It is estimated that about 36 million people in the country are
affected by migraine headaches. Currently, there is no cure for these
intense headaches, but there are several different treatments that help
provide migraine pain relief. The goal of treatment is to attempt to
prevent migraine attacks from occurring, and to alleviate the pain once a
migraine starts. Each person responds differently to treatments so it
may take several attempts before finding the treatment that works best.
Below is a list of some of the most effective treatments that are used
to prevent and provide migraine pain relief.
Preventive Measures
There
are several medications that are used to help try to prevent the onset
of migraines, including antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, Botox, and
cardiovascular drugs. These drugs can be very effective at decreasing
the frequency of these headaches, but they do not prevent the headaches
all together. Another way to prevent migraines is to identify the
triggers that cause migraine attack to occur. The best way to identify
these triggers is to start a headache diary that keeps track of the
different foods you eat and activities you do, as well as, environmental
factors like the temperature and weather. Once you can identify these
triggers, you can avoid them in hopes to attempt to prevent a migraine.
Migraine Pain Relief
Once
a migraine occurs, it is time to start treating the pain associated
with the headache. There are several types of medications that have
proven to be effective. Pain relievers such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen are
good for the initial onset of the headache and can be effective for
mild pain. However, if the migraine is more severe, opioid, such as
codeine, are more effective to relieve pain. Triptans, like Imitrex,
Maxalt and Axert, are also effective. These work by constricting the
blood vessels and blocking the pain from reaching the brain. Ergots,
like Migergot and Cafergot, work similar to Triptans but they are not as
effective but they do work well for headaches that last less than 48
hours.
Alternative Medicine
Some people
choose to use alternative medicine to treat their migraines. Most people
turn to these methods because other treatments have not worked or
because they do not like taking regular medications. Types of
alternative medicines include acupuncture, chiropractic services,
biofeedback, massage therapy, a change in diet, or cognitive behavioral
therapy. People react differently to these treatments and it make take
several attempts to find relief from a migraine.
There
are many different treatments available to help fight migraine
headaches. Of course, the best course of action is to try to prevent the
migraine from happening in the first place. Through trial and error it
is possible to create a treatment plan the can at least reduce the
chances of having a migraine. In addition, there is both pain medicine
and alternative medicines that will help provide adequate migraine pain
relief once a headache begins. It is vital that you are proactive in
your treatment plan in order to find the right pain relief for you.
