prescription, and you can even purchase them through online sources.

Alternative medical procedures such as acupuncture, biofeedback and chiropractic have also become popular in recent years for treating migraine. However, these methods have yet to be proven effective.


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