Migraine may not have a cure, but treatment can ease your symptoms. Starting with over-the-counter pain relievers may help, while stronger medications may be recommended by a physician.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a well-known OTC migraine pain reliever; however, only use it in accordance with its recommended daily dosage or risk serious adverse side effects.
1. Ice Pack
Finding a successful migraine headache treatment may take time and trial-and-error, however cold therapy could be an easy and effective solution to help ease symptoms at home.
An application of cool compress can help ease head or neck pain by constricting blood vessels and decreasing nerve transmissions that cause inflammation, as well as providing temporary numbing effect to ease throbbing or soreness in that area.
With all types of relief options at our disposal – gel packs and customizable ice caps alike – the aim should be quick relief quickly and effectively. A migraine diary may help identify triggers as well as the best kind of remedies to suit each person.
2. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Migraine sufferers can find relief through over-the-counter pain relievers. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin and other pain medications including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and dihydroergotamine (Migranal, Trudhesa) are among these solutions while anti-nausea drugs like promethazine (Phenergan) provide additional support against nausea – another common migraine symptom.
Excedrin Migraine contains an assortment of drugs, such as acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine – but be wary: taking too much acetaminophen can increase your risk for liver damage.
Before beginning taking over-the-counter migraine medications, be sure to consult your physician first. Certain OTC migraine drugs may raise blood pressure significantly if you already have high blood pressure; additionally herbal supplements and vitamins, like magnesium may also help prevent migraines. A neurologist who specializes in headaches can recommend either natural treatments or prescription drugs to combat your headaches effectively.
3. Medications
Numerous medications have been developed specifically for migraine headaches. These include pain relievers that block certain brain pain pathways and preventive medicines that decrease their frequency. Over-the-counter analgesics like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen sodium or combinations with aspirin and acetaminophen (Excedrin Migraine) may provide effective relief, although long-term use could lead to ulcers and bleeding and medication overuse headaches according to UpToDate. Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) or topiramate (Topamax) have also proven their efficacy at helping alleviate migraine attacks.
Triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra) and rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT) work by blocking brain nerves that transmit pain signals. Available as pills, injections or nasal sprays. Ergot alkaloids like ergocaine and dihydroergotamine may also be effective but usually require prescription from specialists.
4. Light Therapy
Light therapy helps stimulate the production of cellular energy while decreasing inflammation. Chronic inflammation is one of the primary causes of migraine headaches; treating it could prevent future headaches.
Green light therapy helps alleviate migraine pain and diminish their intensity by stimulating cellular repair and relaxation, and stabilizing sleep architecture and treating insomnia associated with circadian rhythm disorders that may trigger migraines. Furthermore, this therapy works to stabilize sleep architecture and treat insomnia associated with circadian rhythm disorders – which themselves may contribute to headaches.
Researchers conducted experiments exposing 41 migraine patients with migraine to narrow bands of white, blue, red and amber lights with high intensities that included green light as an exception – none made their headache worse! Researchers believe neurons within the thalamus that control sleep and circadian rhythms responded better to green than any of the other colors; but more research needs to be conducted before concluding if green can truly soothe migraine.
5. Hydration
Researchers have linked dehydration with migraine headaches, as it can trigger them by altering blood vessel structure or chemical balance in the brain. When you’re dehydrated, your blood vessels constrict, restricting nutrients and oxygen from reaching your brain.
Dehydration can have an immediate impact on migraine symptoms; by simply drinking one glass of water per day, dehydration could reduce or eliminate them altogether. Try drinking water, herbal tea, diluted fruit juices and low-fat milk as sources of hydration – caffeine and alcohol may trigger migraines as well.
Try feverfew tea to treat arthritis, fevers, headaches and menstrual cramps as an anti-inflammatory remedy. Additionally, make your own green smoothies to get an abundance of magnesium and B vitamins to fight migraines effectively.
