Nearly half of those who get migraines could benefit from preventive medication and treatment, yet only about 1 in 10 people take it. You may be a candidate for preventive therapy if you have 1 or more debilitating attacks a month, if pain relieving medications aren't helping, or if your migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and weakness.
Preventive medications can reduce the frequency, severity and length of migraines and may increase the effectiveness of symptom-relieving medicines used during migraine attacks. Your doctor may recommend that you take preventive medications daily, or only when a predictable trigger, such as menstruation, is approaching.
In most cases, preventive medications don't eliminate headaches completely, and some cause serious side effects. If you have had good results from preventive medicine and have been migraine free for six months to a year, your doctor may recommend tapering off the medication to see if your migraines return without it. For best results, take these medications as your doctor recommend.
Cardiovascular drugs or Beta blockers-commonly used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease-can reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. These drugs are considered among the first-line treatment agents. Calcium channel blockers, another class of cardiovascular drugs, verapamil (Calan, Isoptin), also may be helpful in preventing migraines and relieving symptoms from aura. Researchers don't understand exactly why all of these cardiovascular drugs prevent migraines. The side effects of these drugs are dizziness, light headedness, or drowsiness.
Certain antidepressants are good at helping to prevent some types of headaches, including migraines. Most effective are tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline(Pamelor) and protripytline (vivactil). These medications are considered among first-line treatment agents and may reduce migraines by affecting the levels of serotonin and other brain chemicals.
You don't have to have depression to benefit from these drugs. Other classes of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIS)and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIS), haven't been proven as effective for migraine prevention. However, preliminary research suggests that one SNRI, venlafaxine(Effexor), may be helpful in preventing migraines.
Some anti-seizure drugs, such as divalproex(Depakote) and topiramate(topamax), and gabapentin(Neurontin), seem to reduce the frequency of migraines. In high doses, however, these anti-seizure drugs may cause side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hair loss, and dizziness.
Pain-relieving medications are used to treat the symptoms of a migraine. Known as acute or abortive treatment, these types of drugs are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop the symptoms that have already begun. For best results, take pain-relieving drugs as soon as you experience signs or symptoms of a migraine.
It may help if you rest or sleep in a dark room after taking them. As you can see, in this article there are a variety of drugs available for people who suffer from migraine attacks. However, some medications are not recommended for women who are breast-feeding or pregnant. Some aren't for children.
What is Topamax For? What is this medication? Topamax is used for Seizure prevention and Migraine medication. However, in clinical trial the most common Side Affects of Topamax included Dizziness, fatigue, and nervousness. Side Effects of Topamax that have been seen in children include hair loss, constipation, and fever. If you or your love one suffer any of Topamax side affects such as chest pain, vision problems, or difficulty breathing, look for immediate medical attention.
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