Frequent migraine headaches cause a person to have a severe pain in the head that can last for hours. A migraine can be debilitating and can affect millions of people. Migraines are said to be passed genetically and are more common in women than in men. They usually begin around adolescence but by the time a person is 60 they rarely have them. A migraine can last a day or can even last for several days.
Examining migraine medication can be very confusing sine there are so many different types. There are basically three categories of migraine medication. Preventive, abortive and rescue medications. Let’s examine each one separately.
Preventive Medications
These preventive medications will reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks and are to be taken daily. These types of medications are only recommended if a patient has at least one migraine a week or more. Most people do not like starting with a daily medicine if they do not know when it can be stopped, if ever. Patients need to know that migraine headaches are a genetic neurological disease and it isn’t as simple as having frequent headaches. If you had a disease such as diabetes taking daily medication wouldn’t even be questioned. Once they realize that it is a disease the reluctance to taking the medicine will lessen.
Here are the four medications officially approved by the FDA to treat and prevent migraines:
- Inderal, also known as propranolol. This was developed for diseases of the heart and for blood pressure that is high and is a beta-blocker. Blocadren, also known as timolol. This is also a beta-blocker.
- Depakote and also Depakote ER, also known as divalproex sodium. This is an anticonvulsant or an agent for neuronal stabilizing that was developed for seizures.
- Topaman, also known as topiramate. This is another agent for neuronal stabilizing.
There are more than 100 other medications currently being used for prevention and are effective in Migraine prevention. Very often medications are done with off-label prescribing and these are medicines that were first developed for another condition. There are numerous medications that fall into this category also.
Abortive Medications
Abortive medications will work in the brain and stops the Migrainous process. They are effective to reverse the inflammation of the surrounding tissue and nerves and the dilation of blood vessels. If the medication is effective it will stop the Migraine attack and also the symptoms that come with it. The patient could still experience the postdrome which is the phase called a ‘Migraine hang over’. Here are some medications that are Migraine abortives:
- Triptans under the names of Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt ,Amerge, Axert, Frova, and Relpax.
- Ergotamines a nasal spray named Migranal and an injectable DHE-45.
- Isometheptene Midrin that is a compound.
On a few occasions, triptans can be used in Migraine prevention. Menstrually triggered migraines have been treated with Amerge and Frova that was proven effective. These are taken by starting two days ahead of menstrual period and taken twice a day for a period of five to seven days.
Rescue Medications
Rescue medications are taken only when the abortive fails or if you are unable to take the abortive medications. Most of the rescue medications are actually pain medications. There are other types of medications that will relieve nausea and will assist in helping people who suffer from migraines relax. They cannot abort the migraines but can help ease the pain while the migraine runs through its course. Medications that are used in rescue include:
- Butalbital compounds such as Fiorinal, or Fioricet.
- Acetaminophen with oxycodone, codeine, or hydrocodone in the form of Vicodin, Percocet and Tylenol #3.
- Pain relievers. Named Toradol and Ultram among others.
- At times injectable medications will be used like Demerol.
- Antinausea medications like Compazine, Reglan, or Penergan.
- Muscle Relaxants like Skelaxin, Soma and Zanaflex.
Depending on the type of the migraine attacks your situation will dictate what medications will be part of your regimen. If you have mild to moderate migraines infrequently you will fare fine with abortive medications only. Some people will be able to get by with a mild pain reliever. Frequent migraines will require a program of preventives to reduce the severity of the migraines as well as the frequency along with abortive to stop the migraines when they occur and also rescue medications to keep from having to rush to the emergency room in the case that the abortive fail.
Needless to say, your physician is the best person to diagnose and come up with a plan to treat and prevent migraines. Your part in this plan is to follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter and tell him if anything in your situation changes.
There will be always a way to soothe your migraine attack, relief your pain and even prevent the upcoming migraine headaches.