There are various medications that can help alleviate migraine pain, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen and naproxen as well as older drugs and newer triptans.
These medicines should be taken as soon as a migraine symptoms appear and work by blocking pain pathways in the brain, typically via pills, nasal sprays or injections. Dihydroergotamine (Migranal, Trudhesa) may also be effective, though its long-term use could increase risk factors and potentially lead to heart attack or stroke.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Most migraine headaches respond well to medications containing aspirin, acetaminophen or an NSAID such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac; look for OTC drugs combining these ingredients. Furthermore, caffeine may help alleviate migraine pain.
If your migraines do not respond to over-the-counter medicines, consult with a physician. He or she may suggest an overdose of ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen or combination therapy. However, butalbital or opioid pain relievers could potentially lead to rebound headaches; thus it would be wiser if these drugs are avoided as much as possible.
Antisickness medicines such as metoclopramide or prochlorperazine may help alleviate nausea associated with migraine attacks, while new migraine prevention medications known as CGRP inhibitors like Erenumab (Aimovig), Galcanezumab (Emgality), and Fremanezumab (Ajovy) target proteins linked to migraine development and can provide long-term protection.
Identifying Triggers
migraine sufferers typically have specific triggers that exacerbate symptoms during an attack. These may include bright lights, loud noises or strong scents; stress or lack of sleep could also play a factor. Migraine tends to run in families so it is essential that all members understand potential triggers so as to reduce or avoid an attack altogether.
Your healthcare provider may suggest keeping a headache diary, which can help identify triggers in each migraine attack and reveal commonalities across attacks. They might also inquire into your eating habits and diet habits.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to alleviate the symptoms of migraine, including analgesics and anti-sickness medicines. Triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex(r), eletriptan (Relpax(r), frovatriptan (Frova(r)) and naratriptan (Amerge(r)) target pain pathways in your brain and can be taken via tablets, nasal sprays, injections or suppositories.
Physical Activity
Studies demonstrate the benefits of regular physical activity on migraine headaches, and it’s wise to consult your physician prior to embarking on any exercise regimen, particularly if you take medication for them or have other risk factors like high blood pressure.
Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming and cycling can strengthen muscles while providing feel-good endorphins. Aim to devote at least 30 minutes a day of light aerobic exercise – gradually building intensity over time as you do so – but remember HIIT (high-intensity interval training) might trigger headaches for some; therefore it’s wise to include both warm-up and cool-down sessions prior to each workout session.
Some prescription medications, including beta blockers like propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran) and pindolol or calcium channel blockers like verapamil (Norvasc), can help to prevent migraines. Antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) or tricyclic antidepressants also may assist in relieving symptoms and prevent migraines for certain individuals.
Simplify Your Life
Migraines can be debilitating and reduce your quality of life significantly, hindering work, socialising and enjoying time with family and friends. A doctor can prescribe medications to either reduce migraine episodes or treat them immediately should one arise.
Painkillers can provide effective relief for pain and its related symptoms such as nausea or light or sound sensitivity. A wide variety of effective painkillers, including ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin can offer swift and long-term relief.
Antiemetics can also help alleviate symptoms, and are most effective if taken at the first sign of migraine. You can dissolve tablets into water for best results; some anti-emetics may also cause diarrhoea or cause sleepiness; taking too many of these drugs at one time could result in medication overuse headache.
Seek Emergency Treatment
If you are experiencing new, severe, or unusual migraine symptoms that don’t correspond with what would normally be part of a typical migraine attack, visiting an emergency room might be beneficial. Healthcare providers will conduct an in-depth physical exam, checking balance, reflexes, vision as well as asking about any previous attacks of migraine.
As soon as your symptoms appear, medications will likely be prescribed to manage them and alleviate your pain. These could include anticonvulsants (originally developed to treat epilepsy), beta-blockers (used for high blood pressure treatment) or calcium channel blockers – to relax blood vessels in your brain – calcium channel blockers relax blood vessels in your brain; triptans like sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Almotriptan), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), or frovatriptan (Frova) can all help relieve headaches by blocking pain pathways in your brain; they can be taken in pill, injection form or nasal spray form.
