Posted on Feb 13, 2009

Non-Medication management   Try biofeedback yoga, meditation, or hot baths to relax your muscles. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, avoid caffeine, and don't smoke. If you're a woman and suspect oestrogen may be a trigger, ask your doctor whether changing or stopping oral contraceptives or hormone therapy may be effective. Keep a diary of the times, duration and severity of your migraines. You may discover a pattern over time. Medications Used for migraine Treatment The FDA has approved three OTC products to treat migraine. Excedrin Migraine (a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine) was the first such medication approved for the temporary relieve of migraine and its associated symptoms. Studies have reported significant relief in nearly 70% of patients. It may also help menstrual migraines. Advil Migraine and Motrin Migraine Pain, both containing ibuprofen, are also approved to treat migraine headache. Pain relief. Over-the-counter medications are often effective pain relievers for some people with migraines. The main ingredients in pain-relieving medications are ibuprofen (for example, Motrin), aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and caffeine. Be cautious when taking over-the-counter pain-relieving medications because sometimes they can contribute to a headache, or their overuse can cause rebound headaches or a dependency problem. If you are taking any over-the-counter pain medications more than three times a week or daily, it's time to see your doctor. He or she can suggest prescription medications that may be more effective. Anti-nausea medicines. Your doctor can prescribe medication to relieve the nausea that often accompanies migraines. Abortive medicines (stop migraines). There are some special medications that if used at the first sign of a migraine, may stop the process that causes the headache pain. These medications can also stop the headache pain itself. By stopping the headache process, these drugs help prevent the symptoms of migraines, including pain, nausea, light-sensitivity, etc. The medicine works by constricting the blood vessels, bringing them back to normal, and relieving the throbbing pain. Preventive (prophylactic) medications. When the headaches are severe, occur more than two or three times a month and are significantly interfering with normal activities, your doctor may prescribe preventive medication. Preventive medications reduce the frequency and severity of the headaches and are generally taken on a regular, daily basis. Biofeedback. Biofeedback helps people learn to recognize stressful situations that trigger migraines. If the migraine begins slowly, many people can use biofeedback to stop the attack before it becomes full blown. All of these treatments should be used under the direction of a headache specialist or doctor familiar with migraine treatments. As with any medication, it is important to carefully follow the label instructions and your doctor's advice. Can Migraines Be Prevented? Yes. You can reduce the frequency of your migraine attacks by identifying and then avoiding migraine triggers. You can keep track of your headache patterns and identify headache triggers by using a headache diary. Recalling what was eaten prior to an attack may help you identify those foods that cause your migraines and make the necessary dietary changes to avoid these triggers in the future. Stress management and coping techniques, along with relaxation training, can help prevent or reduce the severity of the migraine attacks. Women who often get migraines around their menstrual period can take preventive therapy when they know their period is coming. Migraine sufferers also seem to have fewer attacks when they eat on a regular schedule and get adequate rest. Regular exercise -- in moderation -- can also help prevent migraines.