Symptoms of migraine attacks often include pulsing or throbbing pain on either side of your head, light and sound sensitivity, nausea and sometimes vision impairment. When this occurs, immediate relief must be found quickly. Typical signs include pulsing or throbbing pain on one or both sides, light sensitivity, nausea and loss of vision as potential indicators.
Migraines do not have a cure, but medication and lifestyle changes may help ease pain and help to avoid future attacks.
1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pain Medication
There are various over-the-counter pain relievers that may help ease migraine headaches. You may need to experiment with several varieties until finding what works for you best. If OTC medications don’t relieve symptoms effectively enough for you, speaking with a physician about prescribing specific migraine drugs could also be effective.
Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently prescribed over-the-counter pain relievers for headache. These medications work by blocking pain signals in the brain while decreasing inflammation.
Triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra), and rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), can help ease migraine pain by blocking specific nerve pathways in the brain. These medicines may be taken orally as pills, injections or nasal sprays and should be used as soon as you start experiencing signs of migraine.
2. Prescription Drugs
Migraine medications not only treat pain, but they also address symptoms like nausea and vomiting. You can take migraine medicine either orally (in pill form or via nasal spray), in addition to using anti-nausea drugs like ondansetron (Zofran) or prochlorperazine (Compro).
Triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra) and rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT) work by blocking pain pathways in the brain. Available as pills, nasal spray, or injection, they may be effective against headache severity in specific patients based on severity and not responding to first-line migraine drugs; they should only be considered by individuals without coronary artery disease, high blood pressure issues, kidney or liver issues.
Propranolol, verapamil (Calan and Verelan), and clonidine (Catapres), all prescription migraine medicines available today, may help prevent migraine attacks by lowering your blood pressure and slowing activity in nerve cells that transmit pain signals in your brain.
3. Relaxation Techniques
Relaxation techniques can help ease physical and mental tension that is often the source of migraine attacks. They also strengthen the body’s natural defense mechanisms against stress management, potentially decreasing headache frequency.
Progressive muscle relaxation for migraines (PMR) is a widely utilized relaxation technique. To participate, participants physically tense and relax different groups of muscles. Doing this exercise makes you aware of what tightened-up muscles feel like so it becomes easier to spot when they become tight during daily activities.
Biofeedback is another popular way of relaxing. Done professionally, biofeedback teaches individuals to control various functions of the autonomic nervous system including heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, breathing rate and muscle tension. Relaxation training works best when practiced regularly.
4. Changes in Diet
Migraine patients can help avoid migraine attacks by limiting certain foods and beverages. Furthermore, they should drink enough fluids, eat regular meals on schedule, and sleep on an established routine. A registered dietitian can assist in creating a nutritious diet plan to manage migraines effectively.
An early dose of caffeine may provide relief from migraine pain in its early stages and boost its effects. Furthermore, caffeine may enhance acetaminophen’s effectiveness by providing extra energy boost.
Tracking triggers through writing in a migraine journal or diary is one way to identify what may be aggravating your headaches. Many find that changes in light or sound levels may make their symptoms worse, so finding a dark, quiet room to rest often proves beneficial.
An ice pack applied to the head or neck can help soothe discomfort by numbing nerve endings and decreasing blood flow, while applying warm washcloth or taking a hot shower may relax muscles and relieve tension.
5. Mind-Body Therapies
Migraine pain can often be made worse by sensory inputs like light, glare and sound; therefore wearing noise-canceling headphones or earplugs could help mitigate their effect and ease symptoms associated with these triggers.
Acupuncture and biofeedback have both proven their efficacy at relieving migraine pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy may also provide some relief; this form of psychotherapy teaches how our thoughts and behaviors impact how we experience discomfort.
Avoiding your trigger factors is key to avoiding migraines altogether. By keeping a journal and noting any triggers that occur, taking actions before an attack begins may help. A consistent sleep schedule, balanced diet and plenty of water consumption are great preventive measures; additionally supplements like magnesium, riboflavin feverfew or butterbur may all prove effective.
