Ease Your Pain With Migraine Headache Remedies
Millions of people suffer from the debilitating pain of migraine headaches. If you're one of them, no doubt you’ve tried a number of migraine headache remedies to ease your pain. There are a number of remedies on the market, so most people are able to eventually find something that works for them. Even if the headaches cannot be wiped out entirely, most of the time it is possible to reduce their severity, duration and frequency. Headache remedies fall into one of three categories: acute, rescue or preventative, depending on the severity. The first line of defense when a migraine strikes is usually an acute treatment.
The U.S. Headache Consortium recommends non-opiate, non-narcotic pain relievers as the first line of defense in treating headache pain. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are examples of non-opioid pain relievers. Popular over the counter drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen fall into this category. Toradol is also in this category but is given at a medical facility as a rescue treatment, or, by prescription. Another type of non-opioid analgesic is acetaminophen. Both NSAIDs and acetaminophen have potential side effects,however, and individuals with liver or kidney problems definitely should not take these drugs unless directed by their physician. It is also vital not to consume alcohol while using these drugs, as doing so can increase the risk of stomach bleeding in the case of NSAIDs and liver and/or kidney damage when consumed with acetaminophen.
Opioids are narcotic pain relievers which are used as rescue treatments when acute remedies have failed. They must be prescribed and administered by a doctor. Many people find it necessary to go to the ER for rescue drugs should their migraine becomes unbearably severe. These drugs may be administered orally, via nasal spray or injection for the quickest pain relief. Examples of narcotic headache remedies include: Stadol, Oxycontin, Demerol, morphine, methadone and codeine, which is often combined with acetaminophen (Tylenol 3) and which is one of the mildest narcotic pain relievers. Opiate drugs carry a high degree of risk associated with dependence or addiction and they may cause side effects like decreased respiration, nausea, itching and sedation.
Another type of headache medication for migraine sufferers are triptans. These are the most commonly prescribed drugs for migraine headaches and work by reducing pain, inflammation, nausea,and sensitivity to sound and light, which are some of the common side effects of migraine headaches. Examples of these drugs include: Imitrex, Zomig, Frova and Axert. The dosage is usually taken orally or in a nasal spray. Should you be one of the individuals, however, who experiences severe vomiting, an injectable dosage may be administered. For best results, Triptans should be taken as soon as symptoms arise.
In addition to migraine headache medication, there are migraine headache remedies which are taken as a preventative measure. While they may not work 100 percent of the time, these drugs will help reduce frequency, duration and/or severity of migraine headaches. They include drugs like Topamax and Depakote, which increase the neurotransmitter GABA, tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Your doctor can determine which preventative medication is most appropriate for you based on your health, medications you are currently taking, and your individual migraine history. Every migraine sufferer should keep a diary or journal of when their headaches occur, their severity, length, suspicions about what may have triggered them, and lastly, the actual symptoms associated with the headache. Doing this can be of inestimable help for you and your doctor in devising the most workable prevention and treatment plan for you.
