While there is no known cure for those that suffer from migraine attacks, there are ways of minimising the frequency, severity and effects of one. While having a trigger plan is one excellent way to manage them, there are also specific treatments you can take to make your migraine more bearable.

 

Here are some common treatments that migraine sufferers have found to work.

 

Acute migraine medication – Analgesics

 

The aim of these is to relieve or stop an attack from getting worse. To be most effective, they should be taken as early as possible in the headache phase of a migraine attack.

 

Analgesics, many of which can be bought over the counter, reduce a person’s sensitivity to the migraine, numbing the pained area. Aspirin and paracetamol pain products are the most common of these. Aspirin products like, like Excedrin Migraine, tend to be favoured as they also have anti-inflammatory effects that target other causes of migraine.

 

Acute migraine medication – Triptans

 

Triptans are migraine-specific drugs that target serotonin receptors. These are prescription-only and while they are available in tablet form, they can also be bought as a dissolving tablet or nasal spray, which many find act quicker.

 

Vitamins and minerals

 

Some migraine sufferers have had success in reducing the severity and number of attacks with vitamin and mineral therapies.

Magnesium and Riboflavin have both been found to have a positive effect, but you should always consult your GP or a complementary therapist before increasing your intake of these.

 

Preventative migraine medication

 

These medications are used to reduce the frequency and severity of anticipated attacks. However, they won’t prevent a migraine completely and it also won’t cure the underlying cause.

Preventative medication will usually be prescribed if you get more than two or three attacks a month, if they are incredibly disabling or if your attacks follow a pattern (menstrual cycle).

Drugs include beta blockers, anti-convulsants and tricyclic anti-depressants.

 

Botox

 

Not just for your wrinkles, Botox has developed into a preventative treatment for chronic migraine sufferers. Botox is injected into several sites on either side of your head to block pain-causing neuro-transmitters.

It’s important to note that this should only ever be done by a doctor trained in administering Botox for migraines in a hospital or specialist centre. This treatment is not advised during pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

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